International shipping can be a hard series of maneuvers. However it can be as simple as handing off of your cargo at one end with the assurance that moving will be carried out quickly and efficiently. The second option is clearly the most attractive, and most delivery companies prefer to deal with a shipping service that offer a combination of shipping options. There are numerous options and it is up to you to decide on the best one. We will now take a look at the most common modes of international shipping.

Freight shipping

Freight shipping is a great option for anyone who needs their items moved across land borders. Ask your courier services if they allow truck sharing for less than full cargo loads, and what their contingency plans are in case of break-down or inclement weather. If you need temperature controlled containers or have oversized cargo to ship, the shipping company you select should offer those options without a huge surcharge.

Shipping by air

For international shipping over long distances with time sensitive cargo, air freight may be your best option. Although expensive compared to ground delivery, air freights has numerous advantages. Transport from continent to continent is both fast and reliable and often has climate control available if needed. A reputable shipping company will have contracts with a variety of airlines to garner the best possible rate and efficient delivery to all major airports with no hassle at customs.

Ocean moving

For international shipping by ocean shipping costs are generally lower than air freight. The obvious reason why you would choose sea shipping over land is if you need to make a transcontinental delivery. If time is not a limiting factor, you may want to consider overseas shipping. This is also an ideal and low cost way to ship oversized items such as machinery or vehicles. Large, bulky and heavy items are often landed with surcharges if transported by air or road and thus overseas shipping can often be a cheaper alternative.

Intermodal containers

Intermodal containers are a great benefit when shipping international cargo. This service works by combining the three aforementioned services to get your items to their proper destination; containers designed to be carried by all three methods make the process very smooth. It is important to work out whether your shipment will require more than one mode of transport, whether land, sea or air - if so, it is important to get an intermodal container!

If you actually don't need an entire container for yourself, it is often possible delivery companies to match you with a similar customer and split the cost of a normal sized container. You should also consider that if your shipment is the right size it might be able to be couriered by a man and van company.Once you have identified all your delivery's specific requirements (destination, mode of delivery, need for climate control or extra cargo space), selecting an international shipping option should be easy.