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Ben Thompson

Highlights

  • Experienced founders that have successfully founded International Trading Companies.
  • Over 14+ years of Global Trade experience, buying and selling products all over the world.
  • Developed innovative cloud software solutions to streamline global trade documentation for Small and Medium Businesses worldwide.

Created the Global Trade Newsletter, to inform and educate over 150K+ subscribers to help them succeed in global trade

About Ben Thompson

Ben is passionate about International Trade, Import/Export, International Shipping and connecting world markets. For the last 14 years Ben has specialized in importing and exporting goods around the world, and creating content and software solutions to help small and medium sized businesses to become successful in global trade.

After facing the many challenges of running their own trading company, in 2016 Ben Thompson and Brandon Boor founded IncoDocs, a new cloud based software tool to help importers and exporters to streamline their global trade documentation. In 2019 IncoDocs secured investment from global shipping line giant Maersk, as they shared their vision to digitize global supply chain processes. Since then Ben and Brandon have grown IncoDocs to provide solutions to companies in over 120 countries.

Additionally, the IncoDocs team continues to provide detailed industry articles, videos, podcasts, guides and tools to help companies thrive in global trade. The IncoDocs YouTube channel has gained over 20K+ subscribers, and had over 1 Million video views.  The team are consistently providing useful content to help importers and exporters solve their problems along the supply chain.

Ben and Brandon also created the Global Trade Newsletter, which continues to provides news, resources and helpful content to over 150k+ subscribers.

The IncoDocs team are passionate about global trade and understand the complexities of the global supply chain and continue to create content and solutions to streamline the import export process and drive the future of global trade.

Posts by Ben Thompson

  • International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code – Complete Guide for Ships and Ports

    Last updated on August 15, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    ISPS Code

    What is the ISPS Code? The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, or ISPS Code, is an international framework for safeguarding ships and port facilities from security threats. It is part of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) under Chapter XI-2 and became mandatory on July 1, 2004. Governments at…

  • How the CBP Penalties Program Impacts Importers and Exporters

    Last updated on August 10, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    Why the Penalties Program Matters The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Penalties Program is designed to keep trade fair and transparent. It targets violations that could harm the U.S. economy, consumers, and supply chains. CBP enforces penalties across 326 ports of entry and 42 field offices. The goal is not just to punish, but…

  • Letters of Credit in International Trade Explained

    Last updated on August 9, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Letter of Credit

    A letter of credit (LC) is a financial instrument used in international trade. It is sometimes called a documentary credit or a bank commitment. An LC is issued by a bank on behalf of an importer. It guarantees that the exporter will get paid once the required documents are presented. (source: trade.gov) Banks do not…

  • What is the Meaning of Joint Shipping? A Guide to Combining Orders for Faster, Cheaper Delivery

    Last updated on July 21, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    What is a Joint Shipment and Why Does it Matter? If your business receives multiple orders going to the same shipping address, you’re not alone. This is common in global e-commerce and B2B sales. Customers often place several orders within a short window. This typically occurs during sales, product launches, or repeat stock replenishments. When…

  • What does “Shipment Debagged at Location” mean?

    Last updated on July 11, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    Why does my tracking say “shipment debagged at location”? This status means your shipment was removed from a bulk bag at a depot or sorting site. Couriers often pack smaller packages into larger sacks during transit to save space and move goods faster. Once that bag reaches a key point, such as a distribution centre…

  • Freight Charges Explained

    Last updated on June 30, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    freight charges title

    What Are Freight Charges? Freight charges are the fees businesses pay to transport goods via land, sea, air, or rail. These charges cover costs like fuel, vehicle operation, handling, and customs. They also account for extra services like temperature control, special insurance, and loading assistance. Freight charges directly affect your profit margin and pricing strategy.…

  • General Purpose (GP) vs High Cube (HC) Containers: Which is Right for Your Shipment?

    Last updated on June 17, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    GP vs HC containers

    What is a General Purpose (GP) Container? A GP container is a General Purpose container. It’s the most common type of shipping container used for sea freight. GP containers are designed for dry cargo and are fully enclosed, with solid walls, a rigid roof, and double doors at one end. GP containers come in two…

  • RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off) vs Container Car Shipping

    Last updated on June 12, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    RoRo for shipping cars

    Choosing how to ship your car is a big part of moving it internationally or sending it to a new destination. The shipping service you choose can shape your costs, the logistics of the trip, and how safe your car stays. You’ll hear about two main shipping services: RoRo and container car shipping. This guide…

  • Bill of Lading vs Proof of Delivery in Shipping

    Last updated on June 6, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Bill of Lading (BOL) vs Proof of Delivery (POD)

    The bill of lading and the proof of delivery are two common shipping documents. They often get mixed up because they both track goods during a shipment. But each document has a different job. If you don’t understand what sets them apart, you might face confusion or some delays that can add up. Let’s clear…

  • What Is a Specific Duty and What Is Its Role?

