haiti shipping cargo planning and options

What I measure first

I move tools and supplies into Port-au-Prince regularly, so I watch the few metrics that decide outcomes.

• Transit reliability - booked vs actual arrival within a 2 - 4 day window.
• Port handling speed - berth congestion and customs working hours.
• Damage rate - palletization quality, humidity control, lifting points marked.
• Total landed cost - ocean, THC, duties, last-mile dray.

Mode and container choices

I almost booked LCL for a 14 cbm load - no, a 20' FCL reduced touchpoints and cleared faster.

1. FCL for time-critical kits; performance: fewer handoffs, quicker devanning.
2. LCL for steady replenishment under 10 cbm; result: lower cash tied up, but buffer extra days.
3. Ro-Ro for vehicles and gensets; confirm ramp schedules into Cap-Haïtien.

Route and timing

Miami sailings look frequent, yet the earliest vessel with space beats the flashiest transit time on paper.

Real moment: last August I shipped water pumps; pre-cleared docs and avoided a three-day queue - customs stamped release before the container hit the yard.

Checklist that saves me

• Proforma, packing list, HS codes aligned.
• Moisture control: desiccants, stretch-wrap, vented boxes in rainy season.
• Local delivery plan: truck availability and road conditions.
• Contingency: rollover clause and a second carrier option.

Choose by measurable performance, test small, then scale for dependable results.

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