FAQ & Tips

Vanguard Freight & Logistics is located in Lilliput, St. James, Jamaica. We serve Lilliput, Rose Hall, Greenwood, Ironshore, Montego Bay and nearby communities.

We offer USA and China air and sea freight, package processing, invoice support, shipment updates, pickup, local delivery and customer support.

Personal USA air shipments cost JMD $850 for the first pound and JMD $650 for every additional pound at any weight. Weight rounds up to the next whole pound before pricing. Business shipments use separate published tiers; select Business in the homepage calculator. Its tier-transition price cap prevents a heavier shipment from receiving a lower freight estimate. Review the current rate table before shipping.

USA sea freight costs US$15 per cubic foot. Volume rounds up to the next whole cubic foot, with a minimum billable volume of three cubic feet and minimum base freight charge of US$45. Review the current sea-freight rate or confirm your final quote with Vanguard before sending a package.

China air and sea freight are quoted on request. Contact Vanguard before shipping for a shipment-specific quote confirming pricing, minimums and whether customs, duties or other charges are included. The USA calculator does not apply to China shipments.

Yes. Send your invoice or receipt so we can process your package and support customs clearance. Keep your own copy in case Jamaica Customs requests proof of value.

A package that arrives without a mailbox number is treated as an unknown package and held until it is matched to a customer. Contact Vanguard as soon as possible with your registered name, mailbox number, retailer tracking number and invoice so the team can verify ownership. An additional fee applies before release; the amount is to be confirmed by Vanguard. Update the delivery address saved with your retailer so future packages include your full name and mailbox number.

Yes. Personal accounts can consolidate packages through the customer portal. Use your existing account to request consolidation; separate packages are not combined automatically. Check the portal or contact Vanguard for any applicable fees, holding period, repacking arrangements and how the final shipment will be measured and charged. Consolidation does not guarantee a lower total cost.

Every USA air and sea package receives free Standard Protection up to US$100 (J$16,000), whatever its declared value. There is no Extra Protection or paid protection add-on. The declared value must match the supplier invoice or receipt. If a package is under-declared, the payout is limited to the declared value; partial losses are paid in proportion.

Vanguard's care starts when a package physically arrives at the US warehouse and ends when you collect it, Vanguard delivers it in St. James, or it is handed to Knutsford Express. Vanguard is not responsible for packages on the way to the warehouse or lost before they arrive; those are for the seller or carrier to deal with. A carrier's "delivered" status is not proof that Vanguard received the package.

Protection excludes poor seller packaging, prohibited items, cash, jewellery unless approved in writing, Customs seizures, delays and concealed damage reported late. Email claims to info@vanguardja.com within 48 hours of collection or delivery, with photos and the supplier invoice or receipt. Keep the item and packaging until the claim is settled. Approved claims are paid in J$ within 14 business days. See the Damage, Loss & Liability Policy.

Dimensional weight is a size-based weight rather than the weight shown on a scale. Vanguard's USA air freight uses actual package weight in pounds, rounded up to the next whole pound; it does not use dimensional-weight pricing. USA sea freight uses dimensional or volume pricing in cubic feet, not pounds. Send the packaged length, width and height to Vanguard before buying bulky items so the team can confirm the sea-freight volume, minimums and final quote. China shipments are quoted on request; confirm the applicable measurements with Vanguard.

Common items include clothing, shoes, electronics, accessories, gifts and household goods. Check with us before shipping commercial stock, perishables or anything that may be restricted.

Yes. Firearms, ammunition, weapons, explosives, illegal drugs, hazardous materials, counterfeit goods and other items prohibited by Jamaican, US or Chinese law are not accepted. Review the full prohibited-items policy before shipping.

Contact Vanguard before buying or sending batteries, power banks or battery-powered equipment. Lithium batteries can be subject to dangerous-goods restrictions, and acceptance depends on the item and shipping route. Tell the team the battery type, product model, quantity and whether the battery is installed in equipment or separate, then obtain confirmation of acceptance and any documentation or packaging requirements. Do not send damaged, swollen or recalled batteries.

Some perfumes and aerosols contain flammable substances. Vanguard's prohibited-items policy does not accept hazardous materials or flammable liquids. Before purchasing perfume, an aerosol or another liquid, send the product details to Vanguard to confirm whether that item can be accepted on your route. Do not send hazardous or flammable items, and do not assume a product is permitted because a retailer will ship it.

Contact Vanguard before ordering a phone to confirm acceptance on your route and any battery-related requirements. Provide the model, quantity, declared value and invoice, and say whether the phone is new or used. Phones commonly contain lithium batteries, so shipping conditions may differ from ordinary clothing or household goods. Do not send a phone with a damaged, swollen or recalled battery.

We will send an arrival update when your package is ready for pickup or the next delivery step. Keep your contact information current so you do not miss an update.