Before the moving truck appears in the driveway, you've got some prep work to do!Shipping furniture across country, or even to the next state can be a challenge. Those home treasures can be heavy, awkward and difficult to pass through doors without tearing up the walls--or the furniture. However, you don't have to leave the china cabinet and king-sized bed behind. You can handle shipping these bulky objects by applying these professional moving tips.

If you are moving yourself, we have a few helpful tips:

Don't skimp on supplies. You'll need a suitable dolly or hand truck for some items. Also, it's a good idea to purchase zippered storage bag for screws and other fittings you don't want to
lose. You'll have to take some items apart to ship them so you may need special tools.

Measure the access points at the departure and arrival locations. It may be difficult to take the item out of your business or home without a careful plan. You also need the door width and
height of the access point at the new location. Instead of eyeballing the piece, take exact measurements and have them available when for pricing.

Allow yourself some "wiggle room." Here's the scenario, the front door is 36 inches wide and the bookshelf measures at 35 1/2 inches. That's a snug fit and while it may technically possible, it's not going to be easy. When possible, allow yourself some extra space to avoid bumping or scratching your furniture.

If you've got a limited amount of time--or muscle call in the professionals!

You can ask them for a quote ahead of time. Ask if they offer packing and unpacking services.  If a custom crate is needed for delicate items, ask if the professional moving company has the ability to build these crates for you.

 At Pack n Send in Houston, you'll find a team of pros who care about your home goods as much as you do! Contact us for more information on shipping furniture safely to any destination you have in mind. 

 While traditional moving has been all the rage for years, if you are moving out of town, there are other alternatives that you might want to consider. These options will apply both for business and residential  customers.

You do not need to consider filling and entire truck with your household or business furniture. When looking to move a few items, there are a few alternatives. 

First, you can look at hiring  a small load mover that has no minimum size or  weight equirement for the furniture or boxes that you would like to move. Another option is to look for a company that can move furniture and boxes via freight.

What does the freight move involve on your part? The good news is that your budget can help determine this. You can ask the for the company you choose to come and pick up the goods just like a normal mover. You can also ask them to unload the pallet and place the furniture and boxes inside your home or office.

In between this time, your possessions will be wrapped and be placed on a pallet, loaded on a truck. The pallet will then be shipped via freight. 

You have the option of requesting that the pallet is shipped only to your dock or the curb of your home. You can save moving dollars this way by unloading your belongings and taking them inside your home or business on your own. 

We recommend looking for a company that can offer both small load moves and a freighting alternative. That way, you as a consumer can analyze the best option for you. 

Companies that offer both services can   ship your belongings via freight anywhere in the world, and move items anywhere in the 48 lower states. Alaska and Hawaii are considered freighting locations. Once again, you can still request inside delivery for your shipment.

Make sure the company that you choose offers blanket wrap moves, where the pick up your belongings, blanket wrap the belongings and then deliver them inside your residence or business. 

As a consideration in researching a company to complete your small out of town move, ask if the company has experience moving the following: Antique dealers, interior decorators,
individuals, general businesses, offices, auction houses, retirement centers, estates, nursing home residents, furniture stores, and framing companies. We recommend asking about these companies, since you want to choose a company that has experience moving and freighting a multitude of items.

  Check and make sure that the company you choose has experience with high value, difficult to manage and large items. Think artwork, sculptures and china. A company that handles
delicate items is used to handling precious items.

When shipping small amounts of furniture overseas, look for a company that can ship to the following countries.

Afghanistan

Albania

Belarus

Belize

Belgium

Benin

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bolivia|

Bonaire

Botswana

Congo Republic of

Cook island

Costa Rica

Croatia

Curaco

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Dominica

Dominican Republic

DPR of Korea Republic

East Timor

Ecuador

Egypt

 Ginvea-Bissau

Ginvea-Exquatorial

Greece

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guatemala

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea Republic

Guyana Haiti

Honduras

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran-Islamic Republic of Tersey

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Kyrgyzstan

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macao

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria

Nive

Northern Mariana Islands

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Panama

Papa New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Qatar Reunion

Romania

Rota

Russia

Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)

