When you are moving overseas, there are a lot of details you will need to handle.
You have to find a place to live, arrange for schools for your children and handle the loads of paperwork that it takes to move abroad.
Luckily, one thing you don’t have to worry about is your international shipment.

IntlMOVE will handle all of the international moving details.
As soon as you are ready to move overseas, contact IntlMOVE to arrange for your overseas shipment of your furniture, household goods and personal effects.

Quote
The process begins with your free online quote.
Log onto www.IntlMOVE.com and click on the “Quote” link to get started.
The easy-to-use online form will guide you through your entire house so you can easily estimate your cost for moving overseas.

Customer Service
When you have chosen IntlMOVE as your international mover, you can get started right away.
Your move consultant will be there to answer any questions during your international move.
If you have questions regarding the quote, packing, shipping or delivering, you can contact IntlMOVE to get a quick response!

Packing
The IntlMOVE packing team will pack all of your household goods and personal effects with the utmost care.
The IntlMOVE packing team will take special care of all of your fragile items to help ensure their safety on their long journey overseas.
All of your boxes will be labeled with contents and what room they need to be delivered to when they arrive in your new country.
If you are shipping a car overseas, IntlMOVE can help!
Ask your move consultant from IntlMOVE what you need to do to prepare your car for its international shipment.

Shipping
After IntlMOVE has packed all of your household good and personal effects, they will be ready for their overseas shipment.
IntlMOVE will load your shipping into sea going container and ship it overseas.
When you household goods and personal effects arrive in your new country, IntlMOVE will handle the customs clearance.

Delivering
Your household goods and personal effects will be ready for delivery after they have cleared customs.
An IntlMOVE delivery team will deliver all of your personal belongings to your new home.
The IntlMOVE delivery team will set up your furniture and deliver all of your boxes to the rooms designated on the labels.
When the IntlMOVE delivery team has completed, they will remove all moving debris to leave your home clean and ready for you to unpack.

It’s as simple as that!
IntlMOVE only handles international moves, so the international moving specialists have a firm grip on all steps that need to take place.
The knowledgeable IntlMOVE move consultants are ready to assist you with any information you need.
Contact IntlMOVE today to make your international moving experience easy and as stress free as possible.

When moving overseas, you might want to get in the habit of keeping a notebook with you at all times.
There will be a lot you need to plan for, so it is good to keep a running list of things you need to get done.
IntlMOVE wants to make your move as easy as possible, so we have put together a list to get you started.

• Planning your Overseas Shipment – When you are ready to start planning your international move, get your free online quote from IntlMOVE. A move consultant from IntlMOVE will help you plan for your move overseas. IntlMOVE will pack your belongings, ship your household goods overseas and deliver your international shipment to your new house in your new country.
• Job Search for Spouse – If you have a spouse moving overseas with you, determine whether or not your spouse will need to work. Some countries have strict laws about foreign workers, so you spouse may be ineligible to find employment. If your spouse is able to work, start networking through employment websites, expat websites and personal connections to get a jumpstart on the job searching process.
• Searching for Schools – If you have children, you will want to research the schools in the area. If you are getting a relocation package, determine if children’s schooling is included in your benefits. Ask other expats on expat forums for help with finding a new school. The internet can provide a wealth of information. Once you have narrowed down your choices, contact the schools with a list of questions to determine what educational institution is right for your kids.
• Transportation – You might need to ship your car overseas, or your new country might have public transportation that will work for your needs. IntlMOVE can provide the service of shipping your car overseas if this is something you need.
• Housing – Research housing in your new country while taking several things into consideration. You will want to research the different neighborhoods, crime rates, location in relation to schools and jobs, public transportation and convenience.
• Forward Mail – Look into international mail forwarding services, so you can make sure that you get all of your important documents and mail after your international relocation.
• Arrange for International Banking – Research all of your options for international banking. Contact your local bank to see what you need to do to change your location. You can also look into international banks or set up a bank account in your new country. You will have to research all of your options and choose what is right for you.
• Credit Cards – Contact your credit card companies and make them aware of your new location. You may need to apply for new credit cards that will work overseas.
• Cancel all Services – Cancel your utilities, cable, internet, gym memberships and any other services you will no longer need.
• Alert Friends and Family – Let your friends and family know your new address and location so they can contact you. Your United States phone number will no longer work, so make sure your family and friends have your email address, Skype username and new address so they can reach you. Once you get a new phone number, you can send out an announcement that includes all of your new contact information.
• Minimizing – You will want to minimize as much as possible before moving overseas. Arrange to sell or donate your unwanted items. Get rid of clothes your family no longer wears, furniture that will not fit into your new home and any other items that you don’t need.

