1. CROSSING BORDERS BRINGS COMPLEXITY
Relocating across borders, oceans and time zones brings far greater complexity. The steps that
comprise a New York City to Dallas move are multiplied when that move is from New York to
anywhere beyond the lower-48 states. From the number of suppliers involved, to the shipping options
and customs process, moving possessions is a complex process. Knowing the roles, options and
factors involved can set expectations and help when an issue arises.
ROLES FOR INTERNATIONAL RELOCATIONS
• The Relocation Management Company (RMC) acts as the move manager.
The RMC will make sure the assignee and family understand what
goods can and cannot be brought into the destination country, and will
help with documentation, such as completing the Valued Inventory for
coverage protection purposes.
• The sea shipment will be handled by an origin agent. They will survey,
pack and will warehouse property, as applicable, and will load the
international shipment, in a container specifically for ocean and air
transport.
• The origin agent will transport the goods to a nearby port or airport
where the RMC freight forwarder will have contracted space for the
container(s) with an ocean vessel or air freight carrier.
• Once the airplane, or vessel, arrives at the destination, the destination
agent, assigned by the RMC, will handle the customs clearance process.
It is essential that the import shipment is compliant to the country’s rules
and all documentation is completed properly to help prevent the risk of a
lengthy, unsecure time on the dock or in a customs warehouse.
• When the shipment has cleared customs, the destination agent will
transport the container(s) to the assignee’s residence, and will unload
and unpack items, according to the parameters of the employer’s policy.
WHY AN AIR SHIPMENT?
In addition to the sea shipment, most employers authorize an air shipment
to meet more immediate needs of the employee and family – this is
usually intended to satisfy pressing settling-in requirements upon arrival,
and is most often a much smaller shipment. Air shipments are priced
based on cubic weight - shipment volume vs. actual weight.
For example, a bicycle, while lightweight, may cost more to
ship versus a heavy box of books, because the shipment box
size requires more space in the hold of the aircraft. By using a
standard air shipment container, an assignee will understand
what will fit inside the air box and can better prioritize essential
items needed, prior to the sea shipment delivery. This method is
also more cost effective for an air shipment.
inMOTIONSM
: MOVING HOUSEHOLD GOODS
INTERNATIONALLY
POLICY SUGGESTIONS
Graebel Relocation recommends adopting maximum container sizes for both
air and sea shipments based on the number of family members moving.
Asking U.S. assignees to consider the amount of goods to be shipped also
makes sense, because American homes tend to be larger than residences in
other countries.
Common container sizes for air and sea shipments:
FAMILY SIZE AIR SEA
Single employee D container: 62 cubic feet 20’ container
Single + 1 person D container: 62 cubic feet 20’ container
Single + 2 or more LDN container: 100 cubic feet 40’ container
There are variations in this standard approach, with some organizations
approving an LDN container for two people, an LDN and D container for
three or more, and often a 40’ high cube for larger families or senior
level executives.
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