Samoa

San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Somalia

Somaliand

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

St. Barthelemy

St. Croix

St. Eustatius

St. John

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Maarten

St. Thomas

St. Vincent

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

Turks and Caicos Islands

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States of AmericaU.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands(Brittish)

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vatican City

Venezuela

Vietnam

Virgin Gorda

Wallis and Futuna

Zimbabw  Uganda

Bolivia|

Bonaire

Botswana

Congo Republic of

Cook island

Costa Rica

Croatia

Curaco

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Dominica

Dominican Republic

DPR of Korea Republic

East Timor

Ecuador

 Ginvea-Bissau

Ginvea-Exquatorial

Greece

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guatemala

Guernsey

If you have any questions about freighting or moving small amounts of furniture, please fell freee to visit our website at www.pack-n-send.com

There are many things to consider when planning your household move. Of course some of these items may also apply to a business move, but in this article we will offer list of items that you need to complete when moving your home. Decide what day you would like to move.  It may be less expensive to hire movers to move you during the week. 

Do you need help packing or unpacking?  Decide this early on so that you can schedule
packers before your move. Let your current utility company know the date that you
would like your service transferred. This will include your cable or satellite provider.  Your cell phone provider may also need to change.

Notify your gas, water, and trash pickup and electricity provider of your impending move.  Internet providers will also need to be notified.  

Set up these services at your new location ahead of time. If you have local phone service you will need to notify them as well. If you have a security system, please notify them about your impending move.  You will also want to set them up at your new location. 

Months before you move, you may want to keep a record of the places where you will need to submit a change of address.  Besides magazines, think Doctors offices, dentists and friends.  Look at your Christmas card list as a starting point for the friends list.

Here are a few other places you may want to notify. Other business you may want to provide with your new address.

CPA or tax preparer, Grammar Schools, High schools or universities you have attended, alumni associations you belong to, lawyers or attorneys, day care providers as well as babysitters, credit card companies and banks. Credit bureaus, car companies for warranties, any warranty companies for warranties you have purchased, DMV-Department of Motor Vehicles.

We recommend the DMV since your yearly car registration will be mailed directly to your home. Also your driver’s license renewal will be mailed to you.

Notify your lawn maintenance company, any health clubs that you belong to.  Change the address on newspaper subscription. If you have a personal card that you hand out at
events, you will need to make up a card with your new address.  If you are moving for a new job, you will also need to make up new business cards. 

Traveling?  You will need new luggage tags.  PTA- parent teacher associations may need to be notified. A veterinarian or pet sitter will need your new address. If you use doggie day care, they will also need your new address. If you are moving to a new area, try and get your vet records and ask them to recommend a veterinarian in your new area.

While this list may not be every place that you will need to notify before you move, it will give you a head start on the notification process.

If you are moving out of town, there are many options available to you. Besides your regular blanket wrap move, you may want to consider   freighting furniture. Why is this a good option you may ask?

If you are a self mover, you can save the expense of renting a truck.  A company can come out,  and pick up your furniture. They can then wrap it, and put it on a pallet for freight shipping. The furniture can then be delivered to your curb in your new city. You can even request inside delivery.

This saves you on loading and unloading your furniture. You can even have your  car or truck
transported to your new city.

If you have questions about furniture freighting, crating or freight shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send in Houston at 713 266
1450.

A Houston mover offers a few tips for a smooth move.  When you call a mover to ask for assistance with moving, there are a few pieces of information that you should have on hand.

The pick up and delivery addresses and zip codes.  If you are moving within the city that you live in, check on zoning restrictions. Can moving trucks move within specific hours?  Does the mover need to keep one person with the truck at all times?

 If you are planning on moving out of town, will you have someone in the new city to meet the movers with a key?  As an alternative to this, will you meet the drivers in the new city?

If you are moving out of town, will you be staying in your new residence immediately after the move, or will you need to rent a hotel room?

If you are moving internationally, there are a few more things to consider when you have international freight shipping. Remember that cargo ships do not always sail on the date scheduled.  There may be weather delays when shipping via ocean. Consider that the country that you are moving to may have holidays that we do  not celebrate in the United States.  Freight may not move on these days.

