What we will not carry
We refuse these outright. If they are found in a shipment after pickup we will stop it, notify the authorities where the law requires, and charge the shipper for return or disposal.
- Currency, bearer instruments, precious metals and loose gemstones
- Firearms, ammunition, explosives and their components
- Controlled substances without a valid permit
- Live animals and human remains
- Counterfeit goods and items that infringe a trademark
- Hazardous materials not declared and packed to DOT or IMDG standard
- Anything whose carriage, import or export is prohibited by law at origin or destination
Carried only by prior agreement
- Perishable and temperature-sensitive goods
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Lithium batteries and equipment containing them
- Vehicles with outstanding finance or an unclear title
- Shipments with a declared value above $100,000
Packing your shipment
Freight must survive normal handling, stacking and vibration over the whole route. We inspect packaging at pickup and may refuse a shipment that will not travel safely. Claims for damage to inadequately packed goods are declined, so this matters.
- Use a rigid outer carton with at least two inches of cushioning on every side
- Seal with reinforced tape along every seam, not string or staples
- Remove or cover old labels and barcodes from reused boxes
- Palletize and shrink-wrap anything over 150 lb
- Put a duplicate address label inside the carton
Vehicles
- Fuel must be at or below one quarter tank
- The battery must be secured and the alarm disabled
- Remove all personal effects unless you have booked container shipping
- Original title or a certified copy must reach us at least 72 hours before sailing
- Loose parts and spoilers must be removed or secured
Documents
Every shipment needs a completed shipping form. International moves also need a commercial invoice, a packing list, and any license the destination requires. Incomplete paperwork is the single most common reason a shipment is delayed at customs. We check what you give us, but the accuracy of the declaration is the shipper's responsibility.
Delivery
We deliver to the delivery address you gave us. Delivery is contactless: no signature or ID is required, and the tracking page updates the moment the shipment is dropped.
If no one is available we leave a notice and try once more the next business day. After the second attempt the shipment is held at the nearest terminal for ten calendar days. Storage charges start on day eleven. After thirty days an unclaimed shipment is returned to the shipper at the shipper's cost, or disposed of if it cannot be returned.
Duties and taxes
Import duties, VAT and port charges are set by the destination authority, not by us. Unless the shipper has chosen to pay them, they fall to the receiver and must be settled before release. We tell you the amount before we pay anything on your behalf, and we charge a clearance fee for handling it. We do not under-declare the value of goods, and we will not amend a declaration to reduce duty.
If something goes wrong
Report loss or damage within 14 days of the delivery date, or of the expected delivery date where the shipment never arrived. Keep the packaging: we usually need to inspect it.