Pack n Send Blog

While most companies and individuals are accustomed to shipping domestically, international shipping requires different areas of expertise.

When searching for an international shipping company you need to look for a company that possesses experience in dealing with multiple countries as well as multiple currencies. Can the company load household goods into containers?

For starters there is additional paperwork.  Certain shipments require Schedule B paperwork in addition to the usual customs paperwork. Shipments going out of the country require heat treated wood that is not required in domestic shipping.

Transit times are usually longer when shipping overseas. While air shipping is available, it is quite a bit more costly for large items.

Boat shipping requires extra time. Not only does it take longer to ship, but there are often time adjustments once your shipment is booked.  As gas prices have risen in recent years, ships have taken longer in order to save on fuel consumption.

Ships are often delayed as they wait to fill up with cargo.  Due to storms, unloading of ships is often delayed as ships line up to off load cargo.

While some companies have multiple locations, you may want to make sure that the location you are using has been in business for a long time. Experience in packing fragile and delicate items will make a difference in the way that your freight shipment arrives to the final recipient.

Ask if there is an option in ocean shipping for shipping via a cubic meters as well as container shipping. Make sure that the company has experience loading containers. Do they prepare the items before hand, and then stage them for fast loading inside a covered warehouse. The charges for loading a container are based on hours. You want to make sure that you are paying only for the actual loading, not the loading, unloading and repositioning of goods.

You should obtain coverage based on the declared value of your shipment.  The company you choose to ship with should offer pick up service and offer you door to door or door to port service.  Always ask for alternatives as a way to save you or your company money.

If you are shipping cars, ask for containerized shipping s well as roll on roll off service.

When shipping via air, you have many of the same concerns as ocean shipping, but other areas need to be addressed.  You must have a street address, a contact name, phone number or email address.

In both instances, make sure that you check with every foreign country that you are shipping to that the items you are shipping are permitted to enter the country. Fresh fruit and vegetables, flour, jewelry and pancake mix are just a few of the banned items.

Do not plan on shipping hazardous chemicals unless you are planning to use a haz mat shipper. As an example, a shipment of matches can cost over $700 from Houston to Europe. This is simply due to haz mat packing and shipping charges.

 In the course of doing business worldwide, pack n send has realized that both students and business people do not know how to deal with multiple currencies. To help alleviate this situation pack n send has developed a program for class room teachers to use at all levels.   Please go to our website www.pack-n-send.com and click on the far right tab-Students and Teachers. Here you will find flags, facts and currencies for countries and Islands throughout the world. If you need assistance in using this program, please email us at sales@pack-n-send.com.

If you need an experience international shipping company in Houston Texas, feel free to call pack n send at 713 266 1450.  If you need advice for international packing, shipping or freight receiving in Houston or the United States, please feel free to contact us also.

Pack n send has reprinted this article from the Handy Shipping Guide.  The link to the original and Handy Shipping Guide website is below.

We have chosen this article partially because all of the discussions in the news about trade with China. As a Houston Shipping Company we are well aware of goods arriving daily from China.  This article demonstrates one companies commitment to the Chinese market. 

CHINA– With an eye to the future DB Schenker has joined the growing trend for freight and logistics companies to ensure consistency in their service levels in developing markets by this week opening a company academy to train up employees of the future. The group view is that there is a growing need for qualified employees in China whilst competition from other industry competitors is increasingly being felt whilst staff turnover in the Chinese market is traditionally relatively high. Speaking at the launch of this new initiative Dr. Thomas Lieb, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Schenker AG, said:

“Our customers’ expectations are constantly on the rise, and projects are becoming increasingly complex. By establishing the DB Schenker Logistics Academy China, we are aiming to develop employees over the long term and keep them at DB Schenker. Establishing our own academy is one of our solutions to this problem, the academy is first and foremost an internal training and development program. It will help develop professional and personal skills with specific targets in mind.”

As with other similar programs the Schenker Academy will doubtless look to ensure trainees develop along the quality of service lines that the company instills in other territories and has based it both on third-party and internal expertise. It will be offered at different locations in China and is geared primarily toward operational management in contract logistics. Modules range from logistics concepts and continuous quality improvement to logistics controlling, project management and conflict resolution and will enlist the assistance of instructors from two Chinese universities.

Over the course of a year, the training group will complete six three-day training blocks roughly every six weeks in addition to their usual work. Participants will alternate between interactive training with external and internal instructors, individualized tasks whose aim is to implement content in everyday business, role plays and discussions and Schenker say they already have plans to develop and expand the Academy’s activities.

Schenker have a developing presence in China having merged with twoBAX companies in 2008 when the group also sponsored the Beijing Olympic Games.

 Pack n send has reprinted this article from the Handy Shipping Guide.  The direct link to this article and the website is below.

http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/freight-group-opens-training-academy-for-contract-logistics-students_4080

For information about shipping to China and other countries throughout the world, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 Pack n send is addressing computer shipping separately from electronics shipping in this blog.  Customers call us with questions frequently about how to pack computers.

When looking for a company that can pack and  ship your computers ,make sure that they offer  shipping options.  They should be able to ship boxes, pallets, truckloads or containers of electronics.

Be sure to ask questions about packing. Does the company you choose have experience packing and shipping high value computers.

The computers should be packed as follows:

 Individual computers should be  prepared for shipping using antistatic plastic or bubble wrap. Once the computer is wrapped, it should put into a double wall box with a minimum of 3" of Styrofoam peanuts or solid Styrofoam pieces protecting the electronics equipment.

Large quantities of computers should be boxed and then placed on pallets framed with 1x4’s, Styrofoam and thick cardboard.  Protective wrap should  then put  around the entire pallet.  

Ask if the company you choose to use offers onsite packing, crating and shipping.

As an alternative, ask if the company has the capability to pick up your computers.

Does the company you choose offer full value coverage in case of loss or damage during the pick up, packing and shipping process?

There are other areas that need to be addressed when shipping high value computers.

For more information about shipping electronics, please fell free to contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

Moving furniture can be a true trial for some, especially if they do not have the strength or vehicle to do it. This can pose some complications and leave you unable to move your furniture on your own. 

There are options available that could help you with furniture shipping more easily, which is a much better and stress free option for you. 