Here are a few general moving tips to help you with a smooth move:

Moving takes longer than you think.  Add in a little extra time into your plan.

 It is best to have more time than be caught in the middle of a move.  When looking to move make sure the measurements on your large appliances will be able to fit into your new location. Measure length x width x height on all appliances before moving into new location.

Moving Tip! Make sure the large appliances will be able to fit in your new location. Electric items that work in the United States may not work in other countries.

Consider donating items you no longer use before you move.

The key to moving a piano is its packaging. It must be covered and packed very securely so that the finishing is not scratched or scuffed.

If you are moving internationally, hire professionals to pack your boxes.

When moving it can be helpful to have a cot for the first night. This is just in case the bed does not get assembled for the first night. You will still have a place to sleep.

 Leave your air conditioning on in your old home until you are completely thru moving boxes.

When moving during the summer leave you’re A/C on until you are absolutely sure you have gotten out everything. Remember you need light in order to complete a move.

If you are moving during summer be sure to wear comfortable, light clothing.  

When you are packing and moving do not wear open toe shoes. Use sturdy shoes or sneakers.  

If you are packing glass table tops, be sure to use a crating company to prepare a custom crate for you. 

If you are moving during summer be sure to take water breaks. Apply sunscreen every few hours.

Disassemble a pool table before moving it.

 Try to drop off children at a friend/family member’s house during the move.  It is also helpful for seniors not to be around the entire day for both the packing and unpacking during a move.

If you are moving your computer, make sure to back up all of your files before the move. Using the cloud should give you peace of mind.

If you are moving to a new city, consider hiring a company to transport your car to your new city. Instead of having two people driving, why not share a car for the trip and ship one car.

For more moving tips, tips on international freight shipping from Houston Texas, and freight companies in Houston Texas, please feel free to call pack n send in Houston at 713 266 1450.

 Weddings and wedding day gifts have changed substantially throughout the years. In past decades, china, glass ware, silverware, towels, cooking utensils and sheets were standard gifts.

Today’s guest registries include items such as:  stainless steel mixing bowls,  boxes for document storage, magazine filing boxes, letter trays, waste baskets, photo storage boxes hanging files for folders, luggage,  lanterns, tents, sleeping  bags, palm pumps for soap dispensing, toothbrush holders, ingredient canisters, laundry baskets, hampers, linen storage boxes, storage boxes for shoes, storage boxes for sweaters, shoe boxes, necklace stands, ring holders hangars,  and storage pockets for shoes.

We are addressing the new shipping challenges for couples receiving wedding gifts.  Many wedding showers are held either in the brides or grooms home town. This may not be where the couple is now living or where they will eventually establish their home.

This presents the logistics of shipping shower and wedding presents. We recommend finding a shipping company that is able to go to the shower location and pick up the presents that need to be shipped. Let them both pack and ship the gifts for you.

Now comes the more challenging part of wedding shipping.  Consider the grand parent who wants to ship that special piece of furniture to the new bride and groom.  Heirloom or antique pieces hold precious memories for families, so you want to choose a shipping company that ships furniture on a regular basis.

For domestic gifts, we recommend looking at a company that is able to either freight furniture or has the capability of shipping on a no minimum pound shipment blanket wrap truck.

For international shipping, search for a company that handles international shipping on a regular basis. There will be customs paperwork to fill in, as well custom pallets, custom crates or custom boxes to be built.  Make sure that the company can pick up as well as deliver the furniture that you are shipping.

When valuing the furniture we recommend having an appraisal completed before shipping. This way you have documentation as to the value of the shipment.  Be sure to take out valuation coverage when shipping both domestically and internationally.

We have composed a list below of the countries that our company ships to.  Whether you are shipping domestically or internationally we recommend shipping everything at one time. Professional packers should be able to save inches when packing boxes.  Oversize charges can add to the cost of shipping, so it is wise to turn the shipping over to a professional packing company.

