How to Find the Right Container Shipping Service for Your Needs
There’s nothing worse than having to ship your personal belongings with a freight truck, only for them to become lost or severely damaged while in transit.
Land freight systems can be unreliable, with a high chance of item destruction, and air shipping can cost an obscene amount of money. This leaves those that live in remote settings, and those who buy in bulk, with limited options.
Container shipping by boat might be the solution you need. It’s reliable, safe, and holds more for less. You just need to choose the right container shipping service.
Don’t know where to begin? Here are some things to take into consideration.
Size
Size matters when it comes to container shipping. Shipping containers can vary, with some as small as 8’x8′, while others as big as 40’x 40′. You want a shipping company that offers up an array of size choices, so you’re able to ship anything you need, from a car to a stack of pallets, or maybe even both.
The size comes into play when containers are weighed and measured for pricing. Specifically for sailing, a company that offers reasonable pricing for the dimensions of your container is crucial for monitoring your budget.
Pricing
How much you pay for shipping depends on a few criteria:
- Shipping fees/season fees
- Taxes
- Insurance
- Distance/route
- Loading Assistance
If you’re shipping internationally, you have to consider the time of year. Some peak months have a higher price bracket.
Fortunately, international container shipping cost do not have to break the bank. You can find a shipping container service by asking upfront for quoting and examining the routes they take. The more familiar the routes, the cheaper they will be.
Container Shipping Safety and Insurance
Another consideration, and the most important one, is the safety of your belongings as they are transported from your current location to the destination. Shipping container companies can have decent rates, but it means nothing if they offer you no insurance if your items arrived damaged or did not end up arriving at all.
It’s crucial to ensure that your chosen shipping company is up to date with all licenses with access to safety records. Reviews are a great way to see what other customers have to say about the condition of their products.
Be upfront with your questions from the very beginning. Ask if any of their ships had previous issues with safety. Follow up with a visit to their company’s website to review their safety certifications and values.
For extra security, invest in property insurance so your belongings can be fully covered and reimbursed if need be.
Take your Cargo All Over the World
Whether it’s shipping large furniture or hundreds of small figurines, moving your items with container shipping shouldn’t be an inconvenience to you or your life. It can prove to be quite the opposite with the proper planning of approximate delivery and routes of the containing shipping service.
Follow these containing shipping tips and choose a company that’s willing to accommodate you throughout the container process.
If you like these tips, you can check out more information transport under our travel tab.
