Last Updated: October 16, 2026 by Pratham Agarwal, Rasp International
Rasp International | Container Logistics
Container Transportation Services: From Factory Gate to Vessel Without Rollovers or Detention
A practical guide to factory stuffing, RFID self-sealing, Verified Gross Mass, the ICD, CFS and direct port routes and the charges that build up when a box waits. Rasp International coordinates container moves through vetted transport, forwarding and customs broker partners across India.
Container transportation is the inland leg of an export: an empty box reaches your factory, is stuffed and sealed, then travels by road or rail to an inland container depot or the port.
This leg decides whether your cargo meets the vessel. A wrong weight, a seal number that does not match or a late gate-in can hold a cleared container for days.
78:07 h
Factory stuffed export release at ICD Ludhiana, against 144:07 h for ICD stuffed cargo, NTRS 2025
65:33 h
Import release for Direct Port Delivery containers, against 84:03 h through a CFS, NTRS 2025
4.52 m
Maximum height of a semi-trailer carrying an ISO container, CMVR Rule 93 as amended by GSR 414(E)
2019
Year Rasp International was founded
Verified as on 24 September 2026 against CBIC Circulars 26/2017, 36/2017 and 41/2017-Customs, DGMA MS Notice 04 of 2016 and the National Time Release Study 2025.
The Short Answer on Container Transportation
Container transportation for exports covers the empty container pickup, stuffing at your factory or a container freight station (CFS), sealing, the road or rail move to an inland container depot (ICD) or port and gate-in before the terminal cut-off. The shipper must also declare the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of every packed container before loading, under SOLAS Chapter VI Regulation 2.
The rule that decides everything: the weight and the seal number travel with the box. If either differs from your documents, the container stops, whatever the customs status.
| Item | Key facts |
|---|
| Factory stuffing and sealing | Self-sealing with RFID e-seals under CBIC Circulars 26/2017-Customs (1 July 2017), 36/2017 (28 August 2017) and 41/2017 (30 October 2017) |
| Who can self-seal | AEOs, exporters already allowed factory sealing and any exporter filing GST returns who gets permission from the jurisdictional Commissioner |
| Weight declaration | VGM under SOLAS Chapter VI Regulation 2, in force since 1 July 2016. India: MS Notice 04 of 2016 dated 11 May 2016, DGMA |
| Road dimension limits | CMVR Rule 93 as amended by GSR 414(E) dated 26 June 2020: trailers up to 18.75 m long, container semi-trailers up to 4.52 m high |
| Routes to the ship | Via an ICD, via a CFS or direct port entry (DPE) for factory stuffed containers |
Why This Page Exists
Why the Inland Leg Needs Planning
At ICD Ludhiana, the National Time Release Study 2025 measured 78 hours 7 minutes for factory stuffed export cargo against 144 hours 7 minutes for cargo stuffed at the ICD. Where you stuff the box can nearly halve the time.
Rasp International does not own trucks or containers. We plan the route, brief the transport and forwarding partners in our network and check the VGM, seal and gate-in against your shipping bill.
What Container Transportation Actually Covers
An inland container depot is a customs station away from the coast where containers are cleared and sent to the port by rail or road. A container freight station is a customs area near a port or ICD where cargo is stuffed, destuffed or examined.
Direct port entry means a factory stuffed and sealed container goes straight to the port terminal, skipping the CFS. On imports, the same idea is called Direct Port Delivery.
| Route | Where the box is stuffed | Suits | Watch for |
|---|
| Via ICD | Factory or the ICD | Inland exporters with rail links to the coast | Rail departure schedules and ICD cut-offs |
| Via CFS | At the CFS near the port | LCL cargo and exporters without self-sealing | Extra handling and CFS charges |
| Direct port entry | Factory, self-sealed | Regular FCL exporters with self-sealing permission | Terminal gate-in cut-off and seal checks |
Who Needs Container Planning and Who Does Not
- Inland FCL exporters in Agra, Moradabad or Kanpur, where a truck or rail delay decides whether the vessel is met.
- Exporters applying for self-sealing, who need the premises approved before the first factory stuffed box moves.
- Heavy cargo shippers such as stone, tiles or metal goods, where VGM and road weight limits bite first.
- Exporters shipping under tight letters of credit, where a rollover can push the on-board date past the latest shipment date.
Who Does Not Need Extra Support
LCL shippers hand cargo to a consolidator at the CFS, which stuffs, weighs and seals the shared box. Air and courier exporters do not use containers at all.
What We Coordinate
Container Services Coordinated Through Our Partner Network
Partners do the physical work. Our team checks each step against your documents.