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Baruba
Belarus
Belize
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia|
Bonaire
Botswana
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brittish Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
|Chile
China
Colombia
Congo
Congo Republic of
Cook island
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaco
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Dominica
Dominican Republic
DPR of Korea Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia |
Faeroe Islands
Falkland Islands
Faroc Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guinana
French Polynesia
Gabon
The Gambia
Germany
Gibraltar
Ginvea-Bissau
Ginvea-Exquatorial
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Republic
Guyana Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran-Islamic Republic of Tersey
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Korpa
Kosovo
Kosrae Island
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Libyan Arab Jamahiriy
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Nive
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papa New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Phillipines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar Reunion
Romania
Rota
Russia
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Somaliand
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Barthelemy
St. Croix
St. Eustatius
St. John
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Thomas
St. Vincent
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Tahiti
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tinian
Tonga
Tongo
Tortola
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turks and Caicos Islands
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands(Brittish)
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Gorda
Wallis and Futuna
ZimbabweMicronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Nive
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papa New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Phillipines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar Reunion
Romania
Rota
Russia
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Somaliand
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Barthelemy
St. Croix
St. Eustatius
St. John
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Thomas
St. Vincent
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Tahiti
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tinian
Tonga
Tongo
Tortola
Trinidad and Tobago
TurkeyTurks and Caicos Islands
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America

As a Houston Mover, we are getting calls about spring time moving. While parts of the country are ending winter, the summer move season is upon us. Whether you are moving within the city, out of state or are shipping via international freight, we are going to share a few moving tips.

If you don’t use an item or don’t need the item-donate it or give it away. Do not move an unneeded item. If you have not used an item during the past year, do not move it.

 Make a list of the items you will need the 1^st few days after your move. Make a list of the items you want to take with you.  Moving time is a good time to donate unused items. Ask for a donation receipt.

 Start to plan your move at least 6 weeks ahead of time.

Decide ahead of time if you will need to rent a storage unit. Empty out your storage unit at the time of your move.  

Separate out the items that you want taken to a storage unit.  Now is a good time to empty out your storage unit. 

There may be items that you don't use or need anymore. Maybe you do not have enough space in your new residence, or you are moving to a temporary residence.  If you cannot empty out your storage unit, you may want to take the items that you cannot put in your new residence to the storage unit.

 Make a list before you move of the items that you want to put into storage and the items that you want to retrieve from storage. Moving is the best time to sort out needed and unneeded items. List the items you are going to move. This helps plan out the moving supplies that you will need to have on hand.

Have a tape measure or ruler handy to pre measure items you are moving. Measure items before you purchase your moving boxes. Identify which items will need special packing materials for the move. Examples are lamps and china. Measure your delicate and fragile items. Take these measurements with you when you go shopping for packing supplies.

Look for free or inexpensive moving boxes. Check out your grocery store or locally owned shipping store. If you ask a grocery store manager to save boxes for you, find out the day when the most boxes are received. Free grocery store boxes tend to be large.  Only pack the amount you can easily move from room to room.

When packing dishes, use blank newsprint paper.  Don’t use old newspapers. The print can come off on your valuable items. When packing your plates, stand your plates on their edge as opposed to laying them flat.

Need your papers moved in an orderly fashion? Place your documents in file boxes. Organize your moving scissors, tape, box cutter and markers all in one container. Move it with you from room to room as you pack.

Moving clothes from your closet? Purchase wardrobe boxes. This way you can hang your clothes during your move. Wardrobe boxes let you hang your clothes during your move.

Prepackaged moving and packing kits are usually more expensive than purchasing boxes and materials separately. When buying supplies for moving, remember to buy a roll of bubble wrap for fragile items. You may need to purchase double wall boxes for your heavier items. Purchase a tape gun. Ask the clerk to show you how to use it. It will save you time when you tape up your boxes.  Place packing peanuts as a cushion around your delicate items.

While the moving tips listed above can be used for interstate and intrastate move, some of these tips also apply to international freight shipping both from Houston and the rest of the country.

 If you are looking for a small move, be it in state or out of state, there are a few things to look for. 

Look for a company that does not have a minimum weight requirement.

Look for a company that does not require a certain number of items to be moved.

Look for a company that offers full value coverage.

Look for a company that can offer blanket wrap service as well as freight service.

Look for a company that does not have a minimum dollar amount for their small moves.

Look for a company that continually handles and ships high value and fragile company.

Look for a company that can build their own custom crates.

