When you are in the process of moving a home office, you may discover the process can be more complicated then moving your entire home. Packing an office requires some tedious preparation and organization.

Your home office probably has a lot of items that you may or may not need throughout the moving process. You never want to find yourself searching through many different boxes in search of one thing. Instead, organizing yourself before you begin the packing process is key to having a smooth move. 

The first thing you will want to do is write out a list of items you know you'll need throughout the move. These are going to be the very last things you pack. Then you will want to develop a list of non essential items that you can pack up and not need throughout the process. 

It may seem like no items are non essential, but you'd be amazed on the numerous items you'll pack up. Usually the items that are not generally needed at all times are such things as printers, writing tools, paper (leave some out just in case), files and various items that generally sit and grow dust. 

Another thing you'll want to consider when doing a small home office move is going through and getting rid of the things you no longer need or use. This will help minimize the number of things you are moving. Also check to see if some things need renewed. By renewing some of the old you could diminish the amount of things you are moving initially. 

When you are moving to a new location this could mean you have the opportunity to do many upgrades to your office equipment and supplies. Take this as an advantage point for you and your business. 

Keeping yourself organized with a small home office move can seem like a very difficult process, but it can be done. If you're worried that the process may be overwhelming for you, consider hiring us to help you move.

Pack n Send can easily get you packed up, moved and unpacked quickly. The entire process can be managed for you, making your move worry-free.

We know how hard it can be moving an office, a home and any other space requiring a move. This is why we've dedicated ourselves to helping people nationwide with their moving needs. We will take all the hard work out of it for you. You have the option to utilize our packaging services or purchase discounted packing and moving supplies. Your move will become much less complicated with Pack n Send helping you through each step of the process. 

Organization is key to a smooth move and we will do exactly this for you and your small home office move. 

 There are ways to save money when you are moving glass top tables, furniture, artwork and other valuable possessions. Preventing damage and breakage during transit is one of the best ways to save money during transport of goods.

 In order to move a glass top table, a custom built crate is highly recommended. You can line the crate with one inch of Styrofoam on each side. That would be top, bottom and all four sides. By placing the glass on top of the Styrofoam that fits perfectly around the glass, you have insulated the glass from shock. We suggest that you use a custom built crate when you are moving or shipping the glass. Let your mover of store where you have purchased the table top give you the exact dimension for the piece of glass.  This will help attain a secure fit inside of your custom built crate.

 The movers will be able to uncrate the glass for you, and place the glass on top of your table. They can then take the wood from the crate and recycle the crate or the wood.

 While placing the glass between two pieces of cardboard looks easy and is inexpensive, it does not prevent the glass from breaking during transit.

 When freighting furniture, we recommend building a wood skeleton around the furniture.  Our website www.pack-n-send.com hosts a pallet building video.

 You can see from the video that the bottom of the pallet is lined with Styrofoam. This helps protect the furniture and goods that are placed on the pallet.  Once the frame is built, the entire pallet is wrapped in cardboard on all sides. This protects the entire shipment from scrapes, just in case one pallet is placed to closely to another pallet inside the freight truck.

 Then, the pallet is wrapped in black security stretch wrap.  This prevents anyone from looking inside the pallet to see what is being shipped.  We have found this to be a good idea. If individuals do not know the contents of a pallet, there is less chance of a theft occurring during transit.

 The wood skeleton protects the shipment from shifting around during transit.

 There are a few ideas to save money and prevent damage during freight shipping and moving. For more suggestions, please feel free to contact pack n send in Houston at 713 266 1450.

See more photos by Matthew Hull at PBase.
See my portfolio at Since some freight can be delicate or time sensitive, it is important to look for a company that has been in business for many years, has a good reputation, and has a brick and mortar location. 

The need to be able to freight anything you need shipped. From car engines and household goods, to automobiles and furniture, the company that you  choose will Look for a company that offers personalize service. Each shipment should be    handled individually to serve the customer's unique needs. The company should offer both palletized shipping as well as containerized loading and shipping for larger shipments.  Be sure to see if containers are necessary for your shipping, or if the company can quote you by the cubic meter.

Small loads like, car doors, auto parts and furniture all can be  placed on pallets, surrounded by cardboard, and then strapped with metal banding for shipping.

