Now I have to load it with U Crates and Pallets that are wanting to go to Europe.

So the office runs a load list report and gives to the warehouse to prep the right shipments near the loading dock ready to load when the container arrives.

The load list is based on the destination obviously, meaning either Europe, The UK, New Zealand or Australia. The shipments that have sat patiently the longest will go first as long as their owners have paid for them to travel.

  I am loading a container (one of 6 actually) going to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Once it arrives there, out local UPakWeShip team will arrange clearing customs and delivering to all the European homes the U Crates and pallets are eager to go to.

I am driving the forklift so your view is what I see from the forklift seat. The first picture here is of the first two U Crate 100’s loaded in the 40 foot long shipping container. You can see how the two fit snugly together side by side for the ride.

The next few pictures show me gradually loading up the 40 foot shipping container with UPakWeShip’s U Crate 100’s They are very popular and make up the majority of the load today. This is because they are the safest way to move and ship your things to Europe from the USA and Canada.

At last as we are nearly near the end of the shipping container we have something different to load. Here is a U Crate 200 known in the trade as a liftvan. Its made of wood and many international movers use these for packing in to. In this case a customer has used a professional international mover to pack and load their items into a “liftvan” and deliver to us for shipping overseas.

The last two to catch this container ride to Europe are a couple of pallets going to Switzerland. Because Switzerland is not part of the European Union it has different customs regulations than most. For this destination we have to clear the shipment through Swiss customs at the border as we enter Switzerland rather than in our bonded warehouse in the Netherlands. Norway has the same procedures as Switzerland when we go there as well. Anyhow here are the last two pallets getting loaded and the container is now full.

A 40 foot shipping container holds 20 U Crate 100,s but in this case we have loaded 16 U Crate 100’s, a U Crate 200 which takes up two pallet positions and two pallets making the 20.

You can see, nothing can move side to side in a rough sea on the ship as they are all loaded nice and tight. They cant move front to back either as its loaded all the way from the front to the back doors. All we have left to do is shut the container doors, fix a security seal lock through the door handle so no one can open it except for customs and do the paperwork for the driver to take it back to Charleston Port for it to be loaded on the ship to Rotterdam.

The transit time across the Atlantic is about 10 days but first the ship carries on up the coast after departing Charleston to unload and load other containers before heading out across the Atlantic so that might take another 7 days or so.

When our system automatically sends you the sailing details of the ship your shipment will be traveling on, its a great idea to get an app for your phone like Marine Traffic so you can track the progress of the ship and see where it is each day.

The three pictures here show me and the forklift, the container with the doors shut ready to ship and a container vessel leaving Charleston Port.

I hope you enjoyed the “This is how we do it” at UPakWeShip presentation.

Any questions don’t forget to ask the International Moving Doctor.

The post This is how we do it at UPakWeShip appeared first on UPakWeShip.

If you’re in the early stages of moving or thinking about moving abroad in the next year or so, our cost calculator is a genius way to tell you everything you need to know about your move instantly.

To use it, all you need to do is input your current location and your destination, and ta-da! The cost of our various services will be presented to you.

For those who have been offered a lump sum relocation allowance, this is an ideal service, as it will give you not just a ballpark, but a complete cost of how much this area of your move will be if you go with UPakWeShip. Our costs are all-inclusive, and you can then work out how much you have remaining to spend on other aspects such as flights.

Even if you haven’t got a relocation allowance, our calculator will allow you to budget more effectively for the other parts of your move to consider. Those of us who are big planners can make the most of this time by using your service cost as a base to build upon. With other research, you could figure out your entire moving budget during this period of time, where usually you’d be running around last minute!

Once you have used the calculator to find your service, any of our door-to-door options can currently be delivered! This means you can begin your packing preparation ASAP! Having the pallet or U-Crate in your home will take a huge weight off your shoulders, and you can even begin the paperwork so that when moving day comes, all you need to worry about is packing and getting yourself out of there!

Another huge perk of our service is that the pick-up date is flexible. If you’re unsure of when you’re moving, your date can be added later or be amended, provided we receive notice of the alteration. This means you can input a preemptive date – or no date at all – when you order your service!

For more information on UPakWeShip and our services, check out our website! We’re proud to bring 30 years of shipping experience to every customer and endeavour to make your moving process as smooth as possible.

