Whether you are moving your personal properties or commercial items from one state or country to another, you have to be picky with the moving company you work with. Aside from making sure that your property is safe in transit and upon arrival, you also have to make sure that you do not violate customs and tariff regulations while moving. Just and equitable charging is also important.
When you are looking for a shipping container transport provider, there are salient factors you need to pay careful attention to. Besides that, you also need to know this provider’s reputation in handling damage and loss of items on board. To help you sift through your choices, consider these simple tips below.
Survey the market
Before you make any decision, especially one involving your personal property or items you need to deliver to a client, you have to make sure that the one who will be transporting it has a sterling industry reputation. Through this, you can be assured that they will be exercising the degree of care required by the circumstance and item fragility. Mishandling of cargo may be a sensitive issue and is heavily frowned upon. However, there are still companies out there that are not very careful with the items entrusted to them by the consignor or ultimate consignee. And yes, damaged items may be paid for, but it is better to receive it in a safe condition than get a replacement later.
Talk to the companies you have shortlisted.
After surveying the market, you need to list down the companies you believe in having a good reputation. Since the preliminary screening is done, half of the battle is already won. To ensure that you are not settling for what is available, compare and contrast the services offered by these companies offering shipping container transport services. When you compare and contrast, pay close attention to the following:
- Pricing: Wherever you go, pricing and cost will always be part of the consideration. Of course, when you are in business, the higher the shipping cost, the more expensive your goods will be sold. So, make sure to ask for price quotations from the service providers you intend to work with.
- Services included: The cheapest service provider is not always the best one. This means that though the cost is an important factor, it should be balanced with the service inclusions offered. Say, for instance, one shipping company may be a few dollars more expensive than the other, but they also include insurance for your shipment. Plus, a more expensive option may be able to send your shipment one week ahead of the cheaper alternative. In this case, you have to go with the shipping company that offers the best value for your money.
- Knowledge about customs and tariffs: This factor is very important, especially if you move items from one country to another. Since every country has different rules on personal properties and items entering their ports, expert knowledge would save you from penalties and hassle from denial of entry.
Decide based on the merits.
After evaluating your options, it is time to decide. The beauty of deciding based on facts and research is it is easier. It keeps you from choosing solely based on availability and familiarity. In business, this means finding a reliable business ally.
Invest time in searching for a shipping company. It may be tedious at first and may demand a chunk of your time. If you only consider the benefits you get to enjoy from deciding based on facts, you will realise that the time you invested is worth it.
