International Transport Coordination
Together with you, we review the origin and destination points of your cargo, its nature and your planned timeline. We support the coordination of the steps of road, air or sea shipments with the relevant parties.
Harbiteks is a foreign trade and sourcing company based in Merter, Istanbul. Transport coordination is the shipping side of sourcing products from Turkey and of your foreign trade processes. We assess the transport mode with you, clarify the information needed for a quote and, with your approval, support the coordination of the steps between the carrier and other authorized parties.
Who is this service for?
It is meant for companies that ship products from Turkey to other countries, or that want to deliver products sourced in Turkey to a buyer abroad. It can help in these cases:
- You want to compare road, air and sea options for your cargo.
- You are not sure whether your cargo should travel as a full load or a partial load.
- You want to see the quote, document, customs, transport and delivery steps within a clear plan.
Roles: what does Harbiteks do, and who does what?
In this service, Harbiteks is not the carrier; it provides coordination. The cargo is carried by the carrier selected for the shipment. Customs procedures are carried out by parties authorized to perform them. Harbiteks supports the coordination of the information and document flow between these parties.
| Step | Harbiteks | Other parties |
|---|---|---|
| Needs and suitability | Clarifies the origin, destination, cargo and timeline details with you and reviews the request. | You: provide the cargo and shipment details. |
| Transport options and quote | Presents suitable transport modes and the scope of the quote. | Carriers: provide capacity and rate information. |
| Acceptance | Explains the scope of the quote. | You: accepting or declining the quote is your decision. |
| Loading and transport | Coordinates the timing with the carrier and the relevant parties. | Carrier: collects and carries the cargo. |
| Customs and document procedures | Coordinates the flow of information and documents. | Authorized customs broker or other relevant authorized party: carries out the customs procedures. |
| Destination side | Assesses with you how responsibilities may be divided, depending on the delivery term. | Buyer and the parties the buyer appoints: carry out the procedures in the destination country. |
| Updates | Shares with you the shipment information that reaches it. | Carrier and relevant parties: provide status information. |
Which party takes on which step depends on the delivery term (Incoterms, short for International Commercial Terms) and on the scope of the quote. This division of responsibilities is addressed at the quoting stage.
Transport modes
The right mode depends on the volume, weight, urgency and destination of your cargo. More than one option can be assessed in a single request. The descriptions below are general information. Which option suits your cargo becomes clear at the quoting stage.
Road transport: full and partial truckloads (FTL and LTL)
There are two ways your cargo can be placed in the vehicle on the road.
- FTL (Full Truckload): The truck is reserved for your cargo alone; no other company’s cargo is loaded onto it. It is considered if your cargo nearly fills the truck or if you do not want it mixed with other cargo.
- LTL (Less than Truckload, partial load): Your cargo travels on the same truck as other companies’ cargo, so the vehicle space is shared. It is an option for cargo that does not fill a truck on its own. Because cargo is consolidated and separated, transfer and waiting steps may occur. Transit time can therefore differ from FTL.
To clarify the quote, it helps to share the number of pallets or cartons, the weight and the dimensions.
Air cargo
Air freight is considered for shipments where timing is the priority and the volume is relatively small. Samples and urgently needed parts are examples. Airlines usually calculate the charge on the greater of the cargo’s actual weight and its volumetric weight. For this reason, the dimensions of the packaging can affect the quote. If you know the dimensions, it helps to share them.
Sea transport: full and partial container loads (FCL and LCL)
For container shipments by sea, there are two ways to use a container.
- FCL (Full Container Load): The container is reserved for your cargo alone. It is considered for cargo whose volume is close to filling a container.
- LCL (Less than Container Load, partial container): Your cargo shares a container with other companies’ cargo. Cargo is consolidated at the departure side and separated at the destination side. Because of these handling steps, transit time can differ from FCL. It is an option for cargo that does not fill a container.
