Shipping giant equipment such as exercise machines, metal armoire, dining tables, etc, can be quite expensive. People usually opt for freight delivery via land, sea or air. Depending on which category your equipment falls into, the delivery can take a minimum of 7 days to maximum 30 days.
Most people, when choosing the freight option for cross-country delivery, either pick air or sea shipping options. Following is a guide that will help you understand how to pack and ship giant equipment cross country:
Shipping Tips
-
Find a company that has its price range based on weight, as well as size. This way, if you pack the equipment tight enough, you will save money on the size.
-
Instead of loading the equipment on your car’s roof, hire a truck, so that it arrives safely to the pickup spot.
-
If the exercise equipment can be broken down into parts, take apart those parts and carry them with you instead of giving it to the shipping company. The lighter the equipment becomes, the easier it will move. Moreover, you will save on the weight.
Protecting the Equipment
You don’t need any plastic wraps or packing peanuts for packing. Large equipment should always be packed light unless it’s an LCD screen or something more delicate.
Before you start packing, tie the machine with bungee cords so that it does not open up accidentally. This will keep the machine secure in its place. Find a box as large as the equipment. Place a wood slate at the bottom to make it hard and secure it with tape. Wrap the equipment in a thin sheet of bubble wrap and then wrap it again in a blanket. Slide the equipment inside the box. Make sure that it’s a perfect fit and not too tight.
Taxes, Tariffs, and Duties
Shipping large equipment cross country such as a treadmill usually costs around $275. In some cases, this amount includes the delivery charges, as well as the tariffs, which are mentioned in the brochure or leaflet provided by the shipping company. The amount is usually charged by the customs when shipping internationally.
Insurance
There are various types of insurance that either covers the entire or part of the cost of the shipment. Whether your shipment is going by air or sea, the insurance policy remains the same, only the circumstances change. Some of these insurance policies include:
-
Basic Liability
-
Carrier Liability
-
Cargo Insurance
The insurance policies offer the following coverage:
-
Free of Particular Average Coverage
-
General Average Coverage
-
Warehouse Coverage
Insurance gives you the ease of mind that in case your equipment is damaged or lost, you will be covered on the cost.
When shipping cross country, it’s important to pick a reliable company that has done such deliveries. When choosing a shipping company, make sure you read their reviews. This will give you a good insight into how they treat their customers and whether their shipments arrive in the right condition and on time or not.