Look for a company that can pack and unpack for you.

Look for a company that can build custom boxes to fit your personal belongings.

Look for a company that will let you pack your items on your own as a way to save you money.

Look for a company that ships for:

• Antique dealers
• Individuals
• Interior decorators
• Offices
• Auction houses
• Assisted Living Centers
• Estates
• Nursing Homes
• Furniture Stores

For help or questions with your small move, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

If you do not have much furniture to ship from city to city, why not freight your furniture? There are no minimum amounts of furniture. All you need to do is give us a list of the items that you would like to ship and we can give you a quote.

 You do not pay for a full truckload of furniture.  We even can drop the furniture off at the curbside, and you can unload it if you like, in order to save yourself money. 

 Using freight, you can ship new furniture, used furniture, antiques and even grandfather clocks. Why not ship boxes of household goods with your furniture? We recommend that you ship everything at one time, rather than breaking up you move into a few smaller shipments.

 Need to ship a bike?  Add it to your freight shipment.  Need time specific pick up? We can arrange that also. 

 If you have any questions about freighting your furniture, please feel free to call pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Once again, another tax deadline has passed. CPA’s are now out golfing and taking cruises as a way to relax. 

What does this mean to everyone else?  It is time to shred old tax work papers, receipts and documents. As in years past, pack n send is offering a tax time discount on our shredding services.

Pack n send offers a tax time discount on our shredding services. Between October 24 and October 31 we will reduce our shredding price to 65 cents per pound.

Bring in all your old tax records, and let us shred them onsite.  The papers will then be bleached.

If you need help unloading, please let us know, and we are happy to assist.

And if you need help shipping anything domestically or internationally, we can help you with these services also.

 We offer pick up service and can ship small amounts of furniture anywhere in the world for you, our customer.

For more information on our tax time price helper, please call pack n send at 713 266 1450.

As we continue to freight and move small amounts of furniture throughout the country. Pack n sends experience mirrors the trend noted by Edward Glaeser in his New York Times article  on February 16, 2010. We are seeing more college students move back home after graduation, and  our younger customer moving back at least temporarily with their families.

According to Glaeser, the Current Population Survey, only  four hundred thousand new house hold formed from March 2008 and March 2009.   While there were about a million new families, the number of non family households dropped by  three hundred thousand.

This recession has been particularly hard on younger workers.  The number of jobs held by 20- to 24-year-olds declined four point five per cent in 2009, while the number of jobs held by people over the age of 25 dropped 1.8 percent.   Staying at home is an understandable response from younger workers to the labor market woes.   The rate of household formation also fell during the 1982 recession and the Great Depression.

While the trend noted in 2009 is still continuing into 2011, pack n send has started to move more young individuals into their own homes.  We have noted a few trends:

Parents are shipping out small amounts of their own furniture for their children to use, and purchasing new furniture for their own homes.

Grandparents are helping out by sending some of their unused furniture to their grandchildren.

We recommend either shipping furniture via freight, or on a truck that ships small loads of furniture with no minimum amount of furniture.

For advice about moving or freighting small amounts of furniture  though out the country or worldwide, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

As an article in the Houston Chronicle on Sept 6, 2011 by Jenalia Moreno discusses, the Port of Houston is a  vital and intricate part of the Houston economy.

 The port is addressing concern about the activities of its top executives as well as their expenditures. In the ports report to the Sunset Commission, the Port Authority stressed the need to  make trade deals with foreign ports. 

 The Sunset Commission over sees Texas state agencies and reviews their the efficiency of their operations.

 Information about the Port of Houston taken from their website is listed below.

The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage (14 consecutive years); first in U.S. imports (19 consecutive years); second in U.S. export tonnage and second in the U.S. in total tonnage (19 consecutive years).

The Port of Houston is made up of the Port of Houston Authority and the 150-plus private industrial companies along the Houston Ship Channel. All together, the port authority and its neighbors along the ship channel are a large and vibrant component of the regional economy.

More than 220 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2009. More than 7,700 vessel calls were recorded at the Port of Houston during the year 2009. The Houston Pilots navigate each vessel through the Houston Ship Channel.

