Six stories from our team’s work with importers. Each reflects a particular shipment, so costs and results will vary. The operations photos on this site show our work, rather than these individual shipments.
CASE 01About A$500 saved by checking furniture materials
Challenge
A customer planned to ship furniture to Australia and expected to pay for fumigation and the associated transport.
AUV Solution
Before shipment, AUV reviewed the documents and photos to clarify the furniture materials. In this case, the review identified that the furniture did not contain the solid timber that had prompted the proposed fumigation. We checked the applicable treatment requirements and arrangement before proceeding.
Outcome
The customer saved approximately A$500 in unnecessary transport and fumigation costs for this shipment. Treatment requirements still depend on the actual materials, packaging and applicable biosecurity conditions.
CASE 02A major weight discrepancy caught before dispatch
Challenge
The actual cargo weight and the weight shown in the shipment documents differed substantially. Inaccurate data could lead to questions, delays and additional port or storage costs.
AUV Solution
AUV compared the cargo details with the invoice and packing list, flagged the discrepancy and asked the customer and supplier to recheck the actual weight and correct the documents before shipment.
Outcome
The weight information was corrected and the paperwork better aligned with the cargo. Correcting the documents early helped reduce the risk of avoidable clearance queries and delays.
CASE 03Furniture delivery planned for a residential street
Challenge
A customer moving furniture to Australia supplied a residential address. Narrow streets, overhead wires and site access could make delivery by a container vehicle unsuitable; local council permission might also be needed depending on the location.
AUV Solution
AUV requested photos of the road outside the home and assessed access and unloading needs. We considered whether local council approval was required and its potential cost. Where container access was unsuitable, we recommended unpacking at a third-party warehouse and delivering the goods by a smaller truck.
Outcome
The customer had a practical alternative to taking a container into an unsuitable residential street, with warehouse unpacking and smaller-vehicle delivery planned around the address. Access and any permits are assessed for each delivery.
CASE 04LCL to Melbourne, then by road to Adelaide
Challenge
An Adelaide customer had less than 60 cubic metres of cargo and wanted to receive it sooner. For the sailings considered at the time, direct Adelaide ocean options generally exceeded 30 days. A full-container booking was not the most economical fit for that shipment.
AUV Solution
AUV compared FCL and LCL options and recommended a shared-container shipment to Melbourne followed by interstate road transport to Adelaide. The savings from changing from FCL to LCL were used to cover the road leg.
Outcome
For this shipment, the route met the customer’s earlier-arrival preference without increasing their overall cost. The best route depends on your cargo, available sailings and current freight rates.
CASE 05From China receiving to Australian installation
Challenge
A furniture customer had no warehouse in China to receive the goods, check that they were complete and arrange container loading. They also needed delivery and installation in Australia.
AUV Solution
AUV provided free access to the China receiving and loading warehouse for this arrangement, checked quantities and visible condition, and coordinated consolidation and container loading. In Australia, we arranged delivery, home installation and packaging waste removal to the agreed requirements.
Outcome
The customer received coordinated support from China-side preparation to Australian installation and clean-up, reducing the need to manage separate providers. Free warehouse access, storage periods, handling, installation and waste removal depend on the agreed scope; visible checks are not a full product quality inspection.
CASE 06Five roller doors. Two crates. Easier final delivery.
Challenge
A customer bought five roller shutter doors from a Chinese factory. The supplier planned to pack all five into one wooden crate weighing over one tonne, making ordinary forklift and truck delivery in Australia difficult and potentially costly.
AUV Solution
Before shipment, AUV contacted the factory and arranged for the five doors to be divided into two wooden crates. The packaging change kept the overall shipping cost unchanged while making Australian handling and delivery more practical.
Outcome
The revised packing reduced Australian last-mile delivery costs in this case. We check packing, lifting capacity and delivery equipment for each shipment.