Booking
Carrier booking, empty release and cut-offs.
Read freight advisory
Clearance
Seal number and weight matched on the shipping bill.
Read the clearance guide
Heavy Lift
Out of gauge cargo and road permits.
View project cargo
Supply Chain
Pallets, packing and storage before stuffing.
Plan the full chain
GST
Export invoices and movement documents under GST.
Check GST compliance
Costing
Estimate duties before you price the shipment.
Use the calculator
Container Types and When to Use Them
Book the box from the cargo’s weight, shape and temperature needs. Sizes below are ISO 668 nominal external sizes. Internal dimensions and payload vary by carrier and build year, so take them from the booked carrier’s equipment sheet.
| Type | Nominal size | Use it for | Watch for |
|---|
| 20 ft general purpose | 20 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high | Heavy, dense cargo such as stone, tiles and metal goods | Payload and road weight limits before volume |
| 40 ft general purpose | 40 ft long, 8 ft 6 in high | Light, bulky cargo such as furniture and textiles | Weight distribution along the floor |
| 40 ft high cube | 40 ft long, 9 ft 6 in high | Voluminous goods that need the extra foot of height | Overhead clearance on some inland routes |
| Reefer | 20 ft or 40 ft | Fruit, vegetables, frozen food and some pharma | Pre-cooling and power at the terminal |
| Open top | 20 ft or 40 ft | Tall cargo loaded by crane from above | Tarpaulin, lashing and height above the walls |
| Flat rack | 20 ft or 40 ft | Machinery wider or taller than a box | Out of gauge surcharges and road permits |
Factory to Port, Stage by Stage
This is the order an FCL export follows when the box is stuffed at the factory. Stages 3 and 4 decide whether it sails on time.
1
Stage 1: Booking and Empty Release
The forwarder books space. The line releases an empty container from a depot. Inspect it and record any damage before it leaves.
2
Stage 2: Stuffing at the Factory
Load against the packing list, block and brace the cargo and photograph each tier. The CTU Code gives the accepted packing practice.
3
Stage 3: Seal and Shipping Bill
Fix the RFID e-seal and declare its serial number on the shipping bill. The number on the box and the document must match.
4
Stage 4: VGM Submission
Weigh the packed box on a certified weighbridge, or use approved Method 2. Submit the VGM to the carrier before its cut-off.
5
Stage 5: Road or Rail to ICD or Port
The trailer carries the box within Rule 93 limits, with the e-way bill and seal details. Rail runs from the ICD to the port.
6
Stage 6: Gate-In and Loading
Customs reads the e-seal at entry. After the Let Export Order and before the cut-off, the box is gated in and loaded.
Stuffing a container this week and not sure about the VGM or seal entry? Send us the booking on WhatsApp or read our customs clearance guide.
Self-Sealing With RFID E-Seals
Self-sealing lets you stuff and seal a container at your own premises without a customs officer present. CBIC replaced officer-supervised factory stuffing with this system in 2017.
- Tell customs first. A new applicant informs the jurisdictional Superintendent or Appraiser at least 15 days before the first planned movement, per the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House FAQ on e-sealing.
- Premises are inspected. An officer checks the site and reports within 48 hours. The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner then grants permission.
- One permission, all stations. Once granted, it is valid for export through every customs station. After that you send only an intimation for each sealing.
- Buy seals direct. E-seals come from approved vendors, ordered online against your IEC. Vendors may not appoint distributors.
- Intact means no routine check. Circular 41/2017 treats an intact e-seal like an officer-sealed box. A tampered seal sends the box for examination.
- FCL only. The procedure does not cover LCL, air cargo, CFS to port moves or land customs stations.
VGM: The Weight Rule That Stops Boxes
Verified Gross Mass is the total weight of the packed container: cargo, packing, dunnage, securing material and the container’s own tare. No VGM, no loading.
- Method 1: weigh the packed container on calibrated and certified equipment.
- Method 2: weigh all packages and materials separately and add the container tare. The DGMA cargo safety page lists only four shippers approved for this method.
- Electronic filing: DGMA lists four approved Dedicated Secure Website providers for sending VGM to carriers.
- Cut-off: the carrier or terminal sets the VGM deadline for each vessel. A national cut-off time was not verified as on 24 September 2026.
