Why does it matter?
An Arrival Notice triggers the next steps in the import process—customs declaration, duty payment, and final delivery. Without prompt notification, shippers may miss deadlines for clearance, resulting in demurrage charges (storage fees), penalties, and shipment delays. For international trade, timely arrival notices are essential for cash flow, inventory management, and meeting customer delivery promises.
How does arrival notice work in logistics?
When goods arrive at a port or airport, the carrier scans the shipment and generates an Arrival Notice, which is sent to the consignee via email or the carrier's tracking portal. The notice includes the shipment reference number, contents description, arrival date, and deadline for collection or customs clearance. The receiver must then arrange customs documentation, pay duties if applicable, and arrange final delivery. Failure to act within the specified window triggers additional storage costs.
Transport operations requiring arrival notices
- International ocean freight
- Air freight imports and exports
- Cross-border road transport (certain routes/customs)
- Port and airport operations
- Customs clearance procedures
- International courier and express services
- Freight forwarding operations
- Bonded warehouse management
Example in practice
A retailer imports 500 boxes of shoes from Vietnam by sea freight. The shipment arrives at Rotterdam port after 3 weeks. The carrier sends an Arrival Notice stating the goods are at customs holding and must be cleared within 5 days. The retailer arranges customs documentation, pays import duties, and schedules final delivery to their warehouse. Without the Arrival Notice, the retailer wouldn't know the shipment had arrived, and storage charges would accumulate daily.