Moving a Household With International Freight Transport

Americans who take jobs overseas are faced with the monumental task of moving an entire household across an ocean to another country. Many people understandably take the opportunity to scale back their possessions but still have more than what can be shipped by a parcel carrier.

Fortunately, international freight shipping can be a relatively simple answer to this problem. Especially when the shipper has access to instant comparisons from lots of great carriers, when they shop companies using the Internet.

The first thing a family will need to do is estimate the volume of household goods being shipped. After the volume is determined, the family will pick the best sized container for the shipment. A container is a large metal box (similar to a semi-trailer or train box car but without wheels) used to hold ocean freight. If a family does not have enough volume to fill a container, they can shop for quotes on a less-than-container (LCL) price. In an LCL shipment, a family's household goods will be placed in a container with cargo belonging to someone else for transport.

If the household goods are sufficient to fill an entire container, the container will be delivered to the family's home for loading and then taken by truck to a container yard where it will await shipment. A family can even choose to ship its automobiles (although this should be specifically discussed with the carrier prior to booking the load).

Household goods and personal effects can be shipped internationally in 20 foot standard containers, 40 foot standard containers, and 40 foot high cube containers. Generally, only 75-85% of a container's volume is utilized for household goods transportation.

While some international transportation companies (carriers and/or forwarders) can arrange to pack, wrap and load a family's household goods, it is less expensive for the shipping family to do as much as possible themselves. A complete inventory should be kept as items are wrapped, packed and placed in the container. This will be necessary to comply with the carrier's requirements and legal requirements and will also be helpful (and necessary) in the event of a damage claim.

After the family's household items are transported across the ocean by sea-going vessel, they are delivered to a container yard at port. From the port, the chosen freight forwarder will have arranged for inland trucks to load the container and deliver the goods to the family's new overseas home.

There are a lot of details involved in a successful overseas household goods shipment. Families would be well-served to allow themselves time to plan each step of the moving process in advance. This careful planning, along with a little research, will allow a family to enjoy a trouble-free move.

Fast, Simple Freight Shipping: Freightquote gives you instant comparisons from lots of great carriers. Choose the best freight rates and service options for truckload and less than truckload (LTL) shipping, intermodal, air freight services and international freight shipping.