The post Why Our Instant Cost Calculator is Every Mover’s Best Friend appeared first on UPakWeShip.

The ToR, or Transfer of Residence form, was introduced to the UK to allow you to ship your items into the country duty-free and tax-free. It should be one of the number one things on your to-do list, as we need your ToR number in order to ship your belongings.

However, to obtain duty and tax-free entry of your used household items there is a criteria:

• You must be shipping your own belongings within 12 months of your personal arrival to the UK.
• You must have lived outside of the UK for the past 12 months.
• You must declare all of your items that you are going to ship have been used for more than 6 months and that you are not going to sell them within the next 12 months.

You can find the full terms and conditions of the ToR on the UK Government’s website, however, before you start the process it’s important to have prepared:

• Your packing list
• A photocopy of your passport page
• Proof of your UK address
• Proof of your current address
• Details of any vehicle you’re bringing with you (yes, we ship vehicles too!)

We know it sounds daunting, and nobody likes paperwork, but don’t worry, when you ship with us, your shipping coordinator will know all of the ins and outs and will talk you through the process…

…Which has just become significantly shorter, thanks to the UK finally getting with the times!

From the 1st of January, the once email-in ToR system has become digitised – you simply submit your ToR via this online application, smoothing about the whole process tenfold!

If you know you’re ineligible for the ToR tax and duty-free relief, for example, all your items are less than 6 months old or you’re sending items to somebody else, then you will need to provide a packing list with used values and a letter explaining the circumstances why you are shipping these items as well as completing the ToR form. UK Customs may then charge duties and taxes if you do not qualify for duty-free entry.

Are you looking at moving to the UK? UPakWeShip has instant, all-inclusive prices for your move available on our website.

The post Do you need a ToR? The new UK online system appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Where you’ll be living, house hunting, the prospect of starting anew, all of these are the fun aspects of moving. The initial thoughts can seem like a distant memory when the hard work begins, so how can you make the whole process feel less stressful?

Organize Yourself

From the start, you need to be a step ahead. Take time at the very beginning of your moving process to write a list of everything you need to do, and the timeframe in which they need to be completed.

Initially, this may feel overwhelming, but by breaking it all down, you can create an efficient plan of what you need to be doing and when, which will avoid you from feeling overwhelmed with tasks, and will (hopefully) make everything feel a lot more manageable.

Get Time on Your Side

This cannot be emphasised enough. The more time you have, the more organized you’ll be, the more organized you are, the less stress it will be. Simple logic, right?

If you’re moving abroad, everything task has an expiry date. Book pickups, deliveries and shipments way in advance. If you don’t have a designation address yet, don’t worry! Movers will be able to edit the details later down the line, the main thing is that it’s arranged in the first place.

Take off some of the financial burden

One of the easiest ways to lessen the financial burden, is by packing yourself. Yes, this does mean you’ll need to be more organized, but it also can save you a lot of money. Packing yourself means you know exactly what you’ll be packing and where it will go. It also allows you to organize items that are of sentimental value, where packers may not necessarily take as much care.

Consider a self-pack, door-to-door service such as UPakWeship, to lighten both your mental and physical loads. Your own crate will be delivered, you pack it up, and we’ll collect it on a date pre-organised. It means a lot less waiting around, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge your belongings are en route to their destination. Plus, with offices in the USA and Canada, you know everything will be in safe hands!

Reassure Yourself With Safety Precautions

It’s natural to be worrying about moving abroad right now, but we have moved thousands of families, employees and individuals this year. The world doesn’t stop turning and houses are being bought,  job contracts signed and visas accepted – people still need to get to their new homes.

The best way to feel safe when moving, is to research all of the regulations and restrictions on your new country so that you feel confident upon your arrival. As per usual, bringing hand sanitizer, anti-bac wipes and wearing a mask are also going to be crucial to staying clean and safe. And the number one way to stay safe when moving is by using a self-packing mover, so that you don’t have any strangers coming into your home, touching all of your belongings and moving around your house.

Start Small

Once the list is made, tackle one thing at a time. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you’ve given yourself enough time, you can start to slowly cross the life-admin bits off your list, building up to the bigger tasks in due course, so that everything doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand

Almost everyone will move at least once during their lifetime. This means the chances are, those around you will be both supportive and willing to lend a hand if necessary. Not only does having an extra pair of hands help, but it will also remove some of the emotional burden, and you’ll probably have more fun with someone to chat to!

