Logistics and Transportation Translation

Inbound: documents that clear customs

For goods entering the US, the commercial invoice must be in English or come with an accurate English translation, and the same applies to its attachments. Supporting documents often arrive in the exporter's language: certificates of origin, packing lists, phytosanitary and health certificates, test reports, letters of credit. When CBP or a partner agency asks questions, a clear English translation of each shortens the hold. We translate goods descriptions exactly as written, keep HS codes, quantities, weights and values untouched, and do not "correct" a description, because a translation that improves the description can misstate what was declared.

Outbound: documents going abroad

Exports need the reverse: invoices, certificates and labels in the destination's language, often with legalisation or an apostille. Requirements vary by country and by product; your forwarder or the importer's broker usually knows what the destination authority asks for, and we translate to that list.

Hazmat and safety

Hazardous-materials shipping papers must be in English. Where crews or warehouse staff read another language better, the training, procedures and supplementary safety sheets can be translated, while the official documents stay in English. Proper shipping names and UN numbers are never translated in US documents.

Drivers and English proficiency

Commercial drivers must read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, talk to officials and complete reports. Since 2025, roadside inspectors again place drivers who fail that test out of service. Translation does not change the rule, but companies with multilingual workforces translate their training, policies and safety bulletins so drivers and dock workers understand them, while preparing drivers for the English requirement.

Contracts and claims

Carrier agreements, warehousing contracts and cargo claims with foreign partners need accurate translations, especially of liability limits and Incoterms, which stay as their standard abbreviations (FOB, CIF, DAP) and are never translated into descriptive phrases.

Warehouses and multilingual crews

Distribution centres in New Jersey and New York run on mixed-language crews. The documents that matter most for them are short: forklift and dock safety rules, emergency procedures, chemical handling instructions, and the signs and labels on racking and equipment. Translate these first. Keep the wording short and visual, use the same term for each piece of equipment that supervisors use when they speak, and put the English and translated text side by side so supervisors can point to the same line. Official hazmat documents and SDSs stay in English; the training around them can be in any language the crew reads.