Winter weather shipping presents various challenges. The logistics of moving your entire life to Hawaii is daunting for every customer. We hope that the straightforward information provided below will help you make a smart decision.
What You Need to Know
- A company that is specifically experienced in Northeast Pacific Ocean container shipping during the winter and early spring months.
- The material costs for a properly packed household goods container scheduled for shipment during the winter or spring is about 20% more than the summer and fall.
- The additional labor cost for “tight loading” of your goods for ocean shipment during the same time period is about 25% more.
- The most important/joyous moment of your move isn’t when your container doors are shut at your current residence and the container pulls away heading for the port. This moment happens when your container is delivered at your Hawaii residence. That’s when doors are swung open and your valuables are unbroken, on time, and on budget. No surprises. Now it’s time for smiles all around and to pop that bubbly!
- Terminology. Packing is everything being done on the inside of the home and or around your property. Loading is everything being done inside the actual container.
- Other companies have the word Hawaii in their name. Examples such as Hawaii trucking, Hawaii freight, or Hawaii shipping. Don’t be fooled by the word Hawaii in a company’s name. In reality, they’re a Florida, Washington, or California company.
- Contacting the Hawaii BBB to obtain a reference is always a good idea. Upon request, any goods service provider should furnish you a copy of their current BBB ranking and history.
What Does “Tight Loading” Mean?
Two household goods container shipments are never the same. Cookie cutter approaches used by most companies can be less expensive. The downside is that the results can be inconsistent. Usually, only 30% of household goods will square up and or be stackable. Simply put, there’s usually space between and under items. Empty space is not good. A tight load, provided by a professional, will minimize that empty space. The results are less shifting while sailing and a significantly reduced risk of winter transit damage. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a retired military or airline loadmaster in your family. If not, hire a professional. The right company will have a dedicated in house, tight pack, and load/unload supervisor on site at your job. It will be his or her only job; they’ve been doing it for a long time, and they love what they do.
What Does “Properly Packed” Mean?
Packing is much more time consuming but doesn’t require the skill set that professional loading requires. Although, it does require a lot of patience and time.
Total Man Hour Estimates Are Based on 16 Years of Data
- An average 20′ container will require about 25 total hours of boxing and wrapping for goods coming out of a residence.
- 50 total man hours for an average 40′.
- 75 total man hours for a 45′.
Total Material Costs Including Blanket Cost Are Based on 16 Years of Data
Information provided is for 2019 winter container shipping when you’re buying materials from a big box store. Current cost is about $1,500 for an average 20′, $2,300 for an average 40′, and $3,000 for an average 45’. Regarding blankets, you’ll need 30-40 top grade blankets for a 20′ container, 50-70 for a 40′ container, and 70-90 for a 45′ container. During winter and early spring, you should buy only double corrugated packing boxes and top-grade tape. If you’re a do-it-yourself (DIY) customer, a goods service provider should furnish, upon request, a custom packing materials list based on your manifest. This list should help you save time and money by purchasing only what you need, in the quantity that you require. Additionally, they should be able to assist you with completing a preorder. Material preorders allow your requested materials to be gathered and waiting for you at check out. If you’re questioning whether you should use more material in this box? The answer is always YES!
Any company providing service to and from Hawaii should be versed in analyzing ocean conditions. They should have professional knowledge of anticipated wave sets, swell, direction, length, and wind speed during the time your goods are on the water. Preferably, your service provider should have a dedicated team member who possesses a skill set obtained by firsthand and local knowledge of sailing the Northeast Pacific. This is what Hawaiians refer to as a “waterman.” If you ask your provider if they check the Pacific Marine Ocean Predictive Center or the WX daily briefing package, and they don’t understand what you’re referring to, then you’re talking to the wrong people.
There are no short cuts to successful winter transits. You can do this right, you can do this fast, or you can do this cheap. You can only pick one.