Be courteous enough to give your friends and family a bit of notice, and make sure to show your gratitude (a cup of tea and a bottle of wine goes a long way)!

Don’t let the stress of moving abroad put you off. If you’re looking for an international mover, ensure to use a company with a no-hidden-fees policy and fantastic feedback from customers. We’re proud to have both – find a quote for your move online today!

The post How to Reduce the Stress of Moving Overseas appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Previously, using a self-packing moving company was largely used as a way to save money. Understandably, moving can be very expensive, and our mission has always been to make the overseas move as accessible as possible to those who want to.

Some people have a strict budget, whilst others would simply rather but in a bit of legwork during their move, and spend the money they saved elsewhere (flight upgrades, new car, new kitchen…).

However, the last year has seen a huge shift in the way people move. Unsurprisingly, people are starting to think twice about packers entering their home, touching their belongings, using their toilets, shaking hands and being in close proximity to one another.

So, what’s the solution?

A UPakWeShip move!

Whilst other movers are suddenly scrabbling to get together a smooth, uninterrupted self-packing service in a matter of weeks and months, we’ve been perfecting it for years.

The UPakWeShip service has always been contactless (otherwise we’d have to have a serious think about rebranding) and 2020 has proven just how invaluable it can be to have this option.

Packing yourself may feel like a bit of elbow grease, but the money it saves and the safety measures it guarantees will be invaluable in the long-term. If you have a couple of trustworthy friends (within your country’s restriction allowance, of course), why not get them involved? Offer coffee, beer or buy them dinner – it will STILL cost you less money than having the ‘real deal’ enter your home – and you’ve got a better idea of where they’ve been!

Our EU self-packing services come in two forms: Pallets and U-Crates.

Let’s go through the difference…

U-Crates

A U-Crate is a specially designed, UPakWeShip ‘box’ which comes in two sizes: 50 cubic feet and 100 cubic feet. Upon booking, you will organise a day with your shipping coordinator for the U-Crate to be delivered in a flatpack form. On the pre-arranged ‘collection day’ you simply take it onto the curb, set it up (instructions are included), and pack your boxes into it. Our U-Crates are a bespoke design, created specifically to maximise the safety and security of your shipment.

Everything will be pre-arranged with your shipping coordinator, who will have walked you through all of the steps necessary for your move. We will come and collect the fully packed U-Crate, and it will appear on your doorstep in 6-8 or 10-12 weeks time, dependent on it destination.

Pallets

Most of us are familiar with pallets – they’re found around most warehouses, garden centres of DIY stores. If you decide to go with our pallet service, it’s worth finding out where they are locally, often you can save money an old, used one for free.

On collection day, you pack your belongings in boxes onto the pallets, secure it safely using any mechanism you choose (we recommend strong plastic wrap and plenty of cable ties) and we will come and collect your pallet from your curb.

However you choose to move, our contactless moving service offers a safe alternative. A further bonus to not having packers come into your home, is that we are also able to offer extremely competitive prices. Our prices are available on our website, and are all-inclusive and determined by the service, not the weight – so you won’t have any nasty surprises on the other end of your move.

Wondering how much your move will cost? Why not take a look at our website right now. We also operate in the USA, Canada and the UK.

The post UPakWeShip: The New Normal for Moving Overseas appeared first on UPakWeShip.

So, this is how you can ensure safety is your priority, without compromising on a happy move.

1. Follow the updates on travel advice and guidance

Despite wanting everything to be normal, things aren’t, and every country is dealing with the pandemic in different ways. The best thing you can do for your peace of mind and your move is to be prepared. Governments are constantly updating their official websites with advice for travel and those coming into and out of the country. Take a look at the local news from your destination and ensure you’re aware of any guidelines or quarantining rules you might need to follow. Every country differs with precautions, laws, and rules, and things are changing all the time, so stay up informed.

Here are some useful websites which may be of use:
UK Foreign Travel Advice
USA Foreign Travel Advice
European Foreign Travel Advice

2. Use a reliable curbside mover that prioritizes safety

UPakWeShip is a curbside moving company, which specializes in collecting and delivering on your door-step. This means, nobody has to go into your home, nobody is using your toilet, nobody is touching your belongings, and you know exactly where everything is and what needs prioritizing. By packing yourself, not only do you minimize the impact of your move, but you can also save yourself a lot of money. Curbside moving is the perfect option for those who want to move safely and affordably. You can receive an instant quote for your move, right now.