Computers should be  packed in boxes, shrink wrapped and send out on skids. Small amounts of household goods should be  packed in boxes, loaded onto pallets and then shrink wrapped. Household and business furniture are safely put on pallets as well. Once again, for international shipping, make sure the company has experience both loading and processing international paperwork.

Car engines are strapped to pallets. Large and small households are boxed and loaded into containers for overseas shipping.

  Look for a company that can accept your inbound freight into their warehouse on your behalf.  Make sure they can then deliver the freight to you. 

These are just some freight shipping and receiving advice. For more advice, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

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

The electronics should be packed as follows:

 Individual computers and electronic equipment should be  prepared for shipping using antistatic plastic or bubble wrap. Once the piece 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 and electronics 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 offers onsite packing, crating and shipping.

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

Does the company you choose offer full value coverage in case of loss or damage during the pick up, packing and shipping process? Can the company move your electronics via moving if the situation dicates this.

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

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

Ed Bullock, AIA

Architect at CEBArchitecture        www.cebarch.com

 As an architect who designs new homes, additions and remodels, I often work with homeowners who need to deal with the logistics of accommodating a construction project into their lives. In an extensive remodel or even just a kitchen renovation, families, especially those with small children, sometimes find it necessary to temporarily move out of their home to avoid the noise, mess and hazards of construction as well as to give the contractor room to work without damaging the homeowner’s belongings or peace of mind. In considering whether to live or stay in the home while it is being renovated, one needs to consider several factors.

First determine if the home will be livable during construction. Will the kitchen, bath room and other areas critical for habitation be available for your use? Will electrical power, heating and air conditioning be working when you need it? If you cannot use the parts of your home that are critical to your lifestyle for an extended period, it may make sense to find temporary lodgings elsewhere.

 Secondly, weigh your tolerance of the noise, dirt and debris that comes with construction. If you and your family are not around while construction activities take place, then noise is not an issue, at least for you. Dirt, debris and exposure to weather can be isolated to the areas under construction in some cases, but sometimes it cannot. Be prepared to discuss this early in the design process rather than waiting to find out during construction that your belongings are covered with drywall dust or soaked by leaking water and your piece of mind is shattered. Safety is another matter and the most important. There are plenty of ways to get hurt at a construction site, especially if it is your home. Do not stay in a hazardous location if you can avoid it.

 Third, consider whether moving out of your home to accommodate or speed the renovations will justify the additional cost of finding temporary lodging. If you want to consider it, the cost of moving and renting another home or apartment would need to be factored into the overall project budget.

There is value in working with knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the design and construction of a home improvement project. While some people prefer to do the work themselves, skilled professionals can speed completion and assure quality of the work while minimizing damage to the existing construction. It also makes sense to consider experience and reliability in finding someone to deal with the packing, transporting and handling of large, heavy or valuable belongings. Just as I would want a skilled carpenter, plumber or electrician to handle the challenging work of construction, I would also look for someone qualified to do the heavy lifting of my belongings as well.

 Pack n send has reprinted this article from Ed Bullock, AIA.

 Ed’s  website is www.cebarch.com. As an experience architect, Ed’s advice is important to consider when remodeling your home or office.

 For advice on moving or preparing your home for a remodeling job, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

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.

 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.

Ships are full, containers are picked over and truck drivers are in demand.

 Houston's trading community is moving more cargo these days as higher oil prices and a rebounding economy have driven up  exports  and  imports.

We're definitely seeing the wheels of the economic engine starting to turn," said Jeff Joachim, president of World Trade Distribution, a Houston company that provides warehousing, trucking and container storage, among other services. "You're starting to see people stock inventory again."

Houston's trade with the world rebounded by 26 percent last year compared with the doldrums of 2009, according to a recent report by WorldCity, which tracks trade data.

But it still hasn't reached the levels of 2008, a banner year for many in the local shipping business.

Last year, Houston traded $211.5 billion in goods with the rest of the world, up from $167.5 billion in 2009, WorldCity reported. That's still less than the record $240.8 billionthe Bayou City traded with world markets in 2008.

Nationwide, trade increased to $3.2 trillion in 2010 from $2.6 trillion in 2009. Last year's numbers were still below the $3.4 trillion in trade during 2008.

Like much of the rest of the U. S..Houston imports more than it exports and had a trade deficit of about $22  billion in 2010.

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.

If you need to move small amounts of furniture from one city to another, it may be less expensive to freight the furniture than to put it on a truck and move it.

