International movers face dangers and obstacles every day that most of the people who hire them never even consider. There are certain precautions that they need to take on any job and some that they need to address when moving your belongings to parts of the world that are unstable or currently immersed in an armed conflict. Many Americans have been hiring international movers to go to jobs that are opening up in Middle Eastern and Asian countries where it is still not completely safe for leisurely travel.
To offset some of the dangers, international movers use well-traveled routes that have security forces in place from either the local police or armed forces that are occupying an area. They also used unmarked trucks in certain regions so that members of the opposition will not know which country their cargo is coming from. It is important in some areas for the international movers to be completely anonymous in between the point of origin and the final destination. Some nations, America being one of them, are not all that popular in certain parts of the world so acknowledging an affiliation with an American citizen may not be safe for the international movers. Drivers are well aware of this and try not to carry anything that indicates who they are transporting for other than the documents necessary to get through military check-points.
Exit and entry ports are generally well guarded and fairly safe for the loading and unloading of cargo. The difficulties usually arise in the transport from the entry port to the final drop off spot. Roads in remote regions are avoided and some international movers will not handle this portion of the journey at all. If you are moving for a job opportunity, find out if your employer has a system in place to help you transport your furnishings to your new home.
Other security concerns involve the voyage over by ship or plane. International movers normally don't own these transport vessels so security is the responsibility of the crew and the charter company. Many of the ships that traverse the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean now have weapons or armed guards to help fend off pirates which still exist out there. There is also a heavy military presence from both the United States and United Nations security forces patrolling the major shipping routes. International movers are well aware of this and make it a point to stick close to the designated shipping routes. When they are forced to go off track they radio their location in and try to get back to the shipping lane as quickly as possible.
Of course, it's not just in conflict nations that danger exists for international movers. Trucks are hijacked in the United States and other civilized nations all the time. The most important safety concern for international movers is always their personnel. They have all clients sign liability, theft and damage waivers in the event of a robbery so that their people will not have to put themselves at risk. Human life is far more valuable than your living room set or household appliances.
If you are planning on moving to another country and have never hired international movers before there are a number of questions that you should ask to make sure that you have selected the right international movers for your needs. These questions have to do with geography, mode of transport and experience in the industry and in the country that you are moving to.
Geographically, international movers charge you by the mile, the weight and the degree of difficulty that is involved in traversing the geographical terrain between your current home and your new one. For instance, if you are moving from Atlanta to Nova Scotia you will need international movers to relocate you but they have a choice of sea, air, or land routes that pose different degrees of difficulty. Always ask what the prices are for each option so that you can compare and select the best one for you.
International movers also charge more or less based on the mode of transport. Trucks, trains, cargo ships and planes are all vehicles that can carry your belongings to another country. International movers usually have a preferred mode of transport and many advertise it on their website. Trucking companies are a good example.
Other international movers will have a variety of choices available and you should price each one of them before you make your final decision. The most obvious choice may not always be the most affordable. Air, sea and land rates fluctuate based on season and the prices of fuel so don't assume that you know what mode of transport is best before you do your homework.
The miles traveled by international movers are another factor in the price quote you will be given when you first begin your arrangements. Remember that miles are not calculated in a straight line, or as the crow flies. Each leg of the journey that your international movers take is measured and charged for. If you are moving your belongings overseas by ship you will be charged for the transport to the seaport, the trip itself, and then the transport to your new location.
It is very important to know what route will be taken and make sure that it is the shortest and most direct available. Ports of exit and entry should be close to pick-up and drop-off locations and shipping routes should be non-stop. Confirming these details will save you time and money during the actual move.
Experience is something that cannot be substituted for. Anyone can familiarize themselves with regulations and entry requirements for a country and calculate the tax rate, but actually going through the process is something else entirely. Customs officials and border patrols have a certain way of doing things and if the international movers you hire are not familiar with them your shipment could get detained or even seized upon entry into your new country. Make sure that you only hire international movers with experience in the country you are moving to.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression and you wouldn't want yours to be having to retrieve your seized belongings from Customs.