3. Fly in comfort using the money you’ve saved on moving

Not only is moving with UPakWeShip safe, it’s also affordable. We’ve laid out how using UPakWeShip’s moving services are socially distant, but the impact of moving with us goes further than that. Moving without packers means you’ll save the money usually spent on people coming in and packing your belongings. Why not use this extra budget to upgrade your flight and ensure you can have a bit more room and be less likely to sit near others in cramped economy seating.

If you’re looking to move overseas safely and affordably, you can find out your moving price right now with our instant rates calculator. We are looking forward to another fall/winter season of moving people to their new destinations.

The post 3 Steps for a Safe Overseas Move in 2020 appeared first on UPakWeShip.

We’ve built a company based on the knowledge that moving needs to be easier. As the world becomes more globalized and moving to different countries becomes more attractive, more and more people are moving abroad and we want to make sure that when they do, they can rely on their moving company if they choose us.

So, what methods have we implemented to make your move easy?

1. You can find a price for your move immediately

After research and feedback, we’ve found that many moving companies require an infinite amount of detail to provide you with a quote. There’s often a lot of back and forth, and even a phone call involved. We wanted to make sure potential customers had a way to find instant quotes that were all-inclusive. That’s why we have Rate Mate. Simply input the collection state and the delivery country and we can let you know how much each of our services will cost, right this second.

2. You can change your delivery address

We know that in an ideal world, you’d have everything sorted before we collect your belongings. However, the reality is this often isn’t the case. Whether you are renting accommodation, house hunting or using storage, you can change your delivery at a later date and don’t need to worry.

3. You can arrange your collection in your own time

If you’re unsure of the precise date of your move, we can drop off your U-Crate or pallet and collect it at a later date. Whilst we do ask for a couple of weeks’ notice for full delivery and collection, once your service has been dropped off, just reach out to your shipping coordinator to organize a day that works for you.

4. There’s no contact involved

We recently published a whole article on how UPakWeShip was social distancing before it was a necessity. You pack your items yourself, you know what needs extra safety and security measures, nobody is entering your home – all of the information on our collection/delivery moving service is available in this blog post. We’ve had years to nail curbside moving, which is why we offer such a smooth, efficient service.

5. You have a shipping coordinator to assist you

When you organise a moving service with UPakWeShip, you won’t be talking to a robot or passed from team to team. We have fantastic shipping coordinators who will walk you through the processes needed for your move to take place. From forms to tax to payments and organising collection/delivery, our expert shipping team are there to help you with questions and queries to put your mind at ease.

If you’re looking for a moving company that puts its customers first, look no further than UPakWeShip. For more information on our services or to receive an instant quote today, take a look at our website. Moving from the EU to the US? Take a look at our European site.

The post 5 Reasons UPakWeShip is the Easiest Way to Move Overseas appeared first on UPakWeShip.

We hate to brag, but… we have been pretty ahead of this game for a while now.

Whilst other businesses are running around trying to smooth over their processes, the UPakWeShip way has always been a curbside service. Nobody coming into your home, nobody touching your belongings – just you, and those who you trust.

We thought we’d give you a run-through to put your minds at ease and give you an understanding of how the processes work and what makes us the perfect moving company for an international move (especially right now)!

Our Pallet and U-Crate Services

When you order a U-Crate or pallet, we will drop it off at the desired address the same way a parcel is delivered. We just require a signature to confirm you’ve got it, and then you can take it into your home – for you to start the packing process!

Some people choose to practice their collection day, or practice fitting their U-Crate together, whilst others go with the flow on the day – ultimately, it’s up to you! On collection day, you will need to take your pallet or U-Crate onto the curbside or drive, and from there, start to pack it with your boxes. If you have a U-Crate, make sure you’re using the straps and cover that comes with the service – but any extra cellophane wrap will always be a good thing! If you have a pallet, it is your responsibility to make sure it’s secure.

Then, you wait! Your driver will be in contact to give you a time-frame for your collection and so that you can organize your packing. When they turn up, they will simply use a pallet-jack to lift your service into the truck – and with a friendly smile and a signature from somebody 18+, that’s it!

It really is that simple.

One of the reasons our customers love UPakWeShip is that we don’t need them to be there to sign off on the collection themselves. If you need to leave the country prior to your belongings, a trusted friend or family member is totally fine to sign off.