Shipping your Furniture Easily 

Furniture shipping has become a lot easier with the help of many shipping companies nationwide, but many of them require you to hit a certain freight load to ship. This isn't the case with Pack-n-Send. You can still utilize their shipping services with a less than load freight without being presented with an un-sightly fee. 

If you are worried that your furniture may get damaged consider having the items placed into crates or protected with various blanket protectors, styrofoam for smaller pieces and any other packaging protection that Pack-n-Send offers. 

Crating is a beneficial option for those delicate pieces such as glass items, antique items, stemware, paintings and any other damagable item. 

Options for Moving Furniture Long Distances

If you are planning a move consider having Pack-n-Send assist with the process. They offer many different moving options, whether it is a small move, long distance move or international. With an international move they could assist with international shipping to get your furniture at the new location easily. 

You won't have to deal with the worry that the items will not get there or will be damaged with the protection and security behind the crating, packing and shipping abilities that Pack-n-Send has been offering since 1981. 

Pack n send in Houston, TX. has a recommendation to businesses and individuals with small amounts of furniture or office equipment.

Instead of using a traditional mover, it may be cost effective to look for a company that is willing to build a custom pallet and freight your furniture. The furniture or office equipment can be sent via freight to its destination. Your items can be valued for loss or damage during shipping. This is usually a money saver, because it involves less manpower.

When you receive your freight shipment, inspect it before the driver leaves. Make sure as you would in a move that everything has arrived in good condition.

If you do not want to use freight, then you should look for a mover that puts more than one individuals belongings on a truck and does multiple multi city moves at one time. The truck driver will pick up and deliver your goods either inside your home or business. Your items can be valued for loss or damage during shipping.

This is an alternative to using a large mover that requires a minimum dollar amount be spent, or a minimum number of pounds be shipped.

For more information on freighting furniture or moving small amounts of furniture in a truck,  please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send is happy to report new purchases in the freight industry worldwide.

 INDIA- Surat-based Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd. (SVLL) has made the largest order for medium and heavy trucks by any single operator in India by purchasing 1,111 such vehicles from Tata Motors with all the vehicles to be delivered by March, 2012.

SVLL currently operate a fleet of over two thousand vehicles and advertise themselves as one of the fastest growing companies in the field of road freight transportation in the country, moving diverse products from steel and cement to military hardware and planned expansion into the perishable produce sector.

Mr. Vinod Sahay, Head of Sales & Marketing (M&HCV Trucks) at Tata Motors said, "We are delighted to receive this order and would like to thank SVLL for their continued trust in our brands. We will be commencing deliveries in this month and plan to complete the order by the end of this financial year."

Though the value of the sale has not been revealed it is thought to be in the region of 1.5 billion rupees (£20.5 million / $33.5 million).

Mr. R C Baid, Founder and Director of Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd said that:

"We purchased the first Tata vehicle in 1988, and since then have been purchasing their trucks. We appreciate the quality of Tata products, customer engagement initiatives and their extensive service network. We would like to continue our association and expand our business with Tata Motors vehicles. It is in this light that we have placed a bulk order of 1,111 vehicles."

The sale is the latest success for Tata, which states that the company’s sales rose by 12% in May. With increased foreign interest from the likes of Daimler and Scania in the Indian truck market, maintaining its position with such customers as SVLL will be increasingly important for the Indian manufacturer.

 This article is from the Handy Shipping Guide. 

 For packing, shipping, moving, freight and cargo shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 Yesterday we reported purchases of 777’s by Qatar Airways.  Today we are reporting purchases of 777’s by Fed
Ex. 

 As we report more and more purchases of airplanes to ship cargo and freight both in Houston, and world wide, it give us a glimmer that the worldwide economy is looking up.

 Fed Ex has purchase the 777’s for use in the northern part of India. Business for auto, clothing jewelry and gems  are on the rise in this part of India.  Also, increases have been noted in the are of hi tech items.

With these lighter 777’s the fuel emissions will decrease about 20 per cent.  Companies worldwide are trying to decrease the effect on the environment with these new lighter and fuel efficient aircraft.

Pack n send continually monitors world wide cargo and freight trends. Last year companies were spending money retrofitting trucks that were already on hand to improve fuel efficiency.

This year we are noting increases in equipment purchases that already have incorporated fuel and environmental savings.

 For information about packing, crating, freight and cargo shipping, container loading, and freight receiving  in Houston Texas and thought out the United States, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Possible Nigerian Freight Scam

NIGERIA – With the eyes of the world are fixed on a country in the grip of election fever, according to local press reports a major investigation by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is under way after several local freight forwarding agencies were accused of forging import documents to enable shipping containers to pass into the country without being scanned. Recently local agents have claimed goods are being cleared much faster than previously and cynics say fraud may be the reason why.

The dangers of such activities are obvious and the penalties likely to be swingeing with directors of the companies involved liable to arrest and prosecution if a prima facie case can be made against them. Twenty seven agencies in Tin Can Island Port have reportedly had their licences suspended after the accusation that they had been using the supposedly secret passwords of Customs officers to allow their Single Goods Declaration forms, and thus their import boxes to pass into the green lane where no scanning is required.

The Tin Can Island chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Clearing Agents (ANLCA) is no stranger to controversy, in recent days it has been accused of violence toward demonstrations

Until Africa can change not only its ways but its image, this attitude from the US, European and Asian communities will persist and must be frustrating for those on the continent who are trying daily to bring about a modern, untainted freight and transport infrastructure.

 Pack n send is republishing  parts of an article from the Handy Shipping Guide. We try and report both positive and sometimes negative occurrences in the freight and  cargo industry.

 For information about shipping freight and cargo from Houston, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

AP has reported that a cargo ship on the Danube River has collided with a cruise ship carrying tourists.

 The tourists are being picked up by another boat. The Cargo ship that was carrying corn did not sink, but is badly damaged.  It appears that no one was harmed in this occurrence.

 Pack n send tries to report both good and bad news in the shipping and cargo industry. Pack n send tries to track all incidents worldwide that have an impact either on shipping or on the environment.

 For information about shipping, moving or freight forwarding, please contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

 Gadhafi Son Wooed in Houston Port Ahead of Revolt

Khamis Gadhafi Toured a Major U.S. Port, American Universities a Month Before Protests Began in Libya

By BRIAN ROSS and WAYNE DOLCEFINO

March 25, 2011 

Moammar Gadhafi’s son Khamis meets U.S. business executives at the Port of Houston in Texas just a month before a popular revolution threatened to topple his regime.

