International shipping services often include automobile and construction equipment shipping, but clients can also transport household goods and personal effects such as clothing, furniture, jewelry, household appliances, and more! With the help of a reliable and experienced international shipping company like K International Transport, transporting such items via a 20-, 40-, or 45-foot container is hassle-free and affordable. Clients transport household goods and personal effects overseas for several reasons, including for business purposes, to move abroad, or to send items to family and friends overseas. No matter what the reason, K International Transport can help clients transport all items safely and efficiently.

Lowering the Cost to Ship Personal Effects

Cost is one of the most important factors for clients transporting goods overseas with international shipping services. International shipping is not cheap, but luckily there are great deals for container shipping services and many ways to lower the cost of international container shipping services. Here are several ways to lower the cost of the shipment:

Choosing less-than-container load (LCL) instead of full-container load (FCL)

FCL is when one client uses the entire container for their goods alone, while LCL is a shared container. FCL is the more expensive option because the cost of the container is entirely charged to one client. With LCL, a client can share a container with another shipper going in the same direction and only pay half the price for the container.

Choosing a shorter distance to transport items

K International Transport can help clients locate the domestic port that is closest to the destination port. However, sometimes ports offer good deals, and shipping to them can be more affordable even if they are far away. In addition to these approximate prices, clients may also have to deal with additional tariffs, customs regulations, and fees.

Using just the right container

The container that is used can also affect the price because containers can be larger or smaller and may also be specialized and geared toward a certain type of cargo. Choosing a container that has just the right size and specifications is ideal for lowering the price of the shipment as a whole. There are many different types of containers for different container shipping needs. Reliable international shipping companies can relay this information to their customers to ensure that they get the exact service they need, so contact K International Transport with any additional questions.

A client can elect to transport cargo in a bulk container, which is 20-feet long and preferable for cargo shipped in bulk. However, most clients end up selecting the 20-foot or 40-foot dry freight container, which is the standard general-purpose container. There is also the 40- or 45-foot high cube container. With its 9’6” height, the high cube container is ideal for large, voluminous cargo. Other types of containers include the open-top container, the flat rack, and the platform, all of which are acceptable for heavy or oversized cargo. Generally, the open-top container is meant to make loading easier for taller cargo, the flat rack is for over-width and heavy cargo, and the platform is ideal for extra-length and heavy cargo.

The Shipping Process for Personal Effects

Once clients have chosen their preferred container, ports, and items to ship, the rest of the process is hassle-free with K International Transport. Transporting a container overseas is very similar to shipping an automobile or construction equipment to a port outside the United States. The first step to transporting the container is sending the international shipping company the necessary payments and documents, including payment in full, your identification information, your contact information, the consignee’s information, and an accurate packing list. After this point, you will choose the most cost-effective container for your shipment, decide whether you want to ship FCL or LCL, and get an international shipping quote.

Then, the freight forwarder will schedule the shipment, and you will need to load the container and transport it with the personal effects to the port of origin in the United States. This is what distinguishes transporting cargo with a freight forwarder rather than a moving company. Although you will have to pack and load the container on your own, the services of a freight forwarding company like K International Transport are convenient and typically offered for a lower price than services from a moving company.

Although international container shipping encompasses many different types of cargo, there are certain prohibitions, especially when shipping from the United States. Typically, United States customs does not allow certain goods to be transported in or out of the country. These include perishable food items, plants, medicines and drugs, goods of very high value, liquids, hazardous goods like weapons and flammable items, live animals, and more.

For the most convenient, affordable, and reliable international shipping services, contact K International Transport today! As a leading international shipping company, K International Transport can provide cost-effective and reliable services from the United States to virtually any part of the world. For more information, call us at 212-267-6400, or send us an email at inquiries@kinternational.com. You can also reach out to us on Skype at kinternationalny. For an international shipping rate, visit our rate request page for a preliminary shipping quote.