Documents That Move a Container
The box is checked against these at the factory, the gate and the terminal. The third column is where it gets held.
| Document | What is checked | The mismatch that causes a hold |
|---|
| Booking confirmation | Vessel, container type and cut-offs | Wrong container type released or cut-off missed |
| Equipment interchange receipt | Container number and condition at pickup | Damage not recorded, later charged to you |
| Shipping bill | Container number, e-seal number and weight | Seal number differs from the seal on the box |
| VGM declaration | Gross mass and signatory | Weight differs from the packing list, or it is filed late |
| E-way bill | Vehicle number and invoice value | Vehicle changed on the way without updating it |
Where Container Moves Go Wrong
These failures cost days and charges even when customs clearance is perfect.
| Failure | What you see | What actually broke |
|---|
| VGM not filed before cut-off | Box rolled to the next vessel | Weighment was late or the VGM went to the wrong booking |
| E-seal number mismatch | Container held for examination | A different seal was fixed from the one declared |
| Damaged empty not recorded | Repair bill from the line after return | The interchange receipt was signed without inspection |
| Factory stuffing without permission | Box sent to the CFS for examination | Self-sealing approval was never obtained |
| Container held at the factory | Detention charges from the line | Cargo was not ready when the empty arrived |
| Overweight on the road | Truck stopped or fined | Heavy cargo booked in a box and trailer that exceed road limits |
Illustrative Example: The Rolled Stone Container
This is an illustrative composite, not a named client. A sandstone exporter near Agra stuffs a 20 ft box on the last day before cut-off. The weighbridge slip reaches the forwarder after the VGM cut-off, and the box is rolled. The buyer’s letter of credit expires before the next sailing. Stuffing one day earlier would have avoided an amendment.
Detention and Demurrage Explained
Both are charges for keeping a container beyond its free time. Free days and rates are set in the carrier’s tariff and your booking, so no prices are given here.
| Charge | Charged by | When it starts | How to avoid it |
|---|
| Detention | Shipping line | When the box stays outside the terminal beyond free time | Collect the empty only when cargo is ready |
| Demurrage | Shipping line | When the full box stays inside the terminal beyond free time | Gate in close to the cut-off, not days early |
| Ground rent or storage | Terminal, CFS or ICD | When cargo exceeds the facility’s free storage | Clear customs and load without delay |
What Container Transportation Will Not Do
- A fast truck does not fix a late VGM. Terminals load only boxes with a valid VGM, whatever time they arrive.
- Self-sealing is not a customs waiver. Risk-based examination still applies, and a tampered seal sends the box for inspection.
- The carrier’s free time is not negotiable after booking. Agree detention free days at booking, not when the invoice arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VGM in shipping?
VGM is the Verified Gross Mass of a packed container, including cargo, packing and the container tare. Under SOLAS Chapter VI Regulation 2, in force since 1 July 2016, the shipper must provide it before loading.
Who is responsible for submitting VGM?
The shipper named on the bill of lading is responsible. The forwarder or a DGMA-approved online provider can transmit it, but the declared weight remains the shipper’s legal responsibility.
What is factory stuffing?
Factory stuffing means loading and sealing the export container at your own premises instead of at a CFS. Since 2017 it works through self-sealing with RFID e-seals, without an officer present.
How do I get self-sealing permission for exports?
Inform the jurisdictional customs officer at least 15 days before the first movement. An officer inspects the premises and the Commissioner grants permission, which then covers every customs station.
What happens if the e-seal is tampered?
Under Circular 41/2017-Customs the container is examined. After examination it moves under the traditional customs seal, not the e-seal procedure.
ICD or CFS which is better?
For inland FCL exporters, an ICD near the factory with self-sealing is usually faster. A CFS suits LCL cargo and shippers without self-sealing. NTRS 2025 showed factory stuffed cargo released far faster at ICD Ludhiana.
What is the difference between detention and demurrage?
Detention is charged by the line when its container stays outside the terminal beyond free time. Demurrage is charged when the full container stays inside the terminal beyond free time.
Can I self-seal an LCL shipment?
No. Circular 41/2017-Customs limits self-sealing to full container loads sealed at an approved premise. LCL cargo is stuffed and sealed at the CFS.
Which container do I need for machinery?
A standard box if it fits through the doors. An open top if it is loaded by crane from above. A flat rack if it is wider or taller than a box. Oversized units need project cargo planning.
Does Rasp International own trucks or containers?
No. Containers belong to shipping lines and transport is run by partners in our pan-India network. We plan the move, brief the partners and check the paperwork.
How Rasp International Handles Container Moves
Rasp International is an ISO 9001:2015 certified EXIM and DGFT advisory firm that has served 500+ exporters since 2019. We pick the route, brief the transport and forwarding partners and check the VGM, e-seal and shipping bill before the box leaves your gate.
See the full partner network on our customs house agent services page.
Get Your Next Container Move Checked
Send the booking, packing list and factory location. We will flag route, weight and seal issues before stuffing.