Shipping Trucks Overseas

How to Ship Trucks Overseas

Are you looking to ship your truck overseas? Take a deep breath. We’re going to help you get through the vehicle shifting process as quickly as possible.

The process you will use to shift your truck overseas will primarily depend on the size and dimensions of the truck you are hoping to ship.

As a rule, larger, heavier trucks will be more difficult and more expensive to relocate than lighter items. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that small and medium-sized trucks share similar dimensions and weight to most passenger cars. Because of this, they are usually a little cheaper to haul overseas.

Think about it like this

Transporting a Ford F150 or a Ford Ranger is no big deal. The process is more or less the same as shipping a larger car. You can use the same process that hauler use for compact vehicles like Smart Cars, SUVs, and Toyota Corollas.

However, shifting a larger vehicle like a tractor or a bus will take more effort, and a slightly different process.

We want to help you make sense of this. We’re going to provide an overview of the shifting process and how it is influenced by the size of your truck.

The first part will outline the process of relocating a small or medium truck overseas. The second part will outline the process of relocating a larger truck overseas. By the end of this article, you will have the requisite knowledge to get the best rates, and the best deals, from hauler to apply to your own vehicle.

Relocating a Small or Medium Truck Overseas

There are three primary options when it comes to hauling a small or medium truck overseas. By and large, your options will depend on the operational status of your vehicle.

• If your vehicle is operational, you will most likely use “roll-on, roll-off” shipping.
• If your vehicle is not operational, you will need to use the container method.
• If using container shipping, you will have the choice of sharing a container with the carrier other clients’ trucks, or you can opt for an exclusive container that will only house your vehicle.

“Roll- On, Roll-Off” (Roro) Hauling

Depending on the relocator, “roll-on, roll-off” shipping is reserved for operational vehicles only. Your truck will need to be able to be driven onto the hauling, secured, and then driven off the haul once the cargo arrives at the destination port.

Bear in mind that to qualify for “roll-on, roll-off” shipping, your truck will need to fit in the equivalent of a parking space. During transit, it will be latched and secured to the shifting, alongside hundreds, if not thousands of other vehicles. This is the most economical option and the option that many people choose for their operational vehicles.

Shared Container Relocation

With this, the process of hauling a truck overseas takes longer but it reduces relocating prices. This is because a shared container will not be loaded onto a ship until it is full.

You will need to wait for the carrier to load other clients’ trucks into your container before it can be loaded. However, shared container shipping is more cost-effective than exclusive container shifting. If time is a factor, you may be better off choosing exclusive container relocation.

Exclusive Container Shifting

It is faster than shared container hauling, but it is also more expensive. That is the trade-off that you will need to consider.

Your vehicle will be relocated in its own exclusive container, protecting it from potential damage and sea water.

If cost is a factor, it may be better to choose shared container shipping.

Shifting a Larger Truck Overseas

Although some options may be limited, like shared container hauling, other options are still available for larger trucks.

If your truck can fit into a shipping container in one piece, it can be relocated.

Another option is to load your truck onto a flat rack, and then have the flat rack transferred to the ship.

A third option is to disassemble your truck into smaller parts, transport those parts, and then have the truck reassembled at your intended destination.

Container Relocation

If your truck can fit into a container, you can either take advantage of hauling, or even shared container shipping.

This option is the most cost-effective, as using a flat rack will result in an added charge, and disassembly and assembly costs money too, even before the whole relocating process starts.

Flat Rack

If your large truck cannot fit in a container, it can be loaded onto a flat rack.

Flat racks are very similar to flat beds that you see on low loader transport trucks. Flat racks, which can host over 80,000 lbs., are a great and easy option to ship your truck overseas.

While it is unlikely that your truck will weigh anything over 20-30,000 lbs., you may be able to share the flat rack with other clients from the carrier. Of course, this will depend on the shifter.

Using a flat rack is a great option for trucks that cannot fit in a container, and cannot be disassembled.

Disassembly and Assembly

If you can, it may be cost-effective to disassemble your truck, ship it to your intended destination, and then reassemble the truck once there. Being in a non-operational state, it will be easy to haul your truck components in containers.

The containers can be secured and locked, ensuring that you are the first and last person to see the components during the time of its shifting.

But, this isn’t always a viable option for everyone. In the end, you need to choose the method that works best for you and your budget.

Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to ask us. We know that the relocating process can be stressful.

Hauling a Large Truck is Easy

You won’t believe how many clients have come to us flustered at the thought of moving their truck. They believe that the process will be harder, more convoluted, and more expensive.

• Slow down, breathe: There are so many factors that go into determining overseas moving rates for trucks that no one number can be placed on a shipment. Factors like the size and dimensions of the truck, available shipping options, and the option you choose all matter.
• The market is on your side: It’s true. You have a lot of leeway in price when it comes to relocating trucks overseas. To lower your fees, you can delay the date of cargo, share a container with other clients, or even disassemble your truck first (if the costs of doing so are lower than hauling the truck in one piece).

Surviving the Customs Process

No one enjoys working with the government. Clearing U.S. Customs can be a major headache on its own.

When moving overseas, you need to consider how challenging the customs process will be and the various rules and regulations you need to follow.

Here’s what you need to consider:

• Are you exporting your truck to a country that is restricted for trade?
• Have you screen your cargo against denied party lists?
• Do you know what classification codes your shipment falls under?
• Is your shipment a civilian or military class (something as simple as ball bearings can turn your civilian truck into a military class shipment)?
• What special regulations does the destination country have on vehicle hauling? Will you need a special title registration done for your vehicle?
• Do you have all the proper paperwork, documents, and requirements to facilitate the shipment?
• Are you ready to deal with this major process?

Unless you understand the export process, we always recommend that you work with an experienced shifter.

There are too many risks associated with export laws and breaking even the smallest rules can lead to excessive fines and even jail time.

The government takes trade rules very seriously and you will need to familiarize yourself with those rules if you want to do it properly. But if you’re like most people, save yourself the time and stress and hire a mover to help you out.

Relevant Statistics

• Approximately 25,000 trucks are shipped overseas annually for international transportation.
• Over 90% of the shifted trucks undergo rigorous inspections and meet strict safety standards.
• The average cost to haul overseas is $6,500, excluding additional fees and taxes.
• More than 60% of the relocated trucks are transported by sea, while the remaining 40% utilize air freight services.
• On average, it takes around 20 days for a truck to be hauled from one country to another via ocean freight.

General Facts

• Shipping trucks overseas involves transporting trucks from one country to another via sea or air.
• Freight forwarding companies specialize in organizing the logistics and documentation required for relocating internationally.
• Trucks are usually secured inside shifting containers before being loaded onto cargo haul for overseas transportation.
• The size and weight of trucks may affect the shifting cost and method used for transportation.
• Prior to hauling, trucks may need to undergo specific preparations such as draining fluids, securing loose items, and disabling certain features for safety reasons during transit.

A-1 Auto Transport is here

We don’t want you to feel stressed about shipping a truck overseas. Sure, it’s a long process and there is a lot of paperwork and documentation. But that’s why we’re here for our customers. When you hire us, we do all the paperwork for you, all you have to worry about is who is going to receive your truck when it arrives.

Are you ready to get started? Great. Give us a call and we will get you the best price possible. We don’t overpromise, we just get your truck from point A to point B.