This week, U.S. officials were describing Khamis as the "bloodthirsty" commander of an elite unit of the Libyan Army. Unconfirmed reports said he may have been killed after a maverick pilot flew his plane into military headquarters in Tripoli.

Khamis' tour of the U.S. was sponsored by an American engineering firm that does business in Libya, AECOM of Los Angeles, according to business executives briefed on the event.

In Houston, Khamis was given a tour and briefing by officials at the city's Port Authority, according to documents and photographs obtained by ABC News, as part of what a spokesperson called "an educational visit" connected to an "internship associated with his Masters of Business Administration" at an unnamed university. The tour included a maritime security presentation by a former U.S. Coast Guard Commander.

 Pack n send is republishing this article as part of our series on events and occurrences at the port of Houston.

 For information about shipping freight, cargo and containers please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

With ocean freight coming more and more under the environmental spotlight Florida based Crowley Maritime Corporation, which offers a full range of marine services from break bulk and liner shipping to containers, logistics and salvage, can take credit for pursuing their policy of providing further education for students of maritime matters. Students Ali Stevens and Michael Roy are getting the chance to attend the Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport this spring, thanks in part to Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships recently presented by the company.

The Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program at Williams College is a one-semester interdisciplinary ocean and coastal studies program integrating marine science, maritime history, environmental policy and literature of the sea.

Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than half-a-million dollars in scholarship funding for approximately 200 students studying at maritime academies and other select institutions. The company has also donated more than $2 million over the years to support other educational programs.

In 1994, Crowley Chairman, President and CEO, Tom Crowley Jr., established the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship Program, in honour of his father, who guided the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994. The company continues to give scholarship dollars to deserving students in the U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico. In 2006, the program expanded to Central America and to date has provided financial assistance to 30 students in that region.

In the fall of 2009, Crowley expanded the scholarship program with the Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport, increasing its donation from $10,000 to $20,000 a year for deserving and need-based students in the program. This has allowed four students, two in the fall and two in the spring semester, to take part in the program, instead of one student per semester.

Handy Shipping Guide has posted this article on their website. Pack n send has reprinted portions of this article. The article demonstrates that the freight community is forward thinking and always looking to improve itself.

 For information about freight, cargo, containers and moving from Houston, feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send has reprinted portions this article on the dot med website. This article was written  by: Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor

  While in the past used medical equipment is shipped country wide,  and up north to Canada, we can for see shipments of equipment now heading towards Japan. 

 Pack n send ships medical equipment world wide, as well as freight, cargo and container of goods.

 For information about shipping medical equipment to Japan, please contact us at 713 266 1450.

International shipping can become confusing, time-consuming, and costly if you don't know the ins and outs. There are a few basic questions to ask when arranging an international shipment.

Will the country you are shipping to accept the item you are attempting to ship?
Every country has a list of items that they will not accept. Use the UPS Country Regulations tool if you are unsure about the items you're shipping.

Can the company you choose send both small amounts of goods as well as large shipping containers?
If you choose a company that offers the full range of services, they should look for the least expensive way to ship all of your items.

Does the shipping company have experience shipping to Africa, as well as South America?
With different cultures and shipping requirements, it is worth looking for and experienced company. France, for example, has different restrictions from Burkina Faso.

Is the company willing to spend the time to price each of your shipments individually, so that they can analyze the best alternative for each shipment?
Fuel surcharges are constantly changing, and certain days of the week often offer less expensive shipping charges than other days.

Pack n send has been in business since 1981 and offers a full range of shipping options for inidividuals and businesses. We ship a wide variety of items to countries all over the world. Contact us to see what we can ship for you today.

Photo credit shelbychicago

BOOMING demand from Asia is keeping aircraft manufacturers happy, with the likes of Hong Kong Airlines and China Eastern Airlines ordering freighters at a rapid pace.

China will help the Asia-Pacific region account for a third of global plane deliveries over the next 20 years, Boeing said. Rival Airbus said it expects airlines in Asia to take delivery of 8,560 aircraft in the next 20 years, representing a third of the global total.

In early March, Hong Kong Airlines agreed to buy six 777 freighters from Boeing. Meanwhile, Boeing’s 747-8 freighter version has won 74 orders from customers including Cathay Pacific Airways, an Air China affiliate.

Also this month, China Eastern Airlines, which operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing freighters, has revealed a massive expansion plan of 250 extra aircraft by 2015. In four years the fleet will total 588 units comprising 531 passenger aircraft, 30 freighters and 27 utility aircraft. As of 30 June 2010, the Shanghai-based carrier operated 338 aircraft, comprising 320 passenger aircraft and 18 freighters.

 Pack n send continues to track the increase for freight aircraft orders.  With worldwide ecoconomies struggling to come out of the recession, good news is report worthy.

 The article above came from Cargo Shipping News and is the second time in less than a week that new aircraft orders have been reported.

 For information about shipping freight, cargo and containers from Houston, Texas, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

US – There are rumblings of discontent in Washington at the moment about the behaviour of the rail freight carriers, some of whom are being accused of monopolistic behaviour. At a recent hearing of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) rail freight customers demanded federal intervention in a move which may be seen to be taking the industry back where it was before the 1981 Staggers Act.

The Act removed government intervention and led to a recovery of an industry which had been in the doldrums for a decade whilst theoretically protecting against anti trust behaviour. Now, in the intervening years, there has been a degree of polarisation with buy outs and failures resulting in an almost baronial system with little competition on vast sections of track. Dozens of independent railroads have now been distilled down to a handful of mega carriers.

When Warren Buffet made his move for BNSF in 2009 critics said he paid billions of dollars over the book price and now those same opponents say his Berkshire Hathaway group has a monopoly over a large client sector which will be forced to pay a premium rate for cargo by rail as they do not have access to an alternative carrier.

Certain industries, principally coal, chemical and agricultural products, have the ability to appeal the rates they are charged before the STB but the waters are muddied by dozens of exemptions such as container traffic where competition is deemed sufficient and the Association of American Railroads, which represents such industry giants as BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX and Norfolk Southern will have a fight on its hands as the economic noose tightens on producers and consumers alike. Now the veteran leader of the Senate anti trust committee, Sen. Herb Kohl, 77, has this week sworn to make it a priority that his team push for more control over the behaviour of the rail carriers and they will need to defend themselves vigorously to convince the sceptics.

