Cost Breakdown Of Shipping A Container To The USA
Published by Chris Townsend
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Deciding to ship a container internationally is a big deal. There’s a lot of stress involved in finding the right sized container to fit your needs and budget and trusting the right company to transport your items overseas.
Knowing the expected cost breakdown of international shifting is crucial in preparing for the shipment. We offer international shifting to the USA and knows every relocating process is different. Here’s the cost breakdown of relocating a container to the USA for every factor possible.
First And Foremost, Choose A Trustworthy Mover
Relocating overseas is a big headache. If you are shipping all your belongings or a valuable item like a car, there’s a lot at stake with worrying about your items as they are in transit. That’s why you should choose a trustworthy moving company for your international shipping.
Three Movers has been shiftingitems overseas for decades, but there’s more involved than experience. You need to consider your budget, customer service, and who has the best capability in transporting your goods.
In order for your items to be successfully delivered to the USA, your shifting company needs to have the right equipment to hold and transport your items safely in their containers.
The Best International Hauling Tip
Know you’re making the move internationally? As soon as you have an idea that an international shift is on the horizon, it’s time to start looking for a transport service. There’s a lot of planning coordination involved with packing and relocating your items to keep delivery consistent with the start of your new life in your new destination.
Because of this, you should start actively researching and speaking to these companies to find the right one to transport your goods. Another reason to start looking early is for the availability of shipping containers.
You might be out of luck if you wait too long!
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Average Cost Of Container Hauling To The USA
With rising shifting costs, the average cost of container shipping to the USA has drastically increased. Cost is greatly affected by several factors like items you’re shipping, the type of container you’re using, the service you selected, and the destination.
The average cost for international container shipping to the USA starts at just above $1,000, but depending where you are, that price will significantly jump due to price changes and labor industry costs. For example, the cost to ship a container from Asia increased by 500% last year.
What Determines The Cost?
There are several factors responsible for determining the shipping cost. There is no size fits all when it comes to international relocating.
The location of your shipping destination, relocating container, total distance covered, and time of year all play a part in the final cost of your hauling needs, along with the cost of the company you select.
There are two different kinds of hauling methods for international shifting that affect cost: airplane or boat. Both of these methods are calculated differently.
Relocating by plane is calculated by weight and size, while sea shipping is calculated by how much space your items will consume. To know which method is best for you in terms of cost, discuss figures with your shipment representative.
How To Find The Right Size Container For Your Needs?
Wanting to have adequate space for your container is crucial for making sure your items will stay intact and not have enough room for sliding around. There are two sizes of containers available: 20ft and 40ft.
A 40ft container can hold double the amount of space that a 20ft can. If you are shifting items other than vehicles, you have the option with a Full Container Load (FCL) or Less Than Container Load (LCL).
Finding the right container all starts with what you plan on shipping overseas. To best gauge what size container will hold your items best, your shipping representative can help you select the right container after knowing what you are planning to relocate to the States.
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Average Container Shipping Rates
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FCL shipping is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets and anything which will require a full container shipping to USA of up to 45,000lbs.
Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates | |
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20 ft Container | $855 |
40 ft Container | $940 |
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LCL shipping is more affordable way to transport less than container load shipments to USA.
Less Than Container (LCL) Shipping Rates | |
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LCL | $36/CBM |
Personal Effects | $330 |
Household Goods | $385 |
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International house moving to USA services - quick, easy and cheap.
International House Shifting Costs | |
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Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) | $385 |
1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) | $1530 |
2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) | $1840 |
3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) | $1970 |
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International auto transport services to USA via RoRo and container ships. Ship cars, trucks, suvs, atv's, boats, RV's, heavy equipment and more.
Container Car Shipping | |
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Sedan (Container) | $1750 |
SUV (Container) | $1860 |
Sedan via RORO | $735 |
SUV via RORO | $795 |
How International Relocating Works?
International relocating is the process of transferring your goods from one country to another. When you decide to move your items overseas, you will first need to know what items are needing to be packed in containers.
There are a lot of steps involved in this process that start with the paperwork. You will need to gather the necessary documents, prepare your items for shipment, drop off your items, and track them during delivery so you can pick them up.
International shifting is not an easy process. It is very time-consuming, which is why it’s best to start early since once you find a mover to handle your items, there’s work on your end to get your items ready.
Most international shipments take between a month to a month and a half to deliver. Some deliveries can take up to two months, depending on location or any issues that occur.