The Port of Houston has an impressive listing of firsts, from unloading the world's first container ship to becoming the country's first port to receive ISO 14001 compliance.  

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

Lufthansa Report:

During the last quarter cargo traffic was stable for capacity up by 2.6 per cent, leading to a 1.8 per cent drop in load factor to 67.7 per cent. Unit revenue per available tonne kilometre was up 11.4 per cent. Revenues amounted to €769 million (US$1.1 billion), 14.1 per cent, while the operating result was close to break-even, a loss of €9 million ($12.8 million) compared with a loss of €63 million ($89.9 million) a year earlier.

For the year, cargo traffic progressed by 2.5 per cent for slightly lower capacity (-0.3 per cent) leading to a rise in load factor of almost two per cent to 68.4 per cent. Total cargo business revenues for the year were up 29.5 per cent.

“We have seen a contrasted year, with on the one hand a more favourable economic environment, but on the other a number of exceptional events affecting our operations,” Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, chief executive officer, commented. “Nevertheless, the strategic actions launched last year enabled us to return to profit in spite of a €1 billion euro ($1.43 billion) rise in our fuel bill and the impact of the various crises. The improvement of some €1.4 billion euros ($2 billion) in our operating result required a significant mobilisation by all the group’s employees.”

This article was taken from Air Cargo News. Pack n send tries to publish article that show trends in  freight, cargo and moving businesses.

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

More Upbeat News from the Freight Industry

ETHIOPIAN Airlines is adding to its fast-growing freighter fleet by dry leasing two 777Fs from GE Capital Aviation Services.

The 10-year lease agreement for the new aircraft will begin when they arrive from Boeing Manufacturing in Seattle (US), at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia) in September and October 2012.

Ethiopian has also ordered five 777s, two of which have already arrived; a third is expected in June. The airline is still waiting for its 10 787s.

In March Ethiopian announced plans to double capacity at its Bole International Airport cargo hub. The airline is also gearing up for the opening of a new hub in Zambia. From 1 May the carrier began flights with cargo capacity to the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Over the last five years the amount of cargo handled by Ethiopian Airlines has more than doubled from 42,000 tonnes to 110,000.

 CHINA Southern Airlines is giving Boeing's order book a boost with an agreement to buy six 777Fs.

The aircraft, to be delivered between 2013 and 2015, have a list price of US$1.58 billion with the purchase being funded by bank loans and China Southern’s operating fund.

The 777Fs will boost the airline’s cargo capacity, measured in available tonne kilometres, by 8.4 per cent.

China Southern is not a new customer for Boeing. Earlier in May the Chinese firm announced that its Xiamen Airlines subsidiary would buy six 787 Dreamliners costing $1.1 billion. The aircraft are due to be delivered between 2014 and 2015.

In November 2010 China Southern had agreed to buy 36 aircraft from Airbus for $3.78 billion. Rival Air China said in March this year it would buy five 747-8 passenger aircraft with a combined list price of $1.54 billion.

 Pack n send has reprinted these articles from Air Cargo News.  They show that the world wide economy is improving.

 For information about cargo, moving and freight shipping, please contact pack n send at 743 266 1450.

1. You will need to give your shipping company the following information:  City, country and closest airport.

2. You will need to give your shipping company the following information: City, country and closest airport.

3. Date of Travel: Does your pet have a set or flexible travel date?

4. Do you have an approved airplane crate?

5. Does your pet need transportation service to and from the airport? Does your pet need overnight boarding?

6 Some airlines allow you to take small animals inside the cabin. Some only allow your pet to be shipped as cargo.

7. Remember, your pet will need customs clearance if traveling outside the United States.

8. Make sure that shot records are up to date, both in the United States and for the country your pet is traveling to.

For more information on pet shipping please contact pack-n-send at 713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

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 damageable 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, local move or 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.  For more information, please call us 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.

 Port of Los Angeles signs contract with Vision Motor

The Port of Los Angeles has signed a $1.4m contract with Vision Motor of El Segundo, California, a manufacturer of advanced zero emission hydrogen fuel cell hybrid electric commercial heavy-duty trucks to retrofit 15 Port owned electric trucks.

The company said that the retrofits would upgrade the Port's electric truck's battery only system with its range extending, hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid system.