    Last updated on June 5, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Specific Duty

    A specific duty is a fixed tax that’s applied to goods when they cross a country’s border. It’s charged based on the physical amount — like per kilogram, litre, or item — instead of a percentage of the value of the goods. Specific duties help raise revenue and protect local industries. They’re also easier for…

  • International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code – Complete Guide for Ships and Ports

    Last updated on August 15, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    ISPS Code

    What is the ISPS Code? The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, or ISPS Code, is an international framework for safeguarding ships and port facilities from security threats. It is part of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) under Chapter XI-2 and became mandatory on July 1, 2004. Governments at […] Read More »

  • How the CBP Penalties Program Impacts Importers and Exporters

    Last updated on August 10, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    Why the Penalties Program Matters The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Penalties Program is designed to keep trade fair and transparent. It targets violations that could harm the U.S. economy, consumers, and supply chains. CBP enforces penalties across 326 ports of entry and 42 field offices. The goal is not just to punish, but […] Read More »

  • Letters of Credit in International Trade Explained

    Last updated on August 9, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Letter of Credit

    A letter of credit (LC) is a financial instrument used in international trade. It is sometimes called a documentary credit or a bank commitment. An LC is issued by a bank on behalf of an importer. It guarantees that the exporter will get paid once the required documents are presented. (source: trade.gov) Banks do not […] Read More »

  • What is the Meaning of Joint Shipping? A Guide to Combining Orders for Faster, Cheaper Delivery

    Last updated on July 21, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    What is a Joint Shipment and Why Does it Matter? If your business receives multiple orders going to the same shipping address, you’re not alone. This is common in global e-commerce and B2B sales. Customers often place several orders within a short window. This typically occurs during sales, product launches, or repeat stock replenishments. When […] Read More »

  • What does “Shipment Debagged at Location” mean?

    Last updated on July 11, 2025 by Ben Thompson

    Why does my tracking say “shipment debagged at location”? This status means your shipment was removed from a bulk bag at a depot or sorting site. Couriers often pack smaller packages into larger sacks during transit to save space and move goods faster. Once that bag reaches a key point, such as a distribution centre […] Read More »

  • Freight Charges Explained

    Last updated on June 30, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    freight charges title

    What Are Freight Charges? Freight charges are the fees businesses pay to transport goods via land, sea, air, or rail. These charges cover costs like fuel, vehicle operation, handling, and customs. They also account for extra services like temperature control, special insurance, and loading assistance. Freight charges directly affect your profit margin and pricing strategy. […] Read More »

  • General Purpose (GP) vs High Cube (HC) Containers: Which is Right for Your Shipment?

    Last updated on June 17, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    GP vs HC containers

    What is a General Purpose (GP) Container? A GP container is a General Purpose container. It’s the most common type of shipping container used for sea freight. GP containers are designed for dry cargo and are fully enclosed, with solid walls, a rigid roof, and double doors at one end. GP containers come in two […] Read More »

  • RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off) vs Container Car Shipping

    Last updated on June 12, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    RoRo for shipping cars

    Choosing how to ship your car is a big part of moving it internationally or sending it to a new destination. The shipping service you choose can shape your costs, the logistics of the trip, and how safe your car stays. You’ll hear about two main shipping services: RoRo and container car shipping. This guide […] Read More »

  • Bill of Lading vs Proof of Delivery in Shipping

    Last updated on June 6, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Bill of Lading (BOL) vs Proof of Delivery (POD)

    The bill of lading and the proof of delivery are two common shipping documents. They often get mixed up because they both track goods during a shipment. But each document has a different job. If you don’t understand what sets them apart, you might face confusion or some delays that can add up. Let’s clear […] Read More »

  • What Is a Specific Duty and What Is Its Role?

    Last updated on June 5, 2025 by Ben Thompson
    Specific Duty

    A specific duty is a fixed tax that’s applied to goods when they cross a country’s border. It’s charged based on the physical amount — like per kilogram, litre, or item — instead of a percentage of the value of the goods. Specific duties help raise revenue and protect local industries. They’re also easier for […] Read More »

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Glossary of Shipping Terms

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Unit Load Device ULD Air Container Specifications

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