IntlMOVE

The Port of Miami is one of America’s busiest ports.
It is a 16-lane cargo complex!
Not only is the Port of Miami the Cruise Capital of the World, but it is also the Cargo Gateway of the Americas.
The Port is an integral part of South Florida’s economy and it contributes over $17 billion annually.

Security in the Port of Miami
Safety and security are the utmost concern at the Port of Miami.
Heightened levels of protection are a must when dealing with international shipments.
There are specific procedures and innovative technology in place to ensure the safety of the Port.
The Port partners with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Miami-Dade Police and Fire-Rescue Departments and others to create a synergistic system of security.
Through partnerships, technology and strategic procedures, the Port of Miami has helped facilitate the faster movement of commerce in a well-organized manner.

The security efforts are virtually seamless, which helps to make the shipments of goods more cost efficient.
They have implemented cutting-edge inspection technology that improves security while maintaining a smooth flow of cargo.
The technology not only assists in faster processing times, but also complies with Port business policies.
In fact, processing times of two minutes are typical for the completion of all security and financial procedures.

Environmental Practices
Environmental awareness is an important part of today’s world.
The Port of Miami does not take this concern lightly.
The fragile ecosystems of the surrounding port need nurturing, awareness and care.
Management takes the environment into consideration for every facet the Port’s business.

There are specific measures the Port puts in place to reduce energy consumption.
Energy efficient light bulbs are used and lights are turned off when rooms are not being used through sensor-controlled switches.
Plumbing fixtures that use less water have been installed.
Employees are also encouraged to recycle, reduce and reuse!

Sustainable construction has been taken into consideration and any new structures will be certified under the in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
In fact, the Port of Miami pledges that any new buildings will be certified with AT LEAST the “Silver Level.”

There are many things the Port of Miami is doing to reduce air emissions.
The electrification of gantry cranes is an ongoing project and fleets are being replaced with hybrid vehicles.
There are also technological advances, training and procedures put in place to protect the ocean and surrounding water.

Crane Management
The Port of Miami has nine ship-to-shore container handling gantry cranes.
The cranes are located on six different wharves that are each 1,000 feet.
Recently, some of the cranes have been electrified for environmental and workload efficiency.
The Port of Miami also has some of the largest cranes in operation in the world.
These large cranes were designed to work on a 22 container wide vessel!

Port of Miami Crane Management, Inc. has been responsible for the maintenance and management of the gantry cranes at the Port since 2002.
They also manage and maintain the other container handling equipment.
The company boasts that there cranes are up and running 99.62 percent of the time, which is an extraordinary uptime in the industry.
This means extra savings for customers of the Port of Miami because of minimal downtime!

At the other end are those shippers requiring “full service”
They are only interested in Door to Door service with full packing.

International Movers cater for different requirements; some choose to offer “bare bones” services, some will only offer “full service” and other will offer “bare bones” or “full service” and anything in between.

There is nothing wrong with shippers choosing what level of service they want, as long as they understand what they need to do themselves.
There is nothing wrong with companies offering different service levels, as long as their quotes clearly state what is included and what is excluded from their price.

It is up to you, the shipper, to correctly compare the quotes you receive.
If you do not understand the differences, the terminology used, what is included and what is excluded in each quote, comparing them can be an impossible task.
Choosing according to the $ number only can mean choosing the most expensive solution.

Let’s cover the main points step by step:

Shipment volume
All quotes must be for same shipment volume.
If your shipment is for less than container load – LCL, determine what your shipment volume is in CFT and get all quotes for exactly same volume.
If your shipment is for a full container load – FCL, request all quotes for same container size, being a 20FTor 40FT or 40 High Cube

Service Type
Most common are Door to Door service or Door to Port service
The service type must be identical when comparing quotes.
You cannot compare the cost of a Door to Door service to a much lower cost of a Door to Port service.
You must add all possible destination costs (customs clearance, terminal handling charge and delivery) to the Door to Port quote.

Packing
A full packing service means the International Mover will provide all of the packing materials required for box packing and furniture wrapping and will professionally prepare all of your items for international shipping.
A packed by owner service means that you are responsible for professionally preparing your items for international shipping.
In order to compare a full packing service to a packed by owner service, the company offering the lower cost packed by owner service, should provide their additional charges in case full packing is wanted or needed.
This charge should be per CFT for LCL or per container size for FCL, and will enable you to make the correct adjustment when comparing their quote to the full packing included quote.