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Preparing Your Items For Delivery
If you are relocating a vehicle internationally, there are certain steps you will have to take to make the items eligible for hauling.
The best thing to remember is to declutter your items. Your car must be completely emptied of any personal items, and the gas tank must be below a quarter. Most cars will also need to be inspected before shipment and have to be modified to fit American regulations for their automobiles.
To ensure there are no damages, inspect your car before you drop it off at the shipping location. If there are any specs or dings that arise after shipping, you will be eligible to file a claim. To limit the amount of damages, closed containers protect your items better since your car will be in an enclosed environment.
Other items such as furniture will need to be emptied and wrapped to keep drawers together to be able to prevent scratching from any sliding along the way.
Possible Additional Shifting Costs
Some companies may have hidden fees for their services. It is important that you look through every document carefully for fees and ask your representative what the fees are for.
Other than hidden fees, there may be other possible additional costs included in the final cost. Those additional factors can be:
- Custom duties and taxes
- Vehicle inspections
- Insurance to protect your goods
- Raise in prices
- Delivery charges
What a lot of movers do not take into consideration is the prep work that goes into preparing their items for international hauling. If your vehicle needs to be inspected before being shipped, this is another cost factor that will increase the price to make your item able to be shipped.
Start Relocating With Three Movers
Ready to move your items to the States? Three Movers can help.
Our company has been around for three decades and has handled hundreds of international shipments. We specialize in the transportation of automobiles and can help you successfully transport your goods to your new destination in the United States.
We have the right background to trust when it comes to relocate containers that are responsible for handling your precious cargo. Getting started with us is easy, but something you should get a heads start on.
To make sure we have container availability and can relocate on the date you need, call us today at 1-800-462-2880 to speak to a representative about your first steps.
With international shipping, it’s vitally important to get started sooner than later.
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It is very likely you will have a lot of questions when it comes to international shipping, and Three Movers wants to make sure you are fully prepared for this process. Here are the most frequently asked questions about moving a container to the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need paperwork to drive a new car off the lot, you certainly need paperwork for international shipping.
The paperwork you will need for this process for a car includes:
● Original car title
● Bill of Sale
● Passport
● Declaration of Dangerous Goods
● Shipped Export Declaration
● More
Once you select the international mover to help you move, they will go over all of the paperwork you need for moving. It can be a little time-consuming to get your documents in order, so that is another reason why you should get a move on your mover.
If there are any more documents needed for you to supply or sign, your shipping agent will discuss them with you.
There is an import tax in place by the United States Customs and Border Protection for goods you move to the United States. There are some exemptions of some items being imported from other countries due to trade agreements.
While it’s nice to dream of a smooth sailing transport occurring, there are some accidents that can occur in the transportation process. Items can become lost, stolen, or damaged, and without insurance, you wouldn’t have any help to make the situation right.
Insurance is great to have for your goods in the international shipping process to protect your items and everyone else involved in this process. There are various insurance plans you can choose from with mild to more intense coverage. Most people see this insurance as a pointless added fee, but if something were to happen during this big move, you will be glad you have the insurance.
The maximum weight all depends on the type of container you decide on. The average weight a larger container can hold is up to 67200 pounds, but the most regulated weight is around 44,000 pounds. For a 20ft container, the recommended maximum weight is around 52,900 pounds. A 40ft container can typically hold up to twice the amount of a 20ft container. However, in most situations, the weight limit is lowered to ensure that items fit properly in their containers and that weight will not be an issue on the transportation journey.
If you are unsure of how much your container can hold, ask your representative.
There are some items that are prohibited from crossing the American border if they are seen as a hazard to the community. Those items include cars that do not protect occupants in a crash and some illegal substances.
The U.S. Customs and Border protection have a list on their site of prohibited items to double-check and make sure you’re not bringing over in your international shipment.
Absolutely! With Three Movers , we make it easy to track your container anytime they are in transit overseas. Before your shipment leaves its port, you will be given a tracking number to look up anytime in our system to view its location. We will also send you frequent updates about your shipment to give you updates about where it is in terms of its destination.
The best part about shipping with Three Movers 698 is that you get to have control over shipment and delivery of your items. With our international service, you get to choose its delivery location and date and method once your item is finally across the United States border.
If there are any issues with delivery, you will need to correlate this with the driver and one way to do this is by communicating with your representative who can give an update on any changes to your transportation driver.
Remember that once your item has been dropped off, you collect the final paperwork from your driver, signifying the delivery was completed successfully. You should also observe your goods instantly in case anything is damaged so you have enough time to file a claim.