Sourcing truck body parts from China: MOQ, samples, lead times

Sourcing truck and pickup body parts from China is not difficult. Sourcing them predictably is. Almost every problem we see on a first order comes from one of four inputs the buyer could have specified in the first email: the exact generation, the quantity at carton level, the sample approval, and the definition of “pass” for quality. Get those four right and the rest is logistics.

Here is how the process actually runs, with the numbers we use for the parts in our own catalogue.

What MOQ really means

Our published MOQ is 20 pcs on most body parts. That is a real number, but it interacts with two practical constraints:

• Carton multiples. A headlamp pair ships in a foam-lined carton holding one pair. 20 pairs is 20 cartons — fine. A small accessory like a chrome door handle cover packs 100 sets per carton, so its MOQ is 100 sets: not because we want a big order, but because opening a carton to pick 20 means repacking 80.
• Production economics. Stock items can be picked at MOQ because they are already in the warehouse. A painted item or a new tooling run has a set-up cost that only works at a higher quantity — often 50–200 pcs depending on the part.

The useful question is not “what is your MOQ” but “what is the smallest order you can ship me that is still economic for both of us”. For a first trial, a mixed order of 6–10 SKUs at 20–50 pcs each is usually the sweet spot: enough to test sell-through on lamps, mirrors and plastic parts without tying up cash in one SKU.

How the sample process works

A sample is the cheapest insurance in the transaction. Our process for qualified buyers:

• Sample manufacturing takes about 5–7 working days for stock-derived items; custom colours and new tooling take longer.
• Delivery is 5–7 working days by express to most destinations.
• For a first evaluation, the freight is paid by the buyer and credited against the first order. We do not charge for the sample itself on qualified B2B evaluations — the free sample page has the exact conditions.

Fit the sample to a real vehicle before you approve it. Photograph the panel gaps, the connector and the indicator functions. Record the result per SKU in your own catalogue: that record is worth more than any brochure, because it is your evidence when a workshop disagrees with you two years later.

Realistic lead times by part family

Lead times depend on whether the item is stock, painted, tooled or new. These are the windows we quote for the families in our data layer — treat them as planning numbers, not promises for a specific SKU.

Part family	Typical lead time (estimate)	Why
Stock lamps (halogen/LED)	7–15 days	Already packed; QC and carton marking only
Stock mirrors	10–18 days	Glass and housing from separate lines
Bumpers (primed)	12–20 days	Paint line throughput and drying
Steel body panels	12–20 days	Pressing plus E-coat curing
Body kits / styling sets	15–25 days	Multi-part kitting and hardware bags
Custom tooling (new mould)	30–60 days	Tool design, trial, sample approval
Painted-to-code items	15–30 days	Colour batch scheduling

Two things can move a date by a week without warning: a paint colour batch that needs its own run, and a conformity inspection booked after production instead of during it. Both are avoidable if they are on the order confirmation.

The 12-point QC checklist

Ask for a photo pack per SKU and, where relevant, a short video. This is the checklist we run before sealing a container:

1. Quantity and carton count match the packing list, including hardware bags.
2. Lens condition — no scratches, no flow marks, no dust trapped inside the housing.
3. Beam pattern and function test — low beam, high beam, DRL, sequential indicator, reverse light.
4. Water ingress — IP-rated housing, sealed membrane intact, gasket seated.
5. Connector fit — pin count, keyway and latch match the OEM plug.
6. Mounting points — brackets, clips and alignment pins present and square.
7. Colour match — paint to the agreed code or a photographed master panel, under daylight.
8. Panel gaps — steel panels checked on the jig against a master; no oil-canning.
9. Hardware completeness — screws, clips, grommets, fitting notes inside the carton.
10. Carton marks — SKU, description, quantity, LH/RH, destination market, barcode.
11. Drop/crush protection — foam corners, double-wall cartons for panels and kits.
12. Loading photos — container number, half-loaded, full-loaded, seals.

If a supplier cannot provide items 1, 3 and 12 on request, that is a signal about how the next shipment will go.

The costs buyers forget

The FOB price is rarely the landed cost. When you compare suppliers, put these lines in the same spreadsheet — the EXW vs FOB vs DDP guide is the one-page version of this comparison:

• Freight — LCL per CBM or FCL per container; the difference between 22 and 28 CBM can be small per unit, which is why mixed containers work.
• Duty and taxes — HS-code dependent and changeable, especially on Chinese-origin goods. Get the rate from your broker before pricing retail.
• Conformity inspection — PVoC/SONCAP/SABER-type schemes have fees and processing time.
• Document legalisation — 3–7 working days and a fee per document when required.
• Banking — TT fees, LC costs, currency spread.
• Warehouse handling — palletising, repacking, e-commerce labels if you sell online.

A supplier who quotes FOB only is not hiding these — but a supplier who can quote FOB, CIF and DDP side by side is showing you the whole cost structure, which is more useful.

How to sequence your first three orders

1. Trial (LCL or a mixed 20ft): 6–10 SKUs, 20–50 pcs each, one or two categories. Learn the supplier’s QC and documentation behaviour.
2. Mix (20ft): add your best two sellers to depth, add styling parts for retail margin, confirm restock cadence.
3. Annual plan (20ft or 40HQ with a schedule): lock pricing for your top 20 SKUs, review new-model parts quarterly.

Start with the first-container import checklist when you reach step 1 — it lists the documents, inspections and evidence packs to request. Then send the part list as a single message: platform, generation, quantity, destination and packaging need. That is the difference between a quote in hours and a two-week email chain.

Ready to price your first mix? Send your part list with the generation and quantities — we reply with price, lead time, packing and shipping to your door within two business hours.

If this is your first order rather than your first supplier, the first stocking order playbook turns these controls into an assortment and phasing plan — and the claims and replacement playbook covers what to do if a carton arrives wrong.

FAQ

What does MOQ really mean at the carton level? MOQ applies per SKU, not per container: 20 pcs on most stock parts, 20 pairs on lamps, and some small accessories start at 100 pcs because they are carton-packed. Mixed orders are welcome, and the MOQ is what makes a multi-SKU first container practical.

How do sample credits work? The buyer usually pays for the sample and its freight, and many suppliers credit the sample cost against the first bulk order. Approve fit and finish on the sample before bulk production. Treat the sample as a cheap test compared with a container of the wrong part.

What lead times are realistic? Stock items typically run 7–15 days after confirmation and deposit; painted parts and new tooling take longer. Add transit, clearance and inland delivery, and allow extra time where the destination requires a conformity inspection before loading.

What QC should happen before the container is sealed? A final batch inspection with a signed report and photos, a packing list checked against the carton count, and loading photos with the seal number. Agree the AQL and defect definitions in the purchase order so the inspection has a standard to measure against.