Our Container Service

Whilst our container process is slightly different, it remains as safe as possible for all of our customers – that’s thanks to the ‘you pack’ in UPakWeShip.

Your container will be trucked to your location on a set day which you will have pre-arranged with your shipping coordinator. It’s always important to be prepared and ready to have all hands on deck, offering a couple of cold beers to those who help out is always a great incentive!

The truck will arrive, and you have a 2-hour window to pack it up yourself. If it takes longer, an hourly fee will be applied.

We don’t supply anybody to help with the move, which is why the more you can rely on those are you, the better – particularly for a container move. Our truck drivers are simply there to drive to and from your location and confirm that we have your belongings.

This means you will have minimal interaction with people you don’t know, and nobody touching your belongings.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our services, we offer all-inclusive, immediate prices on our website – so you can start budgeting for your move today!

The post How safe is UPakWeShip’s international moving service? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

But it should be.

As with any kind of ‘shipping’ – be it across the world, across the country or across the district – it takes a village. In the international shipping industry, it takes a rather large town. There’s the port staff, the office staff, the warehouse staff, the truck drivers – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

But what happens if your shipping company isn’t consistent from A to B? What if, halfway through your move, your belongings are handed over to another company, or an agency, and your livelihood in entrusted to a completely different company altogether.

Because it does happen. Often, smaller moving companies are unable to maintain low prices, without compromising on their operational capabilities. They find an agency with the lowest prices and offer a partnership for one side to be collection, and the other to be delivery.

What happens then, is that the company on the side of the delivery knows that its neck is not on the line. It doesn’t matter if the belongings are chipped, or broken, because it’s not its name on the box, and it’s not its company who will be receiving one-star reviews on Google.

But UPakWeShip is different

We have two priorities – providing customers with a personable experience, and keeping our prices affordable. And we refuse to compromise on either.

So, we invested in UPakWeShip. We grew our business, and that is why, when you’re shipping from Europe to the USA, you will be with UPakWeShip from door-to-door.

All of our European shipments arrive at our Rotterdam warehouse ready to be shipped over to the USA, where they will arrive into Charleston, South Carolina – which so happens to be the home of our head office.

With UPakWeShip’s name on the box from start-to-finish, you know your belongings are in safe hands throughout your move. We have great communication with our US HQ and know exactly what’s going on on either side of the Atlantic so that when your service arrives into port, we can get straight to work on delivering it to your front door.

As a self-packing service, our prices remain affordable – and with curbside delivery and collection, our services were built for socially distanced moving!

Find out more on our range of services via our website, or get an instant, all-inclusive quote right now with our instant rates calculator.

The post Why does it matter if my moving company has a destination office? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

For the most part, your belongings are out of sight and out of mind. If you’ve packed yourself, you’ll know where each of your household items is, what’s in each box, and – those who are really ahead of the game – may have even packed methodically to ensure the urgent items are at the top of the U-Crate/Pallet.

However, occasionally, something could go awry with your move. Although we wish we could control the weather and the waters, freak accidents do happen. And if your belongings are involved in said accident, you want to make sure they’re completely covered by insurance.

Insurance for most is common sense, but for others, it can take a little persuasion. Do you really need to fork out the extra cost? The answer, simply, is yes. In the grand scheme of things, the cost of insurance is well worth the money if fate isn’t on your side the day of your move.

Luckily, UPakWeShip offers our own insurance for door-to-door/curb-side moves. So if you’ve ordered one of our services and have requested it be sent to your new home, we can help you out with the insurance!

So, what does our insurance include?

Well, if you’ve managed to pack your belongings securely and the damage isn’t caused by your own mis-packing of items, we will cover total loss plus loss or damage to individual items if caused by an external force. For instance, a forklift, a storm, a truck accident or shipping container crane are all examples of what our insurance would cover you for.

And how does it work?

When booking, you can decide then or between confirmation and pickup, whether you want insurance. Simply get in touch with your shipping coordinator.

If you choose to go with UPakWeShip insurance, the policy cost is 2.5% of the value you put on your items. This decreases to 2% if the value exceeds $30,000.

It’s simple, easy and extremely important to get your move covered by insurance. Read more about UPakWeShip insurance on our website!

The post Why is insurance so important when moving abroad? appeared first on UPakWeShip.