Structure of International Move

We all have moved at sometime in our life, for most of us it was a Local Move or a Long Distance Move. In both kinds of moves, the loading, transporting and offloading has all been done by the same team, in the same truck. The only difference is that a Local Move is defined as a move within the boundary of one state, and a Long Distance Move is a move where you cross from one state into another.

Both kinds of moves are done by Moving Companies, Van Lines, etc. which are controlled, monitored and supervised by the Department of Transport (DOT) and are required to have a DOT License.

The logistics and complexity of these moves is very simple in comparison to an International Move.

In International Moves, the following parties (“Links”) are involved:

Pick Up Team - Usually a local mover that will come to your house, do the packing and loading into a truck for an LCL (less than container load), or sometimes (not always) into a Container in for an FCL (full container load)

Consolidation Agent - If your shipment is LCL, your HHG (Household goods) will be brought to the Consolidation Agent’s warehouse for consolidation with other shipments

Trucker - If your shipment is FCL the service of a trucker will be required. This is a company or the individual that will pick up the container from the container yard and transport it to the loading location and back to the port

US Customs authorized specialist - An individual or a company that will prepare, check and submit your shipping documentation at port of exit

Steam Ship Line -The Company that owns the ship on which the container holding your HHG will be loaded

Overseas Customs Agent -The company or individual that will handle the release of your HHG from customs overseas at port of entry

Destination Agent - Overseas Agent that will handle the receiving and distribution of the various shipments consolidated into the container

Overseas trucking company - Usually hired by the Destination Agent. The moving company that will deliver your shipment from the Destination Agent’s warehouse to your new home or to your new country when Port of entry is in a different country. If your shipment is FCL, and if (not always) your dedicated container will be brought directly to your residence, then the trucker that delivers the container to your new home.

Overseas delivery team - Usually a local mover in your new town, delivering your HHG into your new home, in case of FCL this is the team that will offload the container, position the HHG in your new home and remove the packing debris

The success of your International Move depends on the performance of each and all of the above Links. If one Link fails; your International Move may be less than successful.

A successful International Move requires excellent administration and control. Experience, integrity and professional pride are also essential. Only a well organized company, possessing the above is suitable to handle your International Move.

No company in the world owns and operates all the ‘‘Hardware” and Links described above.

Understanding the structure of an International Move makes it clear that Local Movers, Van Lines etc. are the wrong type of company to use for International Moves.

You need an international mover that will follow the move from pick up to delivery, a company that generates most of its revenue from executing International Moves, even better, a company that ONLY does International Moves.

This company MUST be licensed and under the jurisdiction of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). If you are using a company not licensed by the FMC to execute your International Move, you are using a company that operates illegally and you will not have recourse if things go wrong
This company MUST have an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license.