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Freight forwarder or Defense Transportation System: how does a Foreign Military Sales purchaser ship its materiel?

Updated 3 October 2026Checked against the SAMM: 26 September 2026

The purchaser is responsible for moving its own materiel and typically hires a , a private firm under contract to the purchaser that receives, consolidates and stages the materiel in the United States and ships it onward. The purchaser can instead pay to use the , and some materiel, such as explosives and some classified items, moves through it as a rule.

TYPICAL PATH FROM ORIGIN TO THE PURCHASER’S DESTINATION: WHO MOVES IT, AND WHERE THE HAND-OFF SITS fmsedge.com Through the purchaser’s freight forwarder chosen by the purchaser; DoW cannot recommend one Origin depot or vendor Freight forwarder in the United States Onward carrier the forwarder arranges Who is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale? Purchaser’s destination the purchaser’s agent: receives, consolidates and stages it, enters the export information; cannot act for the government as a DGR a carrier the forwarder hires for the purchaser, for onward movement the purchaser handles import customs and pays all customs charges DTC 5 DoW ships to the forwarder: a DTS shipment until the forwarder unloads it from the carrier DTC 4 “Not applicable (Purchaser has full responsibility at the point of origin. Often forwarded collect to country freight forwarder.)” Who claims when a Foreign Military Sales shipment is lost or damaged? A loss on a carrier it hired: the purchaser or forwarder claims directly Through the Defense Transportation System DoW arranges each leg as far as the code on the line sets Origin depot or vendor CONUS POE a DoW-controlled port Overseas POD port of debarkation Who is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale? Purchaser’s destination the SCO ensures transfer to the purchaser’s DGR, who receives it receiving is the purchaser’s; it pays all customs charges DTC 8 a DTS shipment until it is loaded into the purchaser’s ship or aircraft at the port; the purchaser is responsible for all onward movement DTC 9 “At the overseas POD alongside the vessel or aircraft” DTC 7 “At the overseas inland destination on board the inland carrier's equipment” Who claims when a Foreign Military Sales shipment is lost or damaged? A loss in transit: the SCO files a TDR; the purchaser cannot What is a Delivery Term Code in Foreign Military Sales? Typical paths only: the purchaser chooses how its materiel moves, and SAMM C7.6.2 lists other DTS methods (channel airlift, SAAM, small parcel, APO/FPO, Defense Courier Service). The Implementing Agency assigns a Delivery Term Code (DTC) to each LOA line during case development; the purchaser may state a preferred code in its Letter of Request, and after implementation the code is updated by amendment as required. A code sets how far DoW moves the shipment, not the mode or how it is financed. Title passes at the initial point of shipment unless the LOA says otherwise (C7.3). CONUS = continental United States. POE / POD = port of embarkation / debarkation. DGR = Designated Government Representative. FMS Edge DoW moves the shipment to here · the purchaser or its agent takes custody · no DoW movement fmsedge.com · Current as of 11 September 2026 · SAMM C7.3 · C7.4 · C7.5 · C7.6 · Table C7.T1 · C7.21 · C5.F10

Two typical paths, not the only ones: the purchaser chooses how its materiel moves. Through its own freight forwarder, the Department of War either ships to the forwarder (Delivery Term Code 5) or moves nothing (code 4); through the Defense Transportation System it carries the shipment to the port, the overseas port or the destination (codes 8, 9 and 7). The olive marks show where the purchaser or its agent takes custody. The Implementing Agency assigns each LOA line's code during case development and changes it by amendment as required.

Freight forwarder or the Defense Transportation System: typical paths · Current as of 11 September 2026 · SAMM C7.3 · C7.4 · C7.5 · C7.6 · Table C7.T1 · C7.21 · C5.F10 · Download PNG

Should a Foreign Military Sales purchaser use a freight forwarder or the Defense Transportation System?

Historically, transportation policy has been a policy of purchaser self-sufficiency whereby each purchaser is normally responsible for the transportation and delivery of its own materiel. In the application of this policy, and within the framework of U.S. laws, regulations, and policies, the purchaser typically employs an agent, such as a . The manages transportation and delivery from the ’s facility in the U.S. to the purchaser’s desired destination.