The general feeling amongst many objectors is that the pendulum has swung too far in favour of the rail companies. The industry reply is that not only have the train companies spent billions on getting where they are, the need for infrastructure investment is a pressing one and more regulation will simply lead to a poorer service for the future.

Pack n send is constantly tracking trends and news reports in the domestic and international freight markets.

This article appeared in Handy Shipping News. Pack n send is reprinting this as a service to our customers.

For more information about shippingfreight from Houston, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 While the texting while driving has been a hot topic for about a year, it looks as if the courts are finally stepping in at the Federal level and making new rules. Due to deaths while texting, this appears to be beneficial to both consumers and businesses.

This article from the March and September Transport   Topics outlines the progress the progress that the Office of Management and Budget is taking.

A federal rule banning truck drivers from texting while driving has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget, in advance of Tuesday’s distracted driving summit being hosted by the Department of Transportation in Washington.

The rule, sent late last week to OMB, follows DOT’s proposal of the regulation in March. that would ban texting by interstate commercial truck and bus drivers.

OMB’s review was completed Friday, according to its website.

Details of the regulation are likely to be released in conjunction with the summit, being hosted by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has made laws against texting and driving one of his primary goals.

The Governors Highway Safety Association said Monday that 12 states have passed texting bans for all drivers since last year’s distracted driving summit.

The rule regarding distracted driving would make permanent an interim ban DOT announced in January, DOT said. It does not affect operation of navigation devices or other in-cab tasks.

For information on shipping freight in the United States and worldwide cargo shipping, please feel free to call us at 713 266 1450.

Three is the magic number. Turkish Airlines has signed an order for three A330-200 freighters to add to its existing A330-200F and four A310 freighters.

The airline has a further 27 aircraft on order with Airbus from contracts placed in 2009 and 2010. Turkish Airlines has also signed an order for 10 passenger aircraft.

 Air cargo news reported this order on its website.  While three freighters does not seem like a high order, the fact that these orders have been placed adds to the impression that the worldwide economy is improving at a slow but steady pace.

 Pack n send is continually monitoring both air and ocean orders of equipment as a way to monitor economic improvement.

 Pack n send is located in Houston Texas. For assistance with your freight preparation, freight receiving, crating and packing please feel free to contact pack n send at 716 266 1450.

Pack n send looks world wide for alternative uses for cargo shipping contaniers.   Douglas  Britts column in the Houston Chronicle discussed “unorthodox porposes as a cooperative, self sustaining village make largel of shipping containers.” We found the following detailed story by David Theis.  Enviornmentally smart construction and alternative use of shipping containers is always of interest to pack n send. 

By David  Theis

In Houston, there are visionaries, and then there is Nestor Topchy. At least, that’s the impression you get when you hear him talk about the  Hive  project. Hive is his brainchild, but it’s one that others have eagerly agreed to share.

Hive is an ambitious undertaking, but the concept behind it is surprisingly easy to grasp. Topchy and friends hope to construct a sort of self-contained urban village out of shipping containers. The proposed design, which Topchy worked out with architect Si Dang and others, calls for a square exterior wall comprising shipping containers stacked two deep.

The large space inside the walls (right now Hive is projected to cover 6.5 acres) will be filled green space, including trees and ponds, a few plazas, and the piece de la resistance, the “inner Hive,” a swirling, circular labyrinth made of six layers of stacked containers. The inner Hive containers will be connected by gradually sloping, wheelchair-accessible ramps.

Topchy and friends want Hive to be as self-contained and village-like as possible. So they’re hoping that containers in the outer walls will become home to a wide range of activities, from shopping to car repair to music making, while the inner Hive will be dedicated to quiet activities, such as writing, painting and meditation.

On the other hand, if worse comes to worse, and society does actually collapse, they’ll be able to close the Hive walls, medieval style, and plant a big garden. Survivalists and artists, no place but Texas. Topchy’s timeline  calls for the Hive to be completely finished by 2015.

For more information on  container shipping as well as freight shipping, please call pack n send at  713 266 1450.

Exports from Houston and Galveston increased to $95billion last year from $75 billion in 2009, and that's higher than the $90 billion exported from the region in 2008. Oil led the exports, bolstered by stable, relatively high prices. Crude ended the year at $91.38 a barrel, up about $10 from the start of 2010.

Last year's imports of $117

billion, while up from $92 billion in 2009, were below the $151 billion recorded in 2008. Oil also led the gains on the import side.

Rise in drilling equipment

Higher oil prices helped drive more demand for drilling equipment and cargo that crossed the Port of Houston's docks last year.

Houston's Palletized Trucking has moved more oil field equipment, containers and other cargo lately, and now it's hiring truck drivers again.

It's also planning to increase rates 5 percent to 7 percent this year as prices have increased for fuel, trucks and labor, said Michael Rex King, Palletized Trucking's president and CEO.

His sales were up 20 percent to 25 percent in January compared with the same month in 2010.

For the full year of 2009, sales dropped by 40 percent.

Joachim said World Trade Distribution's business has picked up 15 percent since last October, but it is still 15 percent less than 18 months ago.

"That's still a significant hit," Joachim said.

As trade rebounds, companies must react to find equipment and space on vessels after shippers reduced capacity in the last 18 months.

Pack n send has republished portions of this article written by Houston Chronicle journalist Jenalia Moreno.  We look for positive upswings in the Houston and US economy for both freight and cargo.

 For more information about packing, crating, cargo and freight shipping from Houston, Texas please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

With new homes adding chandeliers as enticement to purchase homes and older residences  adding chandeliers as an  enhancement,  chandeliers are now being shipped throughout the world

Most chandeliers are now made out of crystal, wrought iron, wood or ceramic.  

 For shipping purposes specialized crates must be for each chandelier. The crates need to be lined with Styrofoam, and then the chandelier must be  hung for shipping. The chandelier needs to be braced or fill the space with peanuts for safe travel.

