If you are planning a household or company move abroad, it is an exciting time. You’ve picked a location, selected a building or apartment, made all the necessary arrangements, and selected the right international mover—or did you? Do you need an international mover or do you need an international shipper? Understanding some of the similarities can save you money and quality of services in the end.
It isn’t the case that household goods must only go with a mover and not a shipper. That is a myth from the past. In fact, when it comes to doing an international shipment, there are usually only two ways to go, no matter if you go with a shipper or a mover: by air or by sea. So, what are the pros and cons?
International Movers
International Shippers
How can K International Transport help?
As an international shipping company, K International Transport can help clients move their cargo overseas. This can be done by container shipping, unless the cargo is wheeled and self-propelled, in which case roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessels can be utilized. Different types of containers may be used by clients depending on the dimensions and the type of cargo being shipped. A shipper may choose a bulk container, which is 20-feet long and preferable for cargo shipped in bulk. Otherwise, clients can elect to use a 20-foot or 40-foot dry freight container, which is a standard general purpose container. For extra-large cargo, 40- or 45-foot high-cube containers may be most suitable. 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.
K International Transport can help shippers make the best choices regarding their cargo when shipping with international container shipping services. Once the client has determined the best container to use depending on their cargo, the shipper would pay the price of the container and load it. If the cargo contains large equipment, it may need to be dismantled before being loaded.
Although international container shipping can be expensive, there are ways to lower the price to make the shipment more affordable. If your cargo will not take up the full volume of a container, clients can opt for less-than-container load (LCL) shipping instead of full-container load (FCL), which will allow several shippers to share a container overseas. This can significantly lower the cost, as the price of the container will be shared.
Additionally, K International Transport can also determine the best domestic port for clients to ship from to lower the cost of overseas cargo shipping. For shippers that cannot transport their cargo from door to port, K International Transport can provide for reliable inland trucking and transportation services to the United States port.
To start the processing of transporting cargo overseas, clients will have to tell an agent their preferred schedule for shipment, pay in full, and submit the necessary documents, including the title (if it is equipment or a vehicle), the identification of the shipper and consignee, the power of attorney, and a packing list of the items being shipped.
Shippers should be aware that some ports and countries have requirements for certain cargo to be accepted at the port. For example, equipment must be kept clean, free of excess dirt, and without leaks. Otherwise, the cargo may not be accepted, or the shipper may be charged a cleaning fee. Some countries may have more specific inspection and cleaning requirements, especially for used large equipment. If these requirements are not met, the cargo may be rejected or withheld when it arrives, so it is very important that shippers strictly abide by these regulations.
Before you ship, make sure to visit K International Transport’s website to get a preliminary international shipping quote on the rate request page. With a reliable international shipping company like K International, transporting specialized cargo, equipment, retail goods, building materials, and more to ports in Europe is hassle-free and affordable. 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. We look forward to working with you!