Shared Shipping Containers

A shared container is where multiple customers shipments are sent in a single container. This is a cost effective way of moving household goods when you don't have enough volume to fill an entire container.

As the cost of sea freight is determined by the size of the steel container it is shipped in and not the volume within it sharing a container means you don't have to pay for the empty space as other customers will fill it. 

The amount of time your groupage shipment will take depends on 3 elements.

1. How long it takes us to fill a container with other customers goods who are moving to the same destination. If you are the last customer to have goods collected then the shipment can sail soon after collection, but if you're the first you may have a short wait. We'll advise you of the projected door to door transit time when we give you a quote so this is clear upfront. 
2. Sailing time - how long it takes the ship to complete its journey port-to-port.
3. De-consolidation time - when your shipment has cleared customs our destination partner will unload the container and deliver each shipment out to individual customers on agreed dates.

Once we've packed and wrapped all your items for shipping we will make sure they are all clearly labelled with your details.

We then produce a numbered inventory of the items that have been collected. This inventory is then used at your destination to ensure all the items are carefully checked off and delivered to the right customer. 

If you're just moving a few boxes a courier service will most likely be more cost-effective for you as these companies specialise in a high volume of box shipments allowing them to provide the most cost-effective rates where traditional removals services and support are not required. 

You can book a pre-move survey and one of our expert move consultants will assess your volume of goods for you so they can advise on the best method of transport based on volume and schedule requirements. 

Or, if you just want to have a rough idea of volume you can try our shipping volume calculator. As a guide, a sole use 20ft container holds around 1050cubic feet of personal belongings. 

Accreditations and certifications are a good way to determine the professionalism and credibility of a company. With a little money and a web expert any moving company can get a good position in your search engine listings, but how do you know they are reputable?

Organisations like FIDI (who certify international removal companies to the FAIM standard) and the BAR (British Association of Removers) pre-vet moving companies for you, and only let those who meet their standards become a member and display the badge. BAR companies also offer an advance payment guarantee so if anything happens to the removal company whilst your move is in progress you are financially protected. So, if you want to be sure you’ve chosen a reputable Removal Company, look for the badges. Find out more about International Shipping company accreditations here.

Every move is different so when we’ve talked through your personal move situation and requirements, we will suggest our recommended services and move plan. Typically, this includes:

• Free Home survey and quote
• Booking and payment
• Move planning including documentation preparation
• International packing and loading
• Transport
• Customs clearance
• Delivery and unpacking

If something we suggest doesn’t quite work the way you’d like it to or if you want to explore alternative solutions that’s no problem, just let us know and we’ll be happy to customise the plan so that you’re most comfortable. Our services are completely flexible, it’s your move and we’re here to make it as easy as possible for you.

Fill in the quote form to submit a web enquiry and we’ll get in touch to find out more about your move, alternatively, you can call us on 01797 228000

For larger overseas shipping moves we usually like to arrange a Move Consultation (sometimes known as a ‘survey’). This allows us to talk through your personal requirements further, explain your options and how your move might work, highlight anything you might find useful to know (like what you can and can’t take to specific countries based on their customs regulations) and to assess the technical aspects like the volume of items you’d like to move, the access to your property, any special packing or handling requirements that might be involved. We will send your quote over as soon as possible afterwards.

Typically we will visit you at home for the move consultation, but if you don’t have time, need an out of hours appointment or would just prefer us not to visit we can offer a range of other options like a Live Video Survey (available 24/7) using your smartphone, a telephone survey or our online self survey form.