Plus Relocation

What should your company know about international household goods shipping?

International shipping shares plenty in common with U.S. domestic shipping, but there are some key differences. Global Supply Chain Director Sarah Jackson has the details in this Relo Tip Tuesday.

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Complete transcript: “Hi, my name is Sarah Jackson, and welcome to Relo Tip Tuesday! My question is, ‘What should your company know about international household goods shipping?’

Shipping internationally has a lot in common with domestic shipping, but there are many factors that can make it more complex.

With international shipping, your relocating employee should be looking to schedule a survey around five to six weeks prior to the required packing date. At the same time, they should be looking to complete a valued inventory to ensure all items of significant value are accounted for in transit and can be repaired or replaced accordingly.

Insurance coverage will be based on this inventory. However, if no inventory is completed, a lump sum will often be applied that could fall short of the actual replacement value.

With international shipping, it’s also important to keep in mind that there are often additional costs compared to domestic shipping. Import duties and taxes vary widely from country to country, so make sure your program and your employees account for this when planning a relocation.

Additionally, international shipping can often present more restrictions and regulations. Some items that may be OK to ship by land most certainly would not be OK to ship via sea or air due to security or space regulations. Plus, many countries restrict what can be shipped in or out. Failure to comply with international shipping regulations can lead to costly penalties and fines.

Lastly, international shipments will almost always take longer than domestic shipments, particularly if shipping by sea. Make sure this is factored into the relocation timeline. Thanks for watching!”