The Port will initially issue a purchase order for six retrofits and the remaining retrofit orders are contingent on the availability of other grant funding.

The intent of the retrofits with the company's hydrogen fuel cell system is to extend the driving and operating range of the Port owned fleet of battery only electric trucks.

Thus alleviating operating down-time caused by range limitations of battery only trucks pulling heavier cargo loads.

Vision CEO Martin Schuermann said the company's technology combines the superior power of an electric drive train with the extended range of a hydrogen fuel cell system and it allows for zero emission operations without sacrificing driving range.

Vision Motor vice-president of business development Rudy Tapia said the company is pleased to provide a solution that enables the Port of Los Angeles investment in zero emission trucks to meet the demanding needs of the commercial market place as well as furthering the Ports commitment to improving air quality by reducing emissions.

 Pack n send has republished this article taken from the Los Angeles Times as another in our series of articles on the freight industry’s concerns with improving the environment.

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

This article  from Business Week  highlights some of the dangers now associated with  freight shipping.  It discusses the measures being taken to protect both cargo and lives.

 The U.S. says it wants to find cheaper options to battle pirates off the coast of Somalia, as an international naval force has pushed the seaborne brigands from the 1 million square miles of the Gulf of Aden into an area twice that size in the Indian Ocean.

"The locus of pirate activity has shifted and we are trying to deal with it," Tom Countryman, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for political   military   affairs, said in Washington today. "It's expensive, and that's why we feel strongly the need to pursue the lowest-cost options to deter piracy."

Warships from more than 20 nations have kept a shipping corridor open and nearly free of attacks for the 30,000 cargo ships that pass through it annually, Countryman said. There were 198 attacks last year, 50 of them successful, and seven vessels with 160 crew members are known to be held by pirates, the State Department said in an e-mailed statement. There's been only one successful hijacking of a ship in the Gulf of Aden since last summer, Countryman said.

Aerial drones, manned aircraft and satellite  surveillance  could help track shipping and pirate activity off the coast of East Africa, Countryman said.

Defensive Measures

Defensive measures taken by ship owners and crews are "the lowest-cost and most-effective way to deter pirate attacks," Countryman said. Measures can include using firehoses to fend off pirate skiffs, erecting barbed wire at entry points to the ship and   teaching   the crew to take evasive action when potential pirates are in sight.

Rebuilding Somalia's economy, shattered by two decades of civil war, and going after the organized crime syndicates that finance the attacks are the best ways to halt piracy, said Countryman.

"The economic situation in Somalia has led to a situation in which people will take these kinds of very high-risk efforts -- very high-risk criminal activities -- in order to feed their family," Countryman said.

"The people deriving the primary benefit are not the poor Somali fishermen," he said. "They are the capitalists who have financed the acquisition of boats  and put these young men into the risky position of endangering their own lives in search of some money."

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

www.pack-n-send.com

Due to the winter storm in various parts  of the United States, UPS and Fed Ex have adjusted their pick up and delivery guarantees and schedules. Houston Freight Company can answer questions about shipping.

For your specific shipment, please feel free to contact pack n send for information. Our number is  713 266 1450.

 www.pack-n-send.com 

Packages are flying out the door filled with Valentine Day presents.  This year, our customers are sending candy, games, toys and cards.

Today is a good day to ship your Valentine Day treats.

For more information on Valentine Day shipping, please call pack n send.

713 266 1450

http://www.pack-n-send.com/

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will receive a stronger surge in imports than expected in the first half of 2010, rising as much as 28% over previous year levels, as the long-awaited economic recovery continues to gather strength, according to a report released Monday by the National Retail Federation.

Overall, imports into the nation's major container ports is expected to rise 25% during the first six months of the year, compared with the year-earlier period.

The projection shows that at least some economists are expecting steady progress at a time when others are fretting over the possibility of a double-dip recession. Previous forecasts for the local ports and for the nation's busiest harbors for container cargo had predicted lukewarm improvement at best for the first half of the year.

But Hackett Associates, which tracks import data every month for some of the nation's biggest retailers, said that it was noticing positive signs from a number of indicators. One of those was the fact that the record number of ships that were laid up or idled for lack of work last year has begun to drop substantially.

