Cost of Shipping a Container to Switzerland
Published by Chris Townsend
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Container To Switzerland?
Switzerland Container Shipping Cost
Do you know Three Movers ships items to Switzerland? Well, we do. Some things need to be considered when looking at the price of hauling. For a start, the distance the delivery has to travel and its size has to be considered. There is more, and we will help you understand what it all involves.
Factors That Affect the Price Of Transit The Area
The things that will affect the cost of shipping are:
- The volume and weight of the items to be hauled: The heavier or bigger the item is, the higher the price will be. Note that when packing up what you want to transit.
- The type of transportation used: The use of air, sea, or land will affect the expense of hauling.
- Distance: The farther the distance the cargo is going to travel, the higher the price.
- The destination port: Ports sometimes have different fees which can affect the cost of hauling, but the difference might not be significant.
- Peak Shipping Season: The peak hauling season in Switzerland is between July and September. The peak period delivery can continue into November or begin as early as April depending on the year. If you ship during this period, your hauling rates will be higher than at other times of the year.
Which Size Of Delivery Unit Works Best For Me?
You are looking at the items you want to ship and you don’t know what shipping container will contain it all. Do you rent the whole ship? You don’t need to do something that drastic. Items from a three-bedroom flat will fit into a 20ft unit. That should help you gauge your cargo. If your items are more than that, then get a 40-foot container.
If you will need a unit for yourself then you will be using the Full Container Load (FCL) loading system.
What if your cargo isn’t plenty enough to fill a unit? You will, in that case, need a Less Than Container Load (LCL) loading system. Your item will be loaded into a unit with other clients’ items.
Instant Rates For Shipping Containers To Switzerland
Average Hauling Pricing Estimates
FCL shipping is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets, and anything that will require a full container hauling to Switzerland of up to 45,000 lbs.
| Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates | |
|---|---|
| 20 ft Unit | $855 |
| 40 ft Container | $1040 |
LCL shipping is a more affordable way to transport less than a unit load delivery to the area.
| Less Than Container (LCL) Shipping Rates | |
|---|---|
| LCL | $70/CBM |
| Personal Effects | $740 |
| Household Goods | $855 |
International house moving to Switzerland services - quick, easy, and cheap.
| International House Moving Costs | |
|---|---|
| Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) | $695 |
| 1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) | $1665 |
| 2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) | $2866 |
| 3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) | $3856 |
International auto transport services to the area via RoRo and container ships. Move cars, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, boats, RV's, heavy equipment, and more.
| Container Car Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Sedan via RORO | $855 |
| SUV via RORO | $940 |
| Sedan | $1230 |
| SUV (Container) | $1460 |
Understanding The Different Types Of Freight Transportation
Freight transportation of your items can be done in four main ways. There are the:
- Land Transportation: This is particularly important in transporting items to the area as it is landlocked. Even if you pick transportation by sea, your items will be taken from the port of a neighboring country to the destination by land or rail.
- Rail: This is another particularly important means of transportation for the destination country. Switzerland has a very organized rail system. If you are shipping a lot of items from a neighboring country, transportation of freight by train is a good option as it is cost-effective.
- Sea: This is useful for large-volume items coming from distant countries. Items like household goods and cars are good candidates for Ocean freight transportation. Remember that the destination country is landlocked, therefore, making land transportation mandatory as a secondary means of transportation.
- Air Transportation: Air freight transportation can be the most convenient means of transporting items. Due to this fact, it is suited for transporting fragile or time-sensitive items like vaccines and small electronics. Note that the convenience comes at added expenses.
Additional Dispatching Expense
Speaking of added costs, there are expenses that a shipping company has no control over and they are:
- Insurance for your items.
- Custom fees. The area has an average import tax of 6.3%.
- Inspection. Switzerland generally doesn’t have inspection fees.
- General Rate Increase (GRI). If the delivery route is in high demand, shipping rates will increase.
- Desired delivery time. The quicker you want the item to arrive, the higher the cost.
What’s Next?
Three Movers is the way to get the items you are interested in shipping to the destination. So, give us a call at (888) 202-0036 and get a free quote. You can also fill out an online form for the same quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
The complex process of shipping requires assistance at different levels. It is essential in a bid to avoid unnecessary delays or failure to secure a needed document. This is where the freight forwarder comes in. A freight forwarder is an agent who assists shippers in shipping their goods. Freight forwarders also assist with the processing of needed transport documents and provide warehousing services to clients. A freight forwarder also issues a bill of lading and assists a cargo owner with freight price negotiations. Furthermore, they secure cargo space with NVOCC to use their air or sea carriers for the transportation of cargo.
NVOCC agents own carrier fleets for transporting cargo by air or sea. Its primary duty is to assist by using ships or cargo planes to move cargo to destination ports. NVOCCs can issue a bill of lading either to the cargo owner or to a freight forwarder acting on behalf of a cargo owner. The duty of the NVOCC stops upon delivery of cargo at the destination port.
Freight brokers assist the shipper with custom arrangements and clearing of cargo. A freight broker may also connect a shipper with a freight forwarder and oversee cargo transportation before the clearance. A bill of lading cannot be issued by a freight broker.
A direct movement from one point to another will be quicker than a movement that will require stopping at intervals. The FCL freight plan is registered to a single consignee and so cargo will be sent directly to the port of the consignee. This saves time as the freight plan will be booked directly from one port to another.
However, an LCL freight plan is registered to multiple consignees or receivers. This is because LCL allows more than one client to jointly use a container for their cargoes. These consignees may not be using the same port to receive their cargo. The carrier for the LCL will need to stop at all the receiving ports to drop off the cargoes. These stops will require unloading and reloading of the container before leaving for the next port. This will extend the expected transit time as your port may not be the first stop of the carrier.
You may feel anxious about your cargo due to the need for the items and may want to track cargo movements. You can use a container tracking system to follow up on cargo movement. You will be required to provide the container number, your booking number, and the name of your shipping line.
Your shipping documents are very important to start and complete your shipping process. Without the right documents, you may not start shipping or even secure the release of your cargo. You will need the following documents to ship to Switzerland:
● A bill of lading.
● Commercial invoice.
● Parking list.
● Freight certificate.
● Cargo arrival notice.
● Import license.
● Tax document.
● Battery statement.
● Purchase Order.
Other documents may also be required due to cargo category or custom requirements.
Despite your schedule, you should make out time to be present on delivery day. This will ensure the easy release of your cargo as it is consigned to your name. You will also be expected to sign for your cargo and observe the status of your inventory.
The payment of shipping taxes and duties is an unavoidable aspect of shipping.
Ports charge duties to assist with financing in the maintenance of the port while taxes are imposed to regulate the level of import and export into the country.
Switzerland is a member of the European Union and has special conditions for EU member states and some islands like saint martin, saint pierre, norfolk island, and virgin islands. Its tariff charges can be up to 24% based on value and type of goods.
Every nation has a list of items that are prohibited from importation. Such items may be seized by customs upon arrival at the ports. Hence, it is essential to note them and avoid the loss of your cargo. Some of the items prohibited by Switzerland include the following:
● Animals
● Chemical
● Drugs
● Currency
● Explosives and firearms
● Perishable foods
● Plants
● Tobacco
The importation of the listed items will require special permission or documentation.
General-purpose containers are the common features for freight transportation. The popular 20ft container can carry a volume of about 67,200 ft of goods. On the other hand, a 40ft container can carry about 67,200kg weight load of goods.
