What exactly are VGMs? Who is sending it? How much does it cost to send?

(1) What is VGM?

VGM is the abbreviation of VERIFIED GROSS MASS. The English name of the official website standard is "Verified Container Weight", and the industry custom is called "Container Weighing Re-regulation".

The verified container weight, which is the sum of the gross weight of the cargo and the tare weight of the container, including packing and dunnage.

(2) How to calculate the weight of VGM?

01 Overall weighing method: after the goods are packed and the door is closed, the overall weighing of the loaded container is carried out;

02 Accumulative weighing method: accumulatively weigh the machine package of the goods plus the tare weight of the container.

(3) VGM allowable error range

VGM≤10 tons: ±0.5

VGM＞10 tons: ±5%

(4) How is the VGM fee calculated?

01 VGM delivery fee: At present, the shipping company does not charge VGM delivery fee, but considering the need for data collection and verification, it will increase the cost of personnel operation and system connection of freight forwarding companies, some freight forwarding companies took the lead in charging this fee;

02 VGM entrusted weighing fee: entrust the truck fleet to carry out VGM weighing at the terminal, and the terminal will charge a weighing fee. The fleet needs to queue up for weighing, which takes a lot of time, so a part of the service fee is also charged.

(5) Who will VGM check in?

1. The shipper on the ocean bill of lading or ocean waybill and related transport documents;

2. The party or representative who signed the transportation contract with the shipping company;

(6) What are the basic requirements of VGM?

The shipper must provide the sea carrier with a cargo container weight verification (VGM), including the weight of the cargo, loading equipment and container tare, etc., and the person in charge of declaring the weight provides a signature (it can be an electronic signature). In most cases, this information must be provided to the carrier before the container arrives at the carrier's port terminal.