 For crystal and glass chandeliers pieces will need to be cushioned separately with soft Styrofoam or bubble wrap. Each and every chandelier will need to be looked at separately to determine the safest way to pack it for safe shipping. Designers and private individuals ship chandeliers as well as individuals purchasing chandeliers for overseas shipping.

Office buildings throughout the country are hanging chandeliers in their atriums.

In Texas, deer antler chandeliers are popular.  These also require special wrapping and packing before placement inside specially made crates.

When looking for someone to crate your chandelier look for a company that has expertise shipping delicate and high value items.  Make sure that you chandelier is fully valued for both loss and damage.

For more information on safe chandelier shipping, please fell free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 With larger ships coming into and leaving the Panama Canal, east coast US ports are struggling to improve their shipping capabilities. Ports will need 50 feet of water to navigate when ships are fully loaded.

 Ports like Savannah, New York and Miami are working in expansions so that they can handle new larger ships. Federal monies will be needed to complete these projects. This is at a time when “earmarks” for one state over another is frowned upon.  Widening and deepening ports along the US east coast is good for both jobs and the nation as a whole.

 The government does not anticipate that every east coast port will need to have the deeper depth as well as wider dimensions.

 Any improvements to United States shipping will help the US economy as a whole.  Dredging and widening these ports will also mean more us jobs.

 Pack n send tries to keep our customers informed about freight forwarding from Houston, Cargo shipping from Houston, and shipping and packing from Houston. As we watch the Port of Houston grow and improve, improvements to east coast ports can only help the US economy.

 For information about shipping from Houston, and the Port of Houston, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 While this article taken from the Handy  Shipping Guide pertains to the UK, it is another indicator that worldwide freight shipping is once again on the upswing.

UK – Shipping and Forwarding is still the industry for those with the right qualifications according to one of the country’s leading operators. Despite the economic doom and gloom Davies Turner group chairman Philip Stephenson says school leavers and graduates looking to take their first career moves in the logistics industry have again been attracted to his company. Despite the influx of well qualified, fresh faced youngsters however other supply chain specialists still seek the right candidates for more senior jobs. Stephenson says:

"Summer and autumn are the best times to recruit graduates and high-flying school leavers to our organization and the 2010 candidates were particularly strong - we were surprised both by the number and the standard of the many applications. The most recent trainees have joined us at an exciting time as global recovery powers the freight industry and we are preparing to expand further our portfolio of services for UK exporters and importers."

The trainee scheme is in operation nationwide at Davies Turner's main hubs. The successful applicants are between 18 and 24 and have been recruited from appropriate websites, as well as training and educational establishments. The full programme lasts two years, and participants spend time in all operating divisions as well as Davies Turner Air Cargo and group accounts.

Whilst Davies Turner say they offer the promise of a rapid rise into management for the right candidates it seems middle management and senior staff are harder to come by. DHL are still seeking suitable staff to develop their expanding road freight network (APPLY HERE) and indeed even the Handy Shipping Guide is struggling to find suitable sales staff in several countries, including the UK (we shall be including a Job Board within the Directory in the very near future with opportunities for those who have recruitment requirements).

Meanwhile Mr Stephenson is more than happy that the way to ensure high quality senior staff is to train them yourself wherever practical whilst ensuring those already in place are encouraged by ongoing in house training. He concludes:

"To me, the success of our scheme will be the number of trainees who remain with us after their two years induction is complete. We have an enviable track record here - on a recent visit to our Dartford terminal, I recognised several members of staff in key positions who joined us as trainees over ten years ago. In the past we have had traditional apprenticeships but have now made our training more professional with in-depth courses based both on our in-house resources and those accredited by BIFA. We are in no way neglecting our current staff and have increased training at all levels in the company. Customer service quality depends on the expertise and professionalism of all our personnel."

Pack n send has re published this article as a service to our customers. For information about freight shipping Houston, and packing and unpacking services in Houston, please contact us at 713 266 1450.

 MORE than three-quarters of IATA members reported an increase in cargo business during Q4 2010, the association says amidst a cautiously positive forecast for this year.

While IATA members expect a profit for 2011, factors such as rising fuel prices mean confidence in further significant improvement has taken a hit, the association’s quarterly survey finds.

By November 2010 the volume of international freight tonne kilometres was up more than 20 per cent on a year-to-date basis compared to the same period in 2009. The recovery in traffic, driven by the pickup in world trade, has almost been as sharp as the fall experienced going into the recession.

Freight volumes reached a new post-recession peak in May 2010 but dropped back by mid-year as the restocking phase of the inventory cycle came to a close. Since then volumes have stabilised in line with the level seen immediately prior to the recession.

In the latest survey the proportion of respondents expecting further improvement in airfreight volumes over the 12 months ahead remains around 60 per cent – indicating that continued growth beyond restocking stimulus is seen as likely this year.

Expectations for cargo yields over the 12 months ahead point to stability with 57 per cent of respondents reporting ‘no-change’ likely. Freight growth is moderating back towards the rate of global trade growth while capacity is entering at a faster rate which will put downward pressure on load factors and temper further rises in yields.

Pack n send has reprinted this article from Air Cargo News as a service to our customers.

 Any article showing improvements and upward swings in the worldwide economy are good for both Houston shipping and shipping worldwide.

For more information about packing, crating, cargo shipping and freight from Houston Texas, feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

  BOLSTERED by the news of the UAE lifting its ban on accepting cargo shipments, Yemen held fresh talks on 16 January to lift the EU ban.

In an effort to alleviate concerns the minister of transport Khaled al-Wzir briefed the EU delegation on Sana’a International Airport’s attempts to strengthen security, handling and personnel programmes.

New security equipment has been installed at passenger and cargo areas. Additional security measures are in place, including a full physical search of all employees entering or leaving the airport and a 100 per cent search of all packages and cargo by means of explosive detectors. X-ray equipment and detaining of all packages and cargo for 48 hours prior to shipping have also been endorsed.

Staff at the airport including 260 security and customs personnel and 10 maintenance and technical equipment personnel recently partook in US-led training programmes on operating the explosive detectors.

In December the UAE lifted its ban after supervising a five-day training course for 26 air cargo and air shipping security personnel at the airport. The ban was imposed in October after the discovery of a plot to use explosives hidden in freight shipments to blow up cargo airliners bound for the US.

In January talks with the EU the minister made it clear that relationships with shipping companies have been re-addressed as well as regulations, licenses and procedures required in order to allow such companies to carry out safe shipping operations.

