Does the container come with a ramp for loading?
The container does not come with ramp. It will be loaded on a chassis about 4ft off the ground. The best way to load the goods would be to have a few people in the container to receive the goods. Use step ladders. Or rent a dock height truck, load the goods inside, then on the day of loading back the truck the container and shuffle the goods over.
Are there any tie down points in the container?
Yes, there are hook points about every foot on the top and bottom of the container. These work great to use straps to secure your goods in place.
How long do I have to load the container?
We include 2 free hours of loading in our quotes. After the 2 hours it will go to $95 / E95 /hr. for the driver’s wait time. The best way to avoid extra load time is to have your goods staged and ready to load and have a plan for loading day.
Any Do’s or Don’ts for shipping?
Many! Do not pack any opened bottles in case they leak. Do not pack guns, ammunition, food, and anything hazardous including cleaning materials. Do not use an unlicensed company with a cheap rate. If the price sounds too good to be true it is probably a fraud! We ship large volumes and therefore get slightly better rates than most and keep overheads low, therefore our prices are good. If you find a rate much lower than ours, be very careful, there are a lot of cowboy operators that will give you a very cheap price and once they have your things, they will find an excuse for doubling your price. Do use licensed professionals. In the USA, you need to have a license from a government division called the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to carry out international moving from the USA. Do not use any company that does not have an FMC license in the USA. Make sure your boxes are all packed tight and well-taped shut. Make sure your name is on all pieces.
How much clearance for parking the container do I need?
The clearance room will greatly depend on the size of the truck attached to the chassis that holds the container. For the 20ft container you should have approximately 30-50ft of clearance for parking, for a 40ft container you should have approximately 50-70ft of clearance. Don’t forget about height either! Things like tree branches and low-lying power lines can restrict access for a container.
How long will it take the container to arrive at the destination port?
It will depend on the steamship line and the destination of your container, normally a container from the east coast to the UK or EU will take about 3-6 weeks. From the west coast to the UK or EU about 6-10 weeks. To AU or NZ from the East Coast, approximately 6-10 weeks and from the West Coast 3-6 weeks. As all shipping lines have different routes and it will depend on what ports each vessel will call, the best way to determine this is to talk to your coordinator. Once the shipment is booked with the shipping line, you will have a good idea of the ETA at your destination.
Your competitor says I am not allowed to pack my own stuff?
This is an old wife’s tale so that they can make lots of money sending in cheap labor to pack up your belongings in your house. Truth is with our system, documentation, and security checks even though you have packed your items yourself, your shipment is no more at risk than if a local mover packed your boxes for you. Customs and Security agencies will now often X- Ray your shipment or the container in which it has been loaded so they can see what is in the boxes whoever packed it. Some movers will even go as far as to say it is against the law to pack your items yourself, but if that’s the case how come we have been in business in the USA since 1994 and have 2 government licenses? You don’t need strangers packing up your things in your house!
Can I track the container?
Yes! Once the shipment is loaded and back to the port you can track the vessel your shipment is on using the website vesselfinder.com or they have a handy app you can get for your phone.
What documents do I need to clear customs at destination?
Shipping containers get sent to the nearest destination port in the country you are moving to. They will have to go through customs procedures in that country. We have our own office and shipping coordinators in Europe and the USA that will advise you of the requirements in advance as it varies per country. Ask us for our country customs guides to be emailed to you.
Can I ship my car or motorbike in the container?
Unless specifically noted in the quote, the quoted rate does not include this as the customs requirements and regulations are stringent and costly.
Can I store my shipment?
It is not normally cost effective to use the shipping lines container for storage. We suggest you find a local self-store facility close by to store your things.
I saw some negative as well as positive comments about you, why is that?
As much as we try, we are not perfect, but we have far more great reviews than bad, and always make sure we make things right. Unfortunately, negative remarks rank a lot higher than positive on the internet and we also have some negative remarks that we know are not true. There are remarks about delivering books on Google that aren’t even related to our company! We have lots of great reviews posted by customers here.
How do I proceed and book this service?
Please email the person that emailed you the quote and let them know you would like to accept the quote and proceed, thank you.