Nowadays, international shipping is very easily arranged with the assistance of a shipping company (often called a logistics company). However, with so many shipping companies to choose from, what do you need to know before making your final selection and engaging the services of a shipping company? What follows are five things that you must know before choosing a shipping company to transport a shipping container internationally.

Your Budget

Firstly, what’s your budget? You will find that there are many options to choose from and that some options are much more cost-effective than others, however, the most cost-effective options are usually not the timeliest, so consider this very important trade-off. You may find that you must compromise on time to get a good price that works with your budget. Shipping container transport can be very cost-effective but there are many things to bear in mind, such as:

• Delivery Time – As abovementioned, the most cost-effective options are usually the least timely.

• Vehicle Availability – Some logistics providers might not be able to offer you your preferred vehicles, such as tilt tray transport, which is an excellent option as it’s highly versatile.

These options and many more must be considered if you’re to find a service provider offering shipping and transport services within your price range.

Your Timeline

How quickly do you need to get the container to its destination? Logistics providers such as Gecko Logistics offer time-efficient shipping services and can help you with all your shipping and logistics requirements, ensuring a smooth experience. Ask about express shipping if you need to get the container to its destination quickly, though be aware that express shipping services are costlier.

The Company’s Vehicles

In addition to shipping transport, you also need to find out about the vehicles that the company has domestically as you’ll need to arrange transport for the shipping container to and from your place of business or home (wherever you’ll load it). Tilt tray trucks, as mentioned earlier, are the best choice here as they’re the best vehicle type for transporting shipping containers.

Their Reputation

If you’re pleased with the company’s fleet of vehicles, the shipping options they offer and the rates they charge, it’s time to look into their reputation and see what others think. There’s a lot to be learned from customer reviews, including the experiences of other people and what they think of their services, but it’s also important to consider your interactions with them so far and what you think of their customer service standards.

Customer Service

How are your dealings with the company so far? If you’ve been impressed with the assistance they’ve given you and the way they operate, not to mention the other aspects of their services including the price, then it’s time to make the final arrangements!

In conclusion, before deciding on a shipping company to transport a shipping container internationally, you need to look at a variety of factors, including your budget and your timeline, as well as the transport company’s vehicles, shipping options, their reputation and their customer service standards.