Meticulous preparation of paperwork prevents delays

Shipping stories in Angola commonly echo the experience of trucks stalled at the border for weeks because of improper documentation, with any problem exacerbated by the language barrier. Zico Batista of Bull Intertrans in Zeerust says the only insurance against long delays is meticulous preparation of paperwork from visas to customs clearances. “Every month we go up. Transport brokers hire us. We do full loads. Breakbulk can cause problems at (Angolan) customs. If all the duties are not paid or documentation is not all there at customs upon entry you can have a two to three week delay, with one shipment holding up the others,” Batista said.