Container

Customer-managed container (Container) in foreign trade usually refers to a container managed or designated by the customer, i.e., the cargo owner (customer) is responsible for providing the container, stuffing, sealing, and subsequent return of the container, while the carrier is only responsible for sea transportation. Usage scenarios are mostly under FOB terms where the buyer designates the container source, or the customer has a long-term agreement with a container owner. Precautions: It is necessary to clarify the container provider, handover location, and responsibility for detention/demurrage; if improper customer management leads to container damage or delay, the responsibility lies with the customer. The difference from carrier-managed container (Carrier Haulage) is that in the latter, the shipping company provides and is responsible for inland trucking and stuffing, while under customer-managed container, the carrier generally does not handle the inland leg. In addition, customer-managed container may involve SOC (Shipper Owned Container) or COC (Carrier Owned Container) but controlled by the customer; in practice, it is necessary to indicate 'customer self-provided container' or 'customer-managed container' when booking to avoid confusion with carrier containers.