Terminal Handling Charges
When comparing a quote that includes terminal handling charges to one that excludes them, request an estimate of such charges.
In many countries these charges are small, in some they are firm and can be included in the quote, but there are countries like Brazil, were these charges can be thousands of dollars.

Covering the above four points will take you a long way in correctly comparing prices of quotes you received.

As a last note:
Price is always important, but price is not everything.
If you are shipping personal belongings with a sentimental value, not measurable by $ value, your choice should be based on trust and reliability, not price.
Our advice, forget the internet and its “giga byte” of advertising.
Do not choose a company according to their skills and success in “Internet Marketing”.
Check the operation of your prospective International Mover.
Visit their warehouse and satisfy yourself that you are entrusting your worldly possessions to the correct company.
If you cannot do it, ask someone you know and whose judgment you respect to do it for you.
As the old saying goes, “seeing is believing”.

The companies providing this service call it “Free On-Site Estimate”
Unfortunately, as we all know, nothing in business is free.
The above procedures create a cost to the company that is sending the estimator.
If the estimator “closes” one out of three estimates, the costs of three such estimates must be included in the one order he receives.
No one can dispute the logic and the common sense here.
The companies that employ “On-Site estimators” MUST allow the cost of these activities in their quotes.

If after the “On-Site Survey” you decide to add items to your shipment, you are going to be charged according to the actual volume you are shipping, not according to the obsolete “On-Site survey”.

We are living in exciting times.
Information no one dreamed would be available, is now at your fingers tips.
You can search and find the cheaper airline ticket and book it on line.
You can pay your bills, transfer money between your bank accounts from your laptop.
In the same ease, you can calculate the volume of your shipment.
You can do it again and again, whenever you make a change to the content you plan to ship, using the On-Line Shipment Volume Calculator.
You can do it using one of the thousands On-Line Shipping Volume Calculators freely available on the internet.

All of these On-Line Shipping Volume Calculators use the same data as published by AMSA the American Moving and Storage Association, and as you correctly guess, also used by the “On-Site estimator”. 

If you have any question, need any help, call the company providing you with the On-Line Shipment Volume Calculator.
They will be happy to assist. 

Print the form and fill in the information as you move around your home and give yourself time to consider exactly what you want to ship.
There is no need to rush your choices or make an ‘on the spot’ decision.

Over the years most of the moving companies have added the user-friendly On-Line Shipment Volume Calculator to their websites to make the process of self estimating your shipment volume quick and easy.  

International Movers like IntlMOVE offers an On-Line Shipment Volume Calculator, and if you have any questions or need assistance, any of IntlMOVE Move Consultants will be happy to assist you in calculating you shipment volume.
IntlMOVE also encourage potential customers to check our operation and visit our consolidation terminal which we proudly own.

The Internet is open to everyone and a powerful tool that has connected our world and allowed us to exchange information in unimaginable ways. 
Anyone can post reviews, blogs, opinions, and even create websites of their own. 
Unfortunately, we do not always know who that “anyone” might be on the other side of the screen.  
How do you tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” with all these conflicting reports and reviews and questions on the validity of the source?

Do not despair! 
By being a little proactive and not relying on the Internet to feed you all of your information, you can do a little investigation and have a much better idea of the International Movers with whom you are dealing. 

1. How long has the International Movers been in business?  Generally if a company has been in business for 5 years or more, they have gained the knowledge, experience and network to handle your move properly.
2. Does the International Movers own their own facilities?  Companies that own their own warehouses, offices, etc. maintain much better control over the handling and quality of your shipment.  It should also be a comfort to you that this company does not intend on going any where any time soon and is in business for the long haul.  You can not obtain this same feeling from a broker in a leased, high rise office space.
3. What associations/affiliations does the International Movers maintain?  There are many recognized industry associations and certifications for International Moving companies:  AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association), IAM (International Association of Movers), FIDI/FAIM, OMNI, RIM (Registered International Mover).  These organizations require their members to meet industry standards, provide training and certification of their staff, and, if applicable, maintain their equipment and facilities to industry standards. 
4. Is the International Movers licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission? If a company is not licensed by the FMC, they are NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO HANDLE TRANSPORT OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT.  Any FMC licensed company posts a substantial bond with the FMC and agrees to abide by the Shipping Act of 1984.  This is for your safety!  Licensed companies are listed on the FMC’s website.  Most will also provide you with a copy of their license on request. 

Choosing your International Movers is an important decision! 
Do not put the power of this choice in the hands of some anonymous poster floating around in cyberspace! 
Take the time to do a little investigation on a company and you will sleep easier knowing you made the right choice.

