Shipping Expedition Vehicles – Part 2
6 Steps for Shipping
Expedition Vehicles Overseas
Part 2: Choosing a Carrier
Hello Again Overlander and welcome!
This is part 2 of “6 Steps for Shipping Expedition Vehicles Overseas”. Last time, in part 1, we revealed the shipping methods available and the most recommended one for expedition vehicle shipping.
But once you chose the shipping method one of the biggest factors in having success on your overseas shipping is hiring the most reliable carrier company.
The 2 nd Step for Shipping Overseas – Choosing a Carrier
There are several Carrier companies in the market. Please see below some links of carries that can give you support on shipping expedition vehicles overseas.
Wilh. Wilhelmsen
Website: www.wilhelmsen.com
Grimaldi Group
Website: www.grimaldi.co.uk/
SeaBridge International
Website: www.seabrdge.com
Shipmyvehicle
Website: www.shipmyvehicle.com
Ship OverSeas
Website: www.shipoverseas.com
Schumacher Cargo Logistics
Website: www.schumachercargo.com
Auto Car Shippers
Website: http://www.autocarshippers.com
Accord Overseas
Website: www.accordoverseas.com
Carex International Shipping Company
Website: www.carexshipping.com
United Auto Transport
Website: www.unitedautotransport.com
Overseascarshipper.com
Website: www.overseascarshipper.com/
Alison Shipping International Inc.
Website: www.allisonshipping.com
When choosing a Carrier company, we recommend that you inquire about their US department of transportation (DOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers, which confirm that they are legally licensed to carry your expedition vehicle. You could also go to www.safersys.org and use the numbers listed to find out about the company’s safety records and other related information.
By our experience there are some difficulties that you may encounter when hiring a shipping company, and that you need to be aware off. Some carrier companies may not suggest to you the cheapest and shortest shipping routes. Some Companies may sell you RORO but ship your expedition vehicle using flat rack and often companies may not deliver your vehicle on the day scheduled.
In order to make sure that the carrier is offering a reliable service, once the carrier company suggests you the domestic port option of departure and the international arrival port, look at the world map and discuss with the carrier representative different route alternative options. Make sure to find the route that has the least amount of port stops, and is the cheapest and shortest one. If the carrier cannot provide you a good route try another one.
After choosing your shipping method, become familiar with the ship’s name, type and specifications. If you chose the RORO method, make sure that your ship is a RORO or car carrier ship type. If you want to learn more about the ship specifications, go to www.e-ships.net, where you can find information about ships, companies, world ports and a sea distances. Ask your Carrier representative for a registered user-name and password so that you have access to more specific information and verify whether or not the ship is a RORO. For sample information go to http://www.e-ships.net/samples/ship.htm and choose the carrier that can verify that the services that you are paying are the services that you are getting.
In order to verify the day of the ship arrival, you can call the carrier representative or go to www.vesseltracker.com , where you will be able to find your ship location in real time. This will show you how long your vehicle still has left to arrive at your arrival expedition port destination. Choose the carrier that can guarantee you the arrival date that was scheduled.
The best carrier company is the one that provides detail and specific information about its carrier license number, shipping routes, alternative shipping routes, ports of stops information, ship specifications, and arrival scheduled date.
And that closes part 2 of our shipping guide, but we are not quite done. Next time we are going to cover what we usually don’t like to do, spending money: Shipping rates and fees.
There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to paying overseas destination port fees and the best way is to be well prepared.
Until Next time,
The GXV Team