Let's talk about... container shipping

So I have a car and a bunch of personal effects I may want to send overseas in the near future. I figure it would be best to hire a half container (20') and send it all in one go... Have any of you done that before?

I don't have the slightest clue where to start. I made a few inquiries but there's only so far I can get as a peasant^H^H^H^H private individual. Should I go to an agent instead? What kind of agent and where do I find them?

Also, what's the procedure for loading a container? My town is landlocked but it would be really nice to load one here and have it trucked to the port... I've seen pictures of cars professionally shipped in containers and they are usually nicely blocked in with wood scaffolding so they don't get bashed around. Will the shipping company do this or am I on my own?

I basically have no support since all my friends have left town... I don't even have anyone I can call up to help move for beers. So I'd really like some professional expertise with the packing. But I don't want to get raped on charges either.

It seems 90% of shipping companies couldn't give two E36 M3s about a private individual, if you're not a corporate client they don't want you. It sucks. If somebody knows one that isn't like that I'd love to hear a recommendation or two.

I've hauled thousands of them thousands of miles. Does that count? Been a couple decades, though.

You are going to be on your own once you close the door on the thing, so you had better block the car yourself. I have no idea how they do that. We just picked them up and put them on the ship. If you've seen one that was successfully done, copy that. Keep in mind that box boats rock side to side a lot, and the dock workers are not too gentle with the boxes when they drop them down on the ship.

There are places that will lease you a container. Probably even 1 way. There are other places that will sell you one, maybe even in decent condition. Picking a number, I think a 20' box would sell in the 2 large-ish range today in pretty good condition (no holes, doors close).

There are shipping companies. You can call them up and say "This is JayCo and I got this container here in Bumfuq, Indonesia that I need delivered to Long Beach (pick a Long Beach). How much?" You then arrange for the box to be delivered to the port and that's about it, besides the customs stuff. You could also look in your phone book or google-fu up container shipping.

As for picking up and delivery to your location, there are special trailer rigs that will set a box down on the ground right where you want it and then pick it up again. Whoever you source the box from will have expertise in that.

Anyway, the more you do yourself, the more you save. In the 80's, we would get about two bills to move a box across a large ocean, if I recall. Adjust for inflation and everything over that is someone's cut.

Every once in a while, a whole stack of them goes over the side in a storm. Whoops. I heard that we got extra for putting the box below decks.

Jay wrote: It seems 90% of shipping companies couldn't give two E36 M3s about a private individual, if you're not a corporate client they don't want you. It sucks.

True. About a year ago I needed a small assortment of personal effects, household items and two chairs packed and shipped from the west coast to east. Sentimental value mostly - from a relative that had passed away. The total size of the shipment ended up being about the size of a refrigerator box.

Shipping was no problem, but finding someone willing to pack this stuff was a huge ordeal. I'd hate to tell you what I eventually paid, but it was 4 figures and well above the value of the contents.

Good luck.

Aren't there companies that handle shipping cars internationally? I know a lot of older cars are bought and shipped to Europe these days; so, I'd expect there are people who can give reasonable assurances your car will be packed and shipped properly. If the car is worth shipping, it's probably worth the extra costs of having someone with experience take care of the details.

I have a good friend and son who are machinery movers, and ship industrial equipment worldwide. I can make some inquiries if you'd like.

Sounds like a fun job...packing stuff for a living.

I bet some of the cars would be fun to drive around the block before loading them into a box.

I do a lot of international shipping, but much smaller than a container. (I WISH!!) Just about every freight forwarder I deal with will handle shipping containers by boat. Make some calls, check reputation, check prices. Air shipment from SoFla to the islands averages about 3.00 per pound. That's AIR, not water. I was told a while ago that a 20" container from China to Miami was about 2K. You just have to start looking.

For what it's worth, as a comparison, here is a nice appearing container in Miami for 1950.00. http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/2829095886.html

Something like that could probably be sold at a profit upon arrival.

Also, insure the HELL out of it. Over 10,000 of these "Fall off the truck" every year. Pure hell for a pleasure boat at speed. They float just a bit.

Jay wrote: So I have a car and a bunch of personal effects I may want to send overseas in the near future. I figure it would be best to hire a half container (20') and send it all in one go... Have any of you done that before?

Yes, that's how my stuff got over from the UK. The removal company I used took care of the actual container rental and making arrangements for the shipping as well. They can also point you into the direction of an insurance agent who should be able to handle the insurance for the container.

Jay wrote: I don't have the slightest clue where to start. I made a few inquiries but there's only so far I can get as a peasant^H^H^H^H private individual. Should I go to an agent instead? What kind of agent and where do I find them?

I used a specialist mover from the UK who was well aware of how to put bikes and the assorted stuff into a container. I also needed a customs agent at this end, but they basically made the arrangements for that, too.

Jay wrote: Also, what's the procedure for loading a container? My town is landlocked but it would be really nice to load one here and have it trucked to the port... I've seen pictures of cars professionally shipped in containers and they are usually nicely blocked in with wood scaffolding so they don't get bashed around. Will the shipping company do this or am I on my own?

Dunno how to load one, the removal company did that on my end and that was a good thing.

From bad experience - make sure when you have the container delivered at the other end, you either can get it taken off the trailer or that you have access to a loading dock. Unload motorcycles from a container that's still on the semi blows goats (ask me how I know) and I don't even want to know what it's like to unload a car.

This popped up on my screen-

20'-48' Steel Containers Outlet pricing on sale of storage/cargo containers www.ContainerOutlet.com Harborside Logistics International Shipping. FMC Bonded Licensed & Insured. 207-774-3800 www.harborsidelogistics.com Shipping Rates Get Shipping Rates Online Expert Practical Business Advice. IndustrialHQ.com

BoxheadTim wrote: and I don't even want to know what it's like to unload a car.

WHY DID YOU TURN!?!