Deciding what you will bring with you, what you may want to get rid of or what you may want to store will be determined in part if this is a temporary or permanent move and, of course, the cost.
Once you have made the decision of what you would like to bring, then you can start finding out about the cost.

The moving estimates you will receive will be as varied as the reasons for the move.
Unfortunately, there is not a uniform standard used for quoting by international movers.
Of course you will want to get the best price, and the best service.
The best price should be the most realistic, competitive price in the market.
If it sounds too good to be true; it probably is!
For the best service look for e a reputable company like IntlMOVE  that is properly licensed, answers your questions, is responsive to your needs and is someone you will be able to contact throughout the move.

A price may look lower but unless all companies are quoting for the same volume, and the same service you cannot really compare apples to apples as the saying goes.
For example:
If a company is quoting 300 CFT, door to door service, but the other company is quoting 300 CFT, door to port service, of course, the second quote will be lower. It’s the same volume but a different service.
If a company is quoting 300 CFT, door to door service, but the other company is quoting 450 CFT, door to door service, of course, the first quote will be lower. It’s a different volume for the same service.
You can only compare the cost if both companies are quoting the exact same volume with the same service.

How do you determine the volume of your shipment?
Volume is determined by measuring Length x Height x Width in feet. 

Are all the companies quoting door to door or door to port service?
What service do you need and / or want? 
Do you know the differences between the services?

Door to Door service means that your belongings are picked up at your home or storage facility in the U.S. and delivered into your home or storage facility in your destination country.
Customs Clearance Services are included with Door to Door Service.

Door to Port Service means your belongings are picked up at your home or storage facility in the U.S and delivered to the port in your destination country.
You will need to clear Customs and pick up your belongings and take them or arrange for someone to deliver them to you home on your own.

If you require a full container (FCL) for your belongings, is the international mover loading the container or are you?
Do you know what is involved in loading a container (called “self load”)?
Did you know that there is usually a time limit to load the container and an hourly charge if you exceed the time limit?
A container sits on a chassis that is four feet off of the ground.
It doesn’t come with a ramp, or lift gate (like a moving van).
Is loading the container is a task that you really want to undertake yourself?

Is packing included?
Are the packing materials included?
Make sure you understand the difference between packing and loading.
Packing means putting your items in boxes and or wrapping / packing furniture. Loading means putting already packed items into the truck or container.
Some companies will tell you packing of the container is included in the price, and you automatically think packing your belongings is included.
They are really stating that they will load the container, and they will charge you for any packing of your items.

Some companies will tell you that packing services are included.
You will naturally assume that packing is included – it says so correct?
Often  what they don’t tell you is that the materials will cost extra.

Select a company that is transparent in their offering.
IntlMOVE is such a company.

The success of your International Move depends on the performance of each and all of the above Links.
If one Link fails; your International Move may be less than successful.
A successful International Move requires excellent administration and control.
Experience, integrity and professional pride are also essential
Only a well organized International Movers, possessing the above is suitable to handle your International Move

No company in the world owns and operates all the ‘‘Hardware” and Links described above
Understanding the structure of an International Move makes it clear that Local Movers, Van Lines etc. are the wrong type of company to use for International Moves
You need a company that will follow the move from pick up to delivery, a company that generates most of its revenue from executing International Moves, even much better:
A company that ONLY does International Moves.

Your International Movers must be licensed and under the jurisdiction of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
If you are using a company not licensed by the FMC to execute your International Move, you are using a company that operates illegally and you will not have recourse if things go wrong
This company must have an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license

Such a company is IntlMOVE.
IntlMOVE  Strength is our Administration and Control
IntlMOVE is licensed by the FMC
IntlMOVE  owns its main consolidation warehouses
IntlMOVE  staff is dedicated and has pride in the service they provide
IntlMOVE is an International Movers and we only do International Moves

Estimating volume is a much easier form of measurement.
The most common weight volume ratio used for the shipment of household goods is 7 Pounds per Cubic Foot.
This is not per item, but for the entire volume of the shipment.
For example the weight volume ratio for 200 CFT is up to 1400 LBS. 
If you are shipping normal household goods, you will not exceed the weight volume ratio.
If you are shipping nothing but books and papers, lead weights or similar heavy items, the weight volume ratio may be exceeded and these are not considered normal household goods.
Demurrage – this is a penalty imposed by the ship line for delaying their equipment beyond the allowed free time.
Full Packing (FP): This means that every item in your home will be packed professionally for your international move.
You may see CP (carrier packed) PBC (packed by carrier) to describe this service. 
You can pack some of your items and leave others to the professionals. This would be known as partial or what I like to refer to as “ala carte” packing.
You can pack all of your items.
You may see PBO (packed by owner) to describe this method of packing. The choice is yours.
Again don’t confuse packing with loading which was discussed in Part 1.