We have reprinted this article from Cargo  News as a service to our customers.

 For assistance with cargo shipping from Houston, palletizing and crating feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

When shipping marble furniture, there are a few important things to consider.  First and foremost if it the marble can be removed from the piece of furniture.  You need to look for a company that has the capability to remove the marble. They also must have the ability to custom build a crate to place the marble in for shipping. Below we have listed some standard guidelines for crating the marble.

Depending on the size and fragility of the piece the crater should use up to 3 inches of Styrofoam on the bottom of the crate and 1-2 inches of Styrofoam on the sides and top. Before putting the piece into the crate, make sure that the marble has double or triple bubble surrounding it.

The crate should be closed with staples on the bottom and screws should be put on the top for easy opening.

Metal banding should be secured  around the crate.

 The company that you choose to crate your marble should offer both on site crating as well as crating at their facility.  The company should have a preferred list of shipping companies, as well as preferred movers for your delicate marble.  The company needs to offer valuation protection for your marble piece.

 For more information on marble shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

When you need to ship medical equipment look for a company that has experience packing and shipping high value and delicate items.

 Seek out a firm that ships for doctors offices, universities, hospitals and medical centers. Ask if they can box, crate or even wrap and palletize the shipment.

Do they have the capability to value your equipment for pick up and delivery?  Have they asked you if the equipment can be taken apart for less expensive shipping, or does it need to be kept completely set up and ready to use?  If the equipment can only be moved as a whole piece, can the company you choose send it in a truck for you? 

Due to the delicate and expensive nature of medical equipment, care must be taken when choosing a shipper.

Some of the more commonly shipped pieces of medical equipment that are shipped are:

high value diagnostic equipment

autoclaves

microscopes

physical therapy equipment

Ask if the company can box, crate and freight medical equipment.  Since each piece of medical equipment is handled differently, the company will need to look at each piece individually.  There may need to be protection on the lenses, arms, or feet of the equipment.

If you need to ship the medical equipment internationally, you will need to make sure that company you choose has experience with international shipping.

For more information about shipping medical equipment both domestically and internationally, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

  Pack n send is reprinting this article from today’s Houston Chronicle. Since this will directly impact both incoming and out going ships, it is important to note that there will be cargo delays at the Port of Houston this week.

 By ZAIN SHAUK
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

A set of barges crashed into an electrical tower Sunday in the Port of Houston, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to shut down most of the nation’s second-largest maritime shipping complex, possibly until Wednesday.

A towing vessel pushing three barges of scrap metal through the Houston Ship Channel about 6 a.m. hit a 300-foot-tall electrical tower, which carries lines across the artery, said Petty Officer Richard Brahm, a spokesman for the Coast Guard. No injuries were reported.

The crash happened at the narrowest point in the waterway, leaving three-fourths of the port’s terminals inaccessible.

“Maybe if it was wider we could have got boats around it, but it’s not, so it’s a logistical problem,” Brahm said. “It’s a bad place for it to happen.”

There was no risk of electricity-related injuries or effects to the power grid, which is owned by Houston-based CenterPoint Energy, because lines in the area were deactivated prior to the crash for maintenance work, said Penny Todd, a spokeswoman for the company.

CenterPoint was in the process Sunday of moving equipment needed to clear the steel tower and cables from the waterway — work the company expects will be completed Wednesday, she said.

The 25-mile-long port complex is a major economic engine for the region and in 2009 handled more waterborne tonnage than any port in the country, according to the Port of Houston Authority.

About 60 ships carrying $322 million in goods and resources — ranging from crude oil to finished products in containers — move through the port each day, said Chief Warrant Officer Lionel Bryant, a spokesman for the Coast Guard.

19 miles closed

Items shipped through the Port of Houston move to and from destinations in every state, which could mean delays for companies with vessels in the water.

Those ships will have to drop anchor and wait until the steel electrical tower, which was propped up by the barges after the accident, is removed.

At least eight ships were waiting in an anchoring area outside the port after the crash. Five others were waiting to leave.

The Coast Guard closed 19 miles out of the 54-mile-long ship channel, leaving more than 100 terminals — including those for oil giants Shell and Valero — cut off from the sea.

Further delays possible

The few accessible terminals are mostly for container ships and will not be usable by most companies that would need other infrastructure for loading and unloading or that had planned to arrive at terminals north of the crash site, said Tom Pace, presiding officer of Houston Ship Pilots, a labor association.

Three days of backups could result in further delays, even as traffic begins moving through the port again, Pace said.
“It’s going to take probably three days to get everything back to normal after that,” he said.

Crew members from the towing vessel, the T/V Safety Quest, were removed from the boat and tested for drugs and alcohol.

It was unclear how the accident occurred, but the tower’s location has long been known to ship pilots who work in the port, Pace said.

It was one of six towers in the channel, but was the closest to the preferred waterway for traffic.
“The one problem is the tower’s really close to the navigable channel,” Pace said. “That’s probably one of the reasons it had happened.”

For more information about shipping cargo and freight receiving through the Port of Houston, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

SOMALIA – In yet  another  pirate attack, the most southerly reported this year so far in the region, a UAE owned tanker was seized around 100 miles South of Dar es Salaam after unloading its cargo of bitumen at Mombasa in Kenya. The attack follows three previous attacks this week on freight vessels off the Tanzanian coastline.

The vessel was once again Panamanian flagged and was manned by an all Indian crew of 15 according to local reports. We have had no word so far from the vessels owners Bitumen Invest. The ship is the MT Asphalt Venture an asphalt carrier en route to Durban when radar observation showed her turn suddenly and set a course for Xaradheere, about 300 miles north of Mogadishu on the Somali coast.

We have no reports of any contact with the vessel at this time since she altered course early this afternoon. With the seasonal increase in pirate raids, vessel owners and operators are warned by the  authorities to be extra vigilant and take all possible precautions against attack.

Pack n send found this article in the Handy Shipping  Guide. Since we ship worldwide freight and cargo, we constantly monitor the shipping lines throughout the world.  With ships being detained on a regular basis, we look for lines that offer the best possible routes.

For more information on cargo and freight shipping from the United States, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 Pack n send is publishing this article taken from the Handy   Shipping News to show that weather and natural delays in freight do not only occur in the Untied States.

