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Eastern Europe Shipping Blog

Expert tips on smarter shipping between the U.S. and Eastern Europe, including shipping of heavy goods.

Heavy Freight Shipping Companies Enable Big Savings

I.C.E. Transport | Aug 25, 2022 10:02:19 AM | heavyweight freight

 

For global shippers of wood, metals and other dense cargo, heavy freight shipping companies will charge you more for over-the-road heavy hauls. But, in the process, they can help cut your total freight shipping costs as much as 20%.

The savings are on the ocean shipping leg of the journey.

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Smart Ocean Container Loading Can Help Cut Ocean Shipping Costs

 

Ocean container shipping has become very expensive – in some cases triple what it was pre-pandemic. So, you don’t want to ship more containers than needed for your volume of freight. That requires smart ocean container loading.

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How to Reduce Ocean Freight Costs

 

For decades, steamship lines have had an unspoken pact with shippers: If you’re willing to wait many weeks to have your cargo delivered, we’ll transport it thousands of miles for you, and do it for cheap. Even with relatively affordable rates, the lines made oodles of money by piling containers – as many as 24,000 TEUs on the latest ships – onto a single vessel. 

All that changed with the pandemic as the lines cut capacity to address greatly decreased demand. As factories re-opened and as consumers starting shopping again, demand for container space soared – but vessel capacity did not. 

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Shipping excavators and other large construction equipment

I.C.E. Transport | Aug 12, 2021 7:30:00 AM | heavyweight freight, project cargo

 

Say you’re based in Europe, and you’ve just scored a great deal on some used earth moving equipment in the US. How do you transport that machine to your location without wiping out everything you saved on the purchase? Here are some tips on shipping excavators and other large construction equipment.

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Shipping OOG cargo? Don’t make these mistakes

 

Transporting oversize cargo (also called out of gauge – or OOG – cargo) is a highly-specialized discipline. If you don’t understand the process in detail, you could end up wasting a lot of time and money, and maybe even breaking the law. Here are six big mistakes to avoid when you’re shipping OOG cargo.

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How to choose a freight forwarder: does size matter?

 

When you need a freight forwarder to handle your overseas shipments, you face a dizzying number and variety of choices, from huge global enterprises to smaller specialty firms. How to choose a freight forwarder that matches your needs? The answer isn’t simple.

Here’s a look at what to expect as you evaluate possible partners, large and small.

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Tips for shipping furniture in containers

I.C.E. Transport | Feb 11, 2021 7:30:00 AM | heavyweight freight, ocean shipping

 

When you import unassembled furniture, some of the choices you make about transportation can save you a good deal of money. Here’s some advice on how to find cost-saving opportunities when shipping furniture in containers.

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Understanding permit requirements for OOG cargo

I.C.E. Transport | Dec 3, 2020 7:30:00 AM | heavyweight freight, out of gauge

Out of gauge cargo – cargo that doesn’t fit in a standard shipping container – poses extra risks on the road. That’s why state DOTs regulate OOG cargo and require truckers who transport it to get special permits.

Complying with state regulations for oversize cargo helps ensure that your load will arrive on time, undamaged and without any legal problems.

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Why should you use a heavy haul trucking company?

I.C.E. Transport | Oct 15, 2020 7:30:00 AM | heavyweight freight

 

When you ship an ocean container over the road, a standard trucking company might be all you need. But certain shipments really call for a heavy haul trucking company – a carrier that can operate legally at more than the federally-defined maximum gross weight.

And sometimes – even if a heavy shipment wasn’t your original plan – you can save a lot of money by working with a heavy haul expert.

 

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How are heavy shipping rates determined?

I.C.E. Transport | Sep 3, 2020 7:30:00 AM | heavyweight freight

 

There are no special heavy shipping rates on container vessels. Ask a steamship line for a quote, and it doesn’t matter if you’re filling a container with 5,000 lbs. or 55,000 lbs. The per-container ocean rate is the same.

But some heavy loads can’t be shipped in containers. And the total cost of transportation includes rates for other services besides the ocean crossing.

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