GRI – General Rate Increase – is a term used to describe an across-the-board tariff rate increase implemented by conference members and applied to base rates for shipment.
In Transit – Simply put this means the shipment is moving from home to warehouse, from warehouse to port, over the sea, from ship to warehouse and finally from warehouse to your home. All forms of movement are considered “in transit”.
Insurance – Insurance is recommended but it is optional.
You can purchase two types of insurance coverage; Limited Coverage and All Risk.
Limited Coverage will cover your shipment for total loss only; it will not cover damages of any kind.
All Risk Coverage will cover your shipment for loss and damages.
Insurance companies will not issue a policy for All Risk insurance unless the shipment is professionally packed.
If you are packing your own shipment, you will only be able to purchase a policy for Limited Cover (total loss only).
The cost of the insurance is based on a percentage of your declared value.
Live Load – Is a term used to describe a container that is loaded while the trucking company that carries the container to and from the port waits.
The first 2 hours are generally free, and there will be an additional per hour fee charged after 2 hours. 
Quarantine – This means the shipment is not allowed to leave a protected point because it is suspected of being a health or other hazard to the destination country. During the quarantine period (determined by the port authorities), the “Q” flag is raised.
RO/RO is the abbreviation for Roll On / Roll Off which is a method of shipping wheeled vehicles using ramps rather than cranes to lift the vehicle on or off of the ship. The vehicles are not in containers, but generally loaded in an area of the ship where the vehicle is secured at four points for the shipment.
THC – Terminal Handling Charge – is a charge made for service performed in a terminal area.

When comparing quotes and talking to International Movers, knowledge and a little common sense goes a long way to a stress free move.
Enjoy your new adventure.

Bill of Lading (B/L):  A document that establishes the terms between a shipper (you) and a transportation company.
It is a document of title, a contract of carriage or in layman’s terms a receipt for goods being transported or shipped.
Carrier: Is a term referring to a Ship Line, Freight Forwarder or NVOCC. IntlMOVE is an NVOCC
Customs: Government agency charged with enforcing the rules and regulations passed to protect the country’s import and export revenues.
Customs Duties and Taxes: The documents, duties or taxes that you may be required to produce and or pay vary depending on your status for entering the country. The regulations are subject to change without notice.
Each situation is individual and unique.
You could be entering as a returning citizen, a retiree, a student, with a work visa or a tourist visa just to name a few.
It is essential that you contact the consulate or embassy for your destination country or visit your destination country’s government Customs website for the latest updates in regulations or requirements.
If you cannot find the information you need on the website, there is always a way to contact Customs via email and you can then ask questions unique to you and your shipment.
Customs Clearance Agent: The person who facilitates the paperwork for normal customs clearance of your shipment.
Density: The weight of cargo per cubic foot or other unit of measure.
Destination: This is an easy one – the location where a shipment ends its movement.
Door to Door Service (D/D): Your household goods are picked up at your door (origin in the US – can be your home or a storage facility) and delivered to your door in your destination country (can be your home or a storage facility).
Customs clearance will be handled (paperwork facilitated by Customs Clearance Agent) for you.
Door to Port Service (D/P): Your household goods are picked up at your door (origin in the US – can be from your home or a storage facility) and discharged at the port of destination.
You will need to clear your shipment through Customs and arrange to have your items picked up and delivered to your home or storage facility.
Drayage: This is a term used by trucking companies that truck a container to and from the port and or container yard of the ship line.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) when your shipment is estimated to arrive in your destination country.
ETD – Estimated Time of Departure – the time and or date your shipment leaves the US.
Export: The shipment of goods leaving the US to a foreign country.
FMC: You may have heard the term FMC, but what is it and why is it important in an international shipment?
FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) is the U.S. Governmental regulatory body responsible for administering maritime affairs including the tariff system, Freight Forwarding Licensing, enforcing the conditions of the Shipping Act and approving conference or other carrier agreements.
Now that you know this, you may still be asking yourself, what does this mean?
To put it simply, a company that is shipping items overseas must be licensed by the FMC or they legally cannot ship items overseas.
This OTI (Ocean Transportation Intermediary) license can be of a FF (Freight Forwarder) or an NVOCC (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier). 
Freight Forwarder (FF) is a person whose business is to act as an agent on behalf of the shipper.
Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC or NVO) is a cargo consolidator in ocean trades who will buy space from a carrier and sub / sell it to smaller shippers. 
IntlMOVE has an NVOCC License. 

Look for more shipping terms definitions and explanations in part 3