The container type (for example 20-foot or 40-foot), the ports of loading and discharge and the planned timeline shape a sea transport quote.
Not sure which to choose?
In the request form, you can select “Not sure” as the transport mode. We assess the volume, urgency and destination of your cargo together with you.
What information do we need for a quote?
A short set of details is enough for the first request. You can leave out details you do not know; this does not block your request. You do not need to upload documents with the first request.
Required information
- Origin and destination (country and city)
- Description of the cargo (what will be carried and how it is packed)
Helpful if you know it
- Weight, dimensions, and the number of pallets or cartons
- Planned loading date or delivery timeline
- Your preferred transport mode (road, air, sea or not sure)
- Delivery term, Incoterms (International Commercial Terms): A set of international rules that define the responsibilities of buyer and seller, who bears which costs and when the risk passes from one to the other. Example rule names: FCA (Free Carrier), CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), DAP (Delivered at Place).
- GTİP (Gümrük Tarife İstatistik Pozisyonu, Turkish Customs Tariff Statistical Position): The 12-digit code that shows how a product is classified in the Turkish customs tariff. It is not required if you do not know it.
How does the process work?
Saving your request does not mean that a commercial quote has been issued or that your cargo has been accepted. This page makes no commitment on price, transit time or delivery date.
Under what conditions is a request considered?
- Route. The focus is on shipments departing from Turkey. You can also send a request for a different route. It is assessed by route, cargo and scope; we may not be able to provide the service for every request.
- Cargo. This page is about commercial shipments; we may not be able to provide the service for every product or cargo type. If your cargo needs a special permit, special equipment or special handling, say so in your request. Such cargo is assessed separately and may not be accepted.
- Price and time. These vary with the route, transport mode, characteristics of the cargo, the period and carrier availability. This page gives no price or transit time information.
- Documents and permits. What is needed varies with the product, its GTİP and the destination country; the requirements are not the same for every shipment. For the current position, consult an authorized customs broker or the relevant authority. For more detail, see Export, Import and Operations Coordination.
- Regions. For general information on which routes are assessed, see Markets.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose FTL or LTL? If your cargo fills a truck on its own, or you do not want it mixed with other cargo, FTL is considered; for cargo that does not fill a truck, LTL. The same logic applies to FCL and LCL in sea transport. If you are not sure, select “Not sure” in the form and we will assess the options together.
Will I see a price or transit time when I submit a request? No. The form does not calculate an automatic price or freight (transport charge). We review your request and get in touch with you; a commercial quote is a separate step.
Does Harbiteks carry the cargo? No. Harbiteks is not a carrier; it provides coordination. The cargo is carried by the carrier selected for the shipment. Which party takes on which step is addressed at the quoting stage.
Do you carry out the customs procedures? Harbiteks does not provide customs brokerage or certification services. Customs procedures are carried out by the parties authorized for this work. Harbiteks supports the coordination of the related information and document flow.
Which documents are needed? The list depends on the product, the destination country and the transport mode. Documents such as a commercial invoice and a packing list may come up. For the exact list, confirmation from an authorized customs broker or the relevant authority is needed.
Request a quote for your shipment
Share your origin and destination points, your cargo and your planned timeline. We review your request and get in touch with you.
If you would rather talk first:
- Phone: +90 536 797 53 34
- WhatsApp: +90 536 797 53 34
- Email: sales@harbiteksgroup.com
- Address: Abdurrahman Nafiz Gürman Mah., General Ali Rıza Gürcan Cad. No: 13/10, Merter / İstanbul 34173
Related pages
Sources and last check: The information on this page about Incoterms, GTİP and air cargo charges is based on the Incoterms 2020 page of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the explanation of GTİP by the Turkish Ministry of Trade, and the air cargo charges explanation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Last checked: 13 October 2026. Requirements vary by product and country; a check by an authorized specialist is needed for your shipment. [Source links in the footnote: the three official/industry source links listed in section 9]