All Bekins international move staff are experienced, trained and background checked. Hiring the best and most experienced members in the international moving and storage industry delivers a stable, long term, honest and efficient team. Extensive staff training, on worldwide shipping issues, in using the right materials and equipment, builds our specialized abilities. For example, trucks equipped with “air ride”, as opposed to spring suspension, deliver shipments that “float” with reduced road vibration. These are why many select Bekins as the best choice for international moving, relocation and removals.
We, are proud to deliver your belongings in the same condition they started with. Our professional international packers, skilled van operators and modern equipment contribute to that high standard of quality service customers expect.
No matter how careful everyone is, and how many precautions are taken, accidental loss or damage may occur. Arranging Transit Protection is no different from the usual homeowners insurance. At very least it provides peace of mind and at worst compensation. Depending on the destination there are levels of protection available. Your destination may allow Released Value Protection and Replacement Value protection. Motorized Vehicle Protection, Storage-In-Transit Protection and Long Term Storage Protection may also be options.
In 1997, Bekins separated its international move group, into a separate company. Moves that required transfers between transport types, documentation handling and languages have very different moving cost centers and operational realities. Even simpler Cross Border moves expose the unique rules, more diverse handling expectations and country priorities. Bekins Worldwide staff use their knowledge and experience in the dynamics of international relocation daily. Avoiding the short cuts that local moves depend on for their profitability BUT that add the unexpected extra time and expense to all international moves is just the start. Only handling International, overseas and cross border moves is our unique focus to your international move being a trouble free move.
Four Dimensions Of International Moving
There are four basic types of international move. These determine the how Bekins helps in each worldwide move.
• Door to Door Moves include pickup from your current home through delivery into your future home. It ranges from “White Glove” services to just moving prepacked items and dropping them off still prepacked at the destination home.
• Port to Door Moves are the handling of already packed possessions dropped off at our storage facility. Bekins does container packing and bracing to secure that packing as well as possible. The delivery to your new home includes the transfer from the container in customs to local delivery and unloading and/or unpacking. Typically this happens when possessions from several locations are brought together to form one shipment.
• Door to Port Moves begin with Bekins picking up your already packed items or our with long haul packing being done by our international packers. Bekins then handles all the transfers from the local moving van through sea and train until arrival at the destination port. Typically this is used when the destination city location is uncertain.
• Port to Port Moves include the international handling of transit transfers. Prepacked items that arrive at our storage facilities. Bekins does container packing and bracing to secure that packing as well as possible. Bekins manages the shipment, complete with its sea, rail or truck components, to a destination port. This is typical of corporate moves where the organization has staff in place at both cities that handle the local aspects of the move.
International Move Management Coordinates These Jobs
• The Client needs are always top of our mind… during each of the many steps during the move process.
– they are called the exporter or importer by the border services and import tax departments of each countries involved
• The Move Manager, are often a family member or corporate officer dedicated to the move.
– shipping company coordinators or brokers guiding part of the shipment often assume title for their portion of the work
• The Origin Agent
– the packers or agents that did the site survey, quoted prices or did the packing and pick up
• The Consolidating Warehouse
– Less than Container Loads (i.e. LCL) are a common method of shipping household goods
– often called a Bonded Warehouse
– its location and handling bring shipments together to fill containers and keeps costs under control
• The Freight Forwarder
– typically government licensed for each country, handling documentation and language needs within those jurisdictions
• The Origin Port
– this is the Origin Terminal or Export Port
– here the packed and sealed container clears customs and is transport loaded for international shipment
– origin fees or handling charges are incurred and managed here
• The Container Company
– is the owner of the ocean going container that holds the household goods
– shipping containers are built to stand up to many elements, fumes, dust or even pests and unexpected consequences
• The Shipping Company
– this is the owner of the ship transporting the household goods to the next country.
– costs vary based on fuel being consumed and forecast time of delivery.ultra slow propulsion techniques, fuel type availability, overbooked cargo become issues
– shipping companies do change schedules & routes, damage cargo, without liability
– the shipping company picked often determines arriving as expected or when fate allows.
– There are basically two classes of shipping companies. Opportunistic ones pick up new local shipments or do on route extra drop offs that bend time schedules. Low cost available fuel at these unexpected ports for these unexpected “tramp shippers” also adds unexpected time and costs to all other onboard shipments. The ships that travel, direct, timely, and predictable routes are the “core shippers”. All shipping however is currently facing climate issue like the Panama’s limited water supply, slowing passage between Atlantic and Pacific. Core shippers do charge for their dependability. They also receive better port cooperation with preferred fuel supply and dock services. The right choices and risks make your move expectations to get satisfied.
• Destination Port
– the Destination Terminal or Import Port
– destination fees and handling charges are in the destination countries currency so exchange rates matter
• Destination Bonded Warehouse
– importation and storage fees result until the shipment items are cleared by the destination country customs officials
• The Destination Agent
– the delivery agent handles your delivery from arrival at the port through to unpacking at the new residence.
– they speak the local language, know that countries rules and understand local delivery issues such as roads & traffic
– they handle shifting your items from the container into local moving company trucks for delivery
Each international or cross border move finds a unique combination of people and companies fulfilling these jobs. Each often does their part without considering the others.It is a balance of costs versus proven performance. The spectrum ranges from experienced companies to serendipity where do it yourself thriftiness selects the lowest cost options. Regardless, knowing these roles is a best first step to avoid extra costs later.