The Defense Transportation System

The DoW encourages customers to make a best value movement decision in the shipment of their materiel. All transportation arrangements from the point of origin should be made by the customer, however, the DoW recognizes that not all customers have the resources to perform their own transportation or to hire their own . Additionally, not all categories of materiel are eligible to be transported through commercial channels. For these reasons, the DoW arranges transportation for the customer using the .

The prime movers within the are the Service Components of the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM): the Air Mobility Command (), the U.S. Army Transportation Command () and the Military Sealift Command (). The manages DoW air terminals and the onward movement of cargo and passengers booked on military airlift. The provides worldwide ocean transportation for the DoW. arranges surface movement within the , and vessels it charters are part of the .

When materiel is shipped through the , the customer is charged for the cost of transportation.

Generally, firearms, explosives, lethal chemicals, other hazardous materiel, and, occasionally, classified materiels, are moved within the or other -arranged transportation on a /GBL to the . The onward movement of these items will be by purchaser-owned or controlled aircraft or purchaser-owned, operated, or controlled surface vessels. materiel, which requires exceptional movement procedures, such as sensitive and certain hazardous materiel as defined in 4500.9-R, Defense Transportation Regulation () Volume 2, part II, “Cargo Movement,” will be shipped through water or aerial port facilities controlled by the DoW. Air cargo that exceeds commercial capability can also be delivered through .

Freight forwarders

The purchaser is responsible for transporting its own -furnished materiel beyond the point of delivery its sets, which is often the U.S. . The purchaser may choose to hire a commercial to arrange for the receipt, processing, export, and import of materiel. The purchaser must clearly define his requirements in a contract with the . do not participate in contract negotiations between a country and a .

Purchasing countries are encouraged to hire a commercial because freight forwarders can provide transportation services for routine cargo that are faster and less expensive than the . The is a private firm under contract to the customer to receive, consolidate, and stage materiel within the U.S. and arrange for its onward movement. As such, the ’s responsibilities must be specified in the contract.

THE SAMPLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN · COMMERCIAL ENTITIES fmsedge.com FF Freight forwarder Under contract to the purchaser, its agent; it cannot act as a DGR Clearance Each entity’s facility clearance and storage capability is named; DCSA verifies it Carriers Domestic and foreign carriers, and the extent of their involvement See the whole plan: the anatomy graphic on the Transportation Plan guide See the whole plan → SECTION D · COMMERCIAL ENTITIES D. COMMERCIAL ENTITIES IN EACH SHIPMENT 1. Freight forwarder: cleared facility, clearance level, cleared staff 2. Domestic carriers: cleared, with protective services 3. International air carriers 4. Ocean carrier FMS Edge the part explained · an agent, not a DGR · on the sample plan · the rest of the plan fmsedge.com · Current as of 27 September 2026 · SAMM C7.5.1 · Figures C7.F1, C7.F2 · C7.13.3.1

The commercial entities on the sample Transportation Plan for a classified and sensitive shipment. Bandaria is the manual's fictional training country; the figure is a training example, not a real case. The plan names the freight forwarder and each carrier with its security clearance; the freight forwarder is the purchaser's agent, not its government representative.

Commercial entities on the sample Transportation Plan · Current as of 27 September 2026 · SAMM C7.5.1 · Figures C7.F1, C7.F2 · C7.13.3.1 · Download PNG

References

Drawn exclusively from publicly available authorities.

SAMM

Related

GuideWho is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideWhat is a Delivery Term Code?GuideWhen does title transfer in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideWho bears the risk of loss in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideHow does a purchaser pay for transportation in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideWho claims when a Foreign Military Sales shipment is lost or damaged?GuideWhat is a Transportation Plan in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideHow does Foreign Military Sales cargo clear customs in the purchaser's country?GuideCan Foreign Military Sales materiel be sent by parcel post or courier?GuideHow is Building Partner Capacity materiel delivered to the partner?