Furniture freighting involves securing the furniture on a pallet, surrounding the furniture with protection and stretch wrap, and shipping the furniture via truck to its new city. Antiques can be shipped this way, as well as office furniture and household goods.

As an ultimate price saver, the furniture can be delivered on a pallet to your curb or loading dock, and you can unload it. Of course you have the option for the freight company to unload the pallet and bring the furniture into your home or office.

Furniture is shipped this way to market.  By securing your furniture to a pallet, there is minimum human contact with the furniture. The furniture is moved via lift equipment. Items are custom packed for safe and secure shipping.

This is just another way to save money when shipping with Pack n Send. Do you have furniture to move somewhere in the country? Contact us for a free furniture shipping quote. We can freight your furniture anywhere in the country, or any where in the world.

 Please call as at 713 266 1450.

With freight shipping from Houston, and the United States, it is important to watch other countries that are recovering from the economic recession.

 ASIA-Pacific airlines saw cargo demand grow by 24.2 per cent in 2010, helping to position Hong Kong International as the world’s largest cargo airport.

The airport’s cargo alone grew 23.4 per cent to 4.1 million metric tons, while Memphis International Airport, holder of the largest cargo airport title for the last 18 years, grew only 5.9 per cent to 3.9 million metric tons.

Cathay Pacific Airways became the world’s biggest international air cargo carrier last year thanks in part to escalating exports from China’s Pearl River Delta. The airline’s cargo traffic rose 23 per cent to 10.2 million ton-kilometres, beating Korean Air Lines, previously the largest.

 Cathay expects to boost cargo capacity about eight per cent this year. The carrier is also forming a cargo venture with affiliate Air China to access hubs in Shanghai and Beijing, while also building its own freight terminal at Hong Kong airport.

China’s economy expanded 10.3 per cent in 2010, the fastest in three years. The growth of production in the Pearl River Delta, which neighbours Hong Kong, has lured investment from international air cargo carriers, including FedEx and United Parcel Service, which have both opened hubs in the region.

 Pack n send has republished this article from Handy Shipping News as a service to our customers. 

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

Pack n send crates and packs in Houston Texas.  We ship freight and cargo in Houston.  We also prepare and ship pallets in Houston.  But…one of the most exciting locations in Houston is the Port of Houston.  Their free tours are quite a treat both for the locals and visitors alike.  We have listed the details below for our customers and highly suggest you take both your customers and families on this tour.

Named for the legendary military commander who led the fight for Texas independence from Mexico and later statehood, the M/V Sam Houston offers free leisurely 90-minute round-trip cruises along the Houston Ship Channel.

Embarking from the port's Sam Houston Pavilion, visiting sightseers aboard the M/V Sam Houston can enjoy passing views of international cargo vessels, and operations at the port's Turning Basin Terminal. The 95-ft. vessel has capacity for up to 90 passengers and features air-conditioned lounge seating as well as standing room outside on the boat's rear deck
.
The M/V Sam Houston has been operating as the Port of Houston's public tour vessel since its first voyage on July 30, 1958. In 2010, the vessel received new low-emission fuel engines and a new generator. The environmental upgrades were made possible through grants from the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding through EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.

Make your reservations now for this rich educational experience.

COST
The tour is free.  Reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis are required at least 24 hours in advance. 

RESERVATIONS
Register online any time, or call 713-670-2416, Mondays through Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Pack n send has reprinted this information from the Port  of Houston website as a service to our customers.

For more information about shipping, packing, crating and freight forwarding in Houston, Texas, please call 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.

  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.

 While US consumers have opened their pocket books, other countries such as Japan and China are still slow to import as freight and cargo US goods.   Imports of foreign made goods are coming into the United States at a faster rate than last  year. While the President envisions increasing US exports, there is no evidence that this is occurring at a rapid pace.

 Part of the problem appears to be the undervaluation of Chinese currency.  Once their currency is allowed to rise to a more realistic level, the Chinese will have the ability to purchase more goods. This will also of course  increase the cost to US  consumers of Chinese goods.

 While pack n send exports goods for businesses and inviduals, it also monitors currency flucuations around the world. As United States goods become  more reasonably priced in comparison to other countries goods, exports of US made goods will defiantly rise.

 This will be good for US workers and their families.

 For more information on exporting goods made in the United States, 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.