"This forecast assumes that we are not in a double-dip recession and that a recovery is underway," said Ben Hackett, founder of the consulting firm. "The forecast for 2010 points towards growth."

The National Retail Federation, which had previously been quite cautious about the pace of the economic recovery, let go of those inhibitions Monday.

"This is a dramatic turnaround over what we've seen during the past two years," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy for the retail federation.

Gold cautioned that increases in import volumes don't mean that retailers will record the same improvement in sales. "But retailers are clearly expecting to move more merchandise this year," he said.

Hackett's monthly report, called Port Tracker, covers imports at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach - the nation's largest - as well as Oakland; Seattle; Tacoma, Wash.; New York/New Jersey; Virginia; Charleston, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.; and Houston.

Those ports handled a combined 1.1 million containers in December, the latest month for which actual numbers are available. That was unchanged from November but represented a 2.6% increase over December 2008.

Hackett said those numbers broke a 28-month streak in which monthly import totals were lower than the same month the year before. In 2009, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handled 6.75 million and 5.1 million cargo containers, respectively, their lowest totals in several years.

• n Ronald D. White

 Article on Improved outlook for imports taken form the L. A. Times

If you are looking at importing into the United States, or exporting worldwide, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

http://www.pack-n-send.com/

The 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are being held in Vancouver, British Columbia from February 12 -28. You should be aware of several UPS service changes that will be in effect February 1 - 28.

Due to imposed security requirements and access restrictions related to the Games, the following service changes will apply in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, British Columbia:

All shipments originating outside of Canada to the affected postal codes will have an end-of-day delivery commitment for the time period noted above. Delivery guarantees for international origin shipments of UPS Worldwide Express Plus^TM and UPS Worldwide Express^TM services will not apply.

UPS Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Express, and UPS Worldwide Express Saver^TM shipments originating outside of Canada will require one additional day for delivery to Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.

• Service will be affected in postal codes beginning with the following three characters: Vancouver, British Columbia V6B, V6C, V6E, V6G, V6Z, V7G, V7H, V7J, V7K, V7L, V7M, V7N, V7P, V7R, V7S, V7T, V7V, V7W, V7X and V7Y Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, British Columbia V0N and V8B

If  you are going to the Olympics and need your audio visual equipment or computers delivered ahead of time, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 We can ship it for you via freight and arrange to have it returned to you.

 

Quotes for containers have been rising this year. As we look for ways to obtain excellent prices for our customers, we are faced with higher freight rates charged by shipping lines. Part of the explanation is stated in the article below.

Container Rates from China surge 24 per cent

Bruce Barnard | Jan 26, 2010 2:44PM GMT The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story

Fast-paced change buoyed by surge in demand, shortage of containers

Ocean container spot freight rates on the key export trades out of China to Europe and the U.S. east and west coasts soared by an average of 24 percent in the past three months.

The rate of recovery is much faster than expected, buoyed by a surge in demand this month, according to Alphaliner, the Paris-based container shipping consultant.

Continued high vessel utilization rates on certain trades, especially on services to Europe since Christmas, have also created shortages of empty containers in a number of locations, which in turn, has underpinned the higher freight rates.

The steep rise in rates resulted from successive rounds of rate increases imposed by ocean carriers since October and the extension of the peak season surcharge until February.

"It remains to be seen if the rates are sustainable as the Lunar New Year holidays in China in mid-February could lead to some weakening in freight rates," Alphaliner said.

Spot rates from Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast have risen by 26 percent in the past three months and are 17 percent higher on shipments to the U.S. East Coast.

Asia-Australia and Asia-Africa spot rates also have risen over the past three months, but rates to the Middle East, especially to the Gulf region, remain under pressure.

The high spot market rates on the major trades from China to Europe and the United States have come at a key period as contract rates for 2010 have also strengthened, Alphaliner said.

Twelve-month contract rates for the Far East-Europe trades starting in January or February 2010 are reported to be about 200 percent higher than last year, reflecting renewed optimism about trade prospects.

For more information on international shipping and packing  please fell free to contact pack n send.

http://www.pack-n-send.com/ 713 266 1450