NEW ZEALAND – After our story  earlier this month  on the hardships endured in South Island in the wake of the earthquakes there were immediate disruptions the following day (15th September) when landslips on North Island in the Manawatu Gorge closed State Highway 3 to all traffic, including freight trucks. At that time the road was swiftly cleared and reopened within a few hours.

NEW ZEALAND – After our story earlier this month on the hardships endured in South Island in the wake of the earthquakes there were immediate disruptions the following day (15th September) when landslips on North Island in the Manawatu Gorge closed State Highway 3 to all traffic, including freight trucks. At that time the road was swiftly cleared and reopened within a few hours.

Now however the Gorge is closed to rail freight for the next two days at least after a further slip caused a train carrying a cargo of 400,000 litres of milk to derail yesterday (Saturday). The freight train was heading for Palmerston North from Hawkes Bay when upon rounding a bend the driver saw the blocked track. Despite efforts to stop in time the KiwiRail train ran into the earth slip, fortunately with no injuries to the crew. Another train also hit a slip at Taumarunui on Saturday morning, fortunately again with no injuries and no reports of major delays.

Further interruptions to cargo have occurred due to the persistent bad weather which closed State Highway 73 to high sided lorries and caravans when high winds threatened to overbalance tall vehicles and heavy snowfalls occurred in some mountain areas. The outlook however is good for the next few days with dire weather warnings lifted. Meanwhile the stricken milk locomotive remains stranded after the wagons were removed and towed via an alternative line to their destination and efforts to clear the earth fall using other trains continue whilst the main line at Kaikoura is due to open later today after almost two weeks following the massive landslip there.

Now however the Gorge is closed to rail freight for the next two days at least after a further slip caused a train carrying a cargo of 400,000 liters of milk to derail yesterday (Saturday). The freight train was heading for Palmerston North from Hawkes Bay when upon rounding a bend the driver saw the blocked track. Despite efforts to stop in time the KiwiRail train ran into the earth slip, fortunately with no injuries to the crew. Another train also hit a slip at Taumarunui on Saturday morning, fortunately again with no injuries and no reports of major delays.

Further interruptions to cargo have occurred due to the persistent bad weather which closed State Highway 73 to high sided lorries and caravans when high winds threatened to overbalance tall vehicles and heavy snowfalls occurred in some mountain areas. The out look however is good for the next few days with dire weather warnings lifted. Meanwhile the stricken milk locomotive remains stranded after the wagons were removed and towed via an alternative line to their destination and efforts to clear the earth fall using other trains continue whilst the main line at Kaikoura is due to open later today after almost two weeks following the massive landslip there.

For information on freight and cargo shipping, please contact  pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n Send is reprinting this article posted in the Handy  Shipping Guide.  Seeing the United States plan ahead and have freight systems ready when up date to the Panama Canal is complete is quite an accomplishment.

It is  true; they do thing US – It’s s bigger in the States. In the olden, golden days of pioneering it was the railroads that opened up the country enabling the shipping of vital supplies to all parts of the territory, no matter how remote. This week saw the first freight containers carried on a tortuous, winding route through the Appalachian Mountains to Columbus, Ohio on a track that previously could only cope with the old, low height, coal carrying gondolas.

In an ambitious project costing almost $200 million (train operator Norfolk Southern put up half the money, matched by the federal government with a little help from the state authorities in Ohio and Virginia) they scooped out twenty eight tunnels, shifting power cables and strengthening bridges to accommodate rail cars loaded with double stacked shipping containers, cutting a day off the transit time and saving the nations roads from around 150 truckloads, half a double stacked freight train load.

The entire project, known as the ‘Heartland Corridor’ is part of a battle to upgrade and improve services and increase competition with road haulage services and to prepare for the $5.25 billion worth of improvements to upscale the Panama Canal which will be completed in 2014-15. The canal operators are enlarging capacity in an attempt to increase traffic before the viability of the North East passage becomes a reality for many of the freight carriers.

Norfolk Southern intend to seize their share of the extra containers carried in via Panama, as do intermodal rivals CSX in Florida who have a similar tunnel excavation scheme in progress to increase their own efficiency.

 For more information about freight shipping within the United States and international cargo shipping, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 Pack n send is reprinting this article about safety at the Port of Houston as a service to your customers who ship cargo out of the Port of Houston. It was posted in the August edition of the Port Report.

 NTSB Chairwoman Deborah A.P. Hersman (right), Capt. Doug Mims (left) and Capt. Thomas C. Pace, Jr. (rear) in M/V Sam Houston wheelhouse during Houston Ship Channel tour.

Recognizing the Port of Houston’s national importance, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Deborah A.P. Hersman discussed vessel traffic safety and toured the Houston Ship Channel during her August 19 visit to the Port of Houston Authority. She was accompanied by fellow NTSB member Dr. Earl F. Weener.

 PHA Marine Department Manager Ruben Arredondo and Sr. Capt. Mike Usher facilitated a discussion addressing the NTSB leaders’ interests in oversight of pilots, traffic control, risk assessment, contingency planning and response capabilities. Hersman and Weener also met Commander Rob Smith, chief of the prevention department for the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston, and Capt. Thomas C. Pace, Jr., presiding officer of the Houston Pilots, who served as a guide during a tour aboard the M/V Sam Houston.

 “Safe vessel operations — particularly in the vicinity of busy ports — have long been a concern of the Safety Board,” Hersman said. “Having the opportunity to get a close-up look at the Port of Houston’s waterways and facilities has provided us with a fuller picture of the complexity of major port operations.”

 For more information on shipping from the Port of Houston, please feel free to contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

This article is taken from Handy  Shipping   News.  Why is this so interesting?  With changes happening so quickly in container shipping, Mitsui OSK Lines is once again thinking ahead and changing the cargo that they carry via ocean.

JAPAN – When international oil prices jumped in the 1970’s Mitsui OSK Lines cancelled tankers and moved swiftly into container shipping, just as the seemingly unstoppable rise in trade using 20’ and 40’ boxes gathered momentum. Now, with much of the world in the grip of recession, the Japanese group seem, once again, to be ahead of the game.

Although known by most freight executives today as a container carrier MOL have rebranded and changed markets several times in their long life. Now, with uncertainty surrounding both bulk and container markets the company has made some strategic changes regarding its carriage of natural gas vessels.

