Moving to another state is a lengthy and tedious process. There are so many things to think about that your head starts spinning. One of the more important challenges to tackle is to safely ship your belongings to another state and how to properly hire state to state moving company. A couple of things you would want to avoid is losing them along the way, receiving damaged belongings, or waiting for the delivery because they got stuck at customs.
Another thing to think about is the best method of shipping.
Shipping methods
When talking about different shipping methods, there are a couple of factors to consider:
- the time of delivery
- the cost
- the method of delivery
- safety of your cargo
- possibility to track a shipment
The time of delivery
The time of delivery mostly differs from company to company. Depending on the method you choose, your cargo will be delivered in the period from 3 to 14 business days. Furthermore, it is important to take into consideration whether you are shipping your belongings overseas. That might take a bit longer.
The cost
The cost is directly affected by the type and method of shipping. The faster and more secure method you choose, the higher the cost. Nevertheless, it absolutely pays off to pay a little more so that everything goes smoothly.
The method of delivery
When deciding how to ship your belongings to another state, figuring out the best method of delivery is probably the most important task.
Air shipping is fast and secure, and it allows you to ship almost every item, no matter the size. Furthermore, it is also very convenient for long-distance shipping, especially overseas. Also, air shipping is by far the fastest method you can choose. Departure and arrival times are consistent, the risk of theft and damage is low, and shipping rates are affordable.
Train shipping is another cost-effective way you can ship your belongings. Although it is not as fast as air shipping, it is the perfect way if you are not in a hurry. Also, shipping cargo via train is quite simple, since the containers are large. Finally, if we talk about safety, long gone are the days of the wild west when train robberies were a common thing. All jokes aside, railroad delivery has become safer in the past decade.
Sea freight is also an option when it comes to shipping your belongings. Of course, that all depends on the location. Sea freight is convenient only if the location is accessible by sea. It is also the slowest method of shipping.
Shipment tracking
There are many golden rules of international shipping you should follow. However, the one we would like to underline is to always use tracking when it comes to shipping your belongings to another state. It is easy to lose your shipment on the way. Furthermore, knowing where your cargo is at all times is helpful on many levels.
How to pack your belongings for shipping to another state
Interstate relocation is never easy, especially if you take into consideration that everything is on your shoulders. With that in mind, choosing the best packing material for your belongings is of utmost importance.
When people relocate, most of the lighter stuff is usually transported by a moving truck or a car. However, if you are moving to another state, there is a long road ahead of you. It is easier to simply ship your belongings to another state and pick them up at the destination.
Transportation containers
The best choice of "packing material" for this occasion is transportation containers. They are spacious, sturdy, weather-resistant, and quite safe. Furthermore, they are affordable and very convenient for shipping furniture or other heavy or oddly-shaped items.
When shipping your belongings in transportation containers, you can choose Full Container Load or Less Than Container Load.
FCL - Full Container Load
Full Container Load is an option you would choose if the whole container is intended for one consignor. Your belongings are sent via sea freight in sea containers. This is a perfect option to choose if you have a lot of belongings to ship.
LCL - Less Than Container Load
If you are shipping smaller quantities of goods, LCL or Less Than Container Load is the option for you. For starters, it is cheaper because your container is sent together with other shipments. This reduces the overall costs. The containers used in this case are common containers, and they are usually from 1 to 15 cubic meters.
When considering the shipping method, sea freight has the lowest cost. That's why both FCL and LCL options are something you should definitely consider.
Help yourself - do not allow your containers to be stuck at customs!
On some occasions, our shipment simply gets stuck at customs, and we have to wait for an extended period of time for the delivery. In most cases, there is nothing we can do about this. However, there are some things that you can take care of beforehand in order to secure a timely delivery:
- For starters, prepare all the necessary documentation. If you are missing even a single piece of paper, there might be consequences.
- Second, make sure that all the charges are paid. If there is a fee you still didn't cover for, the delivery will be postponed until you pay the remaining cost.
- Always have a tracking code for your shipment. It helps you to know at all times where your cargo is.
- In the end, always maintain communication with the shipping company. If you stay in touch, you will be informed if something goes wrong.
These four steps may seem simple, but they are crucial for the safe and quick delivery of your cargo.
That's how you ship your belongings to another state!
And there you have it. While it is not so easy to ship your belongings to another state, it helps if you have all the information at your disposal. By following these procedures, you will increase the chances of shipping your items cross country without any major consequences, and speed up the delivery.
