NVOCC -operator of combined transport with its juridical status "Contract carrier".

Intermodal transports - modern, the most competitive form of transports organization for general cargoes, and first of all - containers.

NVOCC is not just a carrier of any specified mode of transportation in its traditional meaning, it implicates a package contract, which includes different kinds of transportation, the following services in transfer port and then full forwarding service.

NVOCC does not have its own naval and in most cases - container equipment.

NVOCC uses its own multimodal bill of lading (House b/l), which covers "door to door" shipment and takes responsibility for the cargo at all destinations. That is the main feature that differs NVOCC shipping company from typical freight forwarding company.
The publication of its own bill of lading ensures that the company takes responsibility for the cargo, while the usual freight-forwarding company, which does not issue bills of lading, acts as agent. In the given, the responsibility to cargo owner will hold carriers.

The company with NVOCC status acts as a forwarder warrant at all transportation.

The gist of the NVOCC - multimodal transportation "door to door". For example, a goods importer from China becomes NVOCC company client and receives one price for the whole transportation, which includes shipping expenses in China, sea freight, port payments, goods delivery to the recipient warehouse. Also NVOCC can offer services related to customs clearance and cargo insurance, provide advice on commercial documents, customs law and transportation law limits of the exporting country.

NVOCC status is legally defined only in two countries: the United States and China. Nevertheless, the importance of these two countries in the world economic system and their share of the world's cargo take a significant place to see NVOCC as a viable and promising way to increase the number of shipping companies - forwarders, which removes the main limitation - the possession of own transport.