Tokyo LNG Tanker Co. is a company jointly owned by MOL and the Tokyo Gas Co. and today they announced that Tokyo LNG Tanker will receive a minority stake (1.5%) in two SRV companies owned by MOL (48.5% shareholders) and Höegh LNG (50%). This means Tokyo LNG Tanker have a share in two SRV vessels, the “GDF Suez Neptune” and “GDF Suez Cape Ann”, both on long term charter to serve the Neptune LNG Deep Water Port terminal off Boston on the U.S. East Coast. The Lief Höegh line was the first shipping group to venture into gas carriage and they have unrivalled experience in the field.

For those not familiar with SRV carriers (Shuttle and Regasification vessels) these ships take on liquefied natural gas (LNG) at loading terminals and upon arrival at destination, regasify it onboard, and transfer it to shore via pipelines built on the seabed. SRVs can also serve as conventional LNG carriers, transporting LNG to discharge at receiving terminals.

This versatility allows SRVs to serve LNG importing nations without requiring the construction of new or additional LNG terminals on shore, a key point for today’s emerging markets. The SRV is considered by many as a cutting edge innovative LNG transport and delivery technology.

While freight train derailments are unusual in Texas, this article show that more than freight can be affected.  Since both passenger trains and freight trains share the same rails, service interruptions can occur when either service is halted.

Most small freight from our warehouse is taken via truck and boat.

FORT WORTH — A freight train derailment overnight has interrupted Trinity Railway Express commuter rail service between Fort Worth and Dallas.

Three of seven cars carrying coal overturned near downtown Fort Worth around midnight Sunday. The cars were part of the BNSF freight train, which shares the Union Pacific tracks with the TRE.

The transit agency, which is jointly operated by The T and DART, says it will be Wednesday morning before regular service resumes.

Trains will operate no further than the Richland Hills station until then. Buses will ferry TRE passengers between Richland Hills and the rail line's ITC and T&P stations in downtown Fort Worth.

TRE officials say commuters can expect delays until regular service is restored.

Pack n send ships most of its small freight via truck, air and boat.

For information about freight and  cargo from Houston, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 This  article is taken from ABC news in Dallas.

Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter... always the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent... February 16, 2010 - but that actually marks the end to all the "serious" partying. It's the season of revelry before Mardi Gras that draws the big crowds and one name says it all... Carnival! Carnival officially begins on January 6, which is known as Twelfth Night or King's Day, so named because it falls 12 days after Christmas on the day the Wise Men are said to have reached Bethlehem. By now it should be clear that the world's biggest party is also rooted in religion... well, amen to that and hallelujah, too!

Carnival celebrations fall into two categories: public and private. The private celebrations are balls held by clubs or Krewes as they are known. Some Krewes are open to everyone while others are very exclusive and made up mostly of FONOF (fine old New Orleans families). The public celebrations take the form of parades, sponsored by the very Krewes that hold the balls for members only... and much the same as last year, this year's celebrations will embrace as many people as possible. New Orleans is still a city in "recovery" and that includes "recovering" its people.

There will be however more parades this year than last! New Orleans' many Krewes have for the most part reassembled, redecorated and rededicated themselves to Mardi Gras. If you're looking for up to the minute information on the Krewes and their parade dates, check MardiGras.com... you'll find all things Mardi Gras right there!

Mardi Gras 2010 marks the 154th year of the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. This year also marks another step in the giant plan to bring New Orleans back, and that includes everyone who made this city great... visitors and locals alike! If Mardi Gras can be a conduit for just a little healing... well then, why not party on and spread a little cheer just like past generations demonstrated when Mardi Gras returned after other tragedies... like the World Wars, for instance! Still... and for the very first time, the city's party image must also be balanced by one of financial responsibility. Bummer... but a reality nonetheless!

At least the colors of Mardi Gras have remained untarnished: purple, green and gold, chosen long ago in 1872 by that year's Rex, or King of Mardi Gras . In 1892, the colors were given meaning - purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. A special "cake" is also celebrated (and eaten) during Mardi Gras and Carnival Season: the king cake. Sweet, roll-like dough is shaped into a big circle, cooked and brushed with purple, green and gold sugar or icing. Then a plastic baby, representing the Christ child, is tucked inside. Whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby must, by tradition, provide the next king cake... (and avoid choking as well)!

"Laissez les bon temps roulez" has never meant more in the city that never sleeps, and one thing's for sure... this year's party will be bigger and better than last... and that's a sure sign of a much needed return to normalcy, though the disaster that was Katrina will not soon be forgotten! One phrase still echoes throughout the Quarter, "It is the PEOPLE that make New Orleans great!" OK... we keep hearing that we are an integral part of the party... even of every day life in New Orleans, so it is more important than ever to support the city that recognizes our value! So, let's all meet in the Quarter and have a whole lotta fun... day and night... sound like a plan? Taken from trlpsmarter.com

Pack n send has just shipped hats, banners and t-shirts for Mardi Gras promotions in New Orleans.

If you are going to Mardi  Gras and need your promotional items shipped, or just need to ship some extra luggage, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450. We ship freight, and cargo world wide. We can also blanket wrap your furniture.

http://www.pack-n-send.com/         

The New York Times last week covered the squeeze put on ports around the world as shipping companies try to save money by moving freight less often. Across the board in 2009, the world saw a decrease in freight activity at all major ports. 

Fortunately, container imports at 10 major American ports are on the rise in 2010. Starting in February, after 31 months in decline, the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight expect a turnaround.

Already here at Pack n Send, we're seeing a slight increase in freight activity. From international shipping and nationwide furniture shipping, to small eBay shipping orders and auto transport, we're already sensing a turnaround in the economy. There is no shortage of families moving to Houston, which might explain why we're keeping busy.

Source: The New York Times

The earthquake in Haiti is a tragedy beyond proportion. We are happy to hear of the UPS donation of a million dollars in free freight services offered to Haiti. UPS is offering these freight services through the Red Cross, UNICEF, and CARE in order to help deliver aid and supplies. Twitter rumors started popping up that UPS was offering the services for free to individuals to ship to Haiti, but this is not true. Be sure to give what you can to help the people of Haiti. We hope and pray for them.

Read full article.