Complete guide to shipping sensitive cargo from California to Dammam
Whether for business or pleasure, moving to Daman is a great idea! Why? Because this Saudi Arabian city treats its residents well. However, before you open that bottle of champagne and start celebrating this big life event, think about your sensitive belongings. Will you leave them behind or move them with you? If you plan to go with the latter, you will need a guide. That is, you will need a guide for shipping sensitive cargo from California to Dammam! Trust us, doing that is not as easy as it seems. But, fear not – that is why we are here after all.
Know What Not to Pack
First things first, ‘equip’ yourself with the right information! Shipping restricted items to Dammam, or to Saudi Arabia, might get you into a lot of trouble. Thus, before you do anything, check the list of restricted items. In most cases, those are things such as:
- Alcohol
- Weapons
- Narcotics
- Pork products
- distillery equipment
However, since you are here, reading this article, you are probably interested in what sensitive items you cannot ship from California to Dammam. Well, according to Saudi authorities, you can’t ship religious movies and books, and certain artwork pieces (paintings and sculptures).
Moreover, if you want to ship some of your plants or animals, you need to get special permission from the government of Saudi Arabia! But, if you want to have a stress-free cross-country relocation, our advice is to leave your plants behind. And, when it comes to animals, that is, when it comes to your pets, start getting that permission long before your moving date as that can take months.
Hire an International Moving Company When Shipping Sensitive Cargo From California to Dammam
One thing is for sure – when it comes to shipping sensitive cargo from California to Dammam or shipping anything anywhere for that matter, professionals are the best choice. Just think about it – to ensure your sensitive cargo arrives safely at your new address in Dammam, you will need to get all the shipping documentation, gather boxes (as well as bins and crates), disassemble large pieces, pack everything cautiously, deal with all the heavy lifting, rent a moving truck to take your belongings to freight forwarders, stack your belongings into containers, and many other things.
If you don’t have experience doing all the things mentioned above, better find a professional moving company. But, don’t book the first company you find, no. You need someone reliable! That is, you need someone who can handle the process of shipping sensitive cargo from California to Dammam in the best possible way. Thus, ask for recommendations! Or, find some local companies online and do a background check on them. Only when you are 100% sure that you found the right people for the job can you leave your sensitive belongings with them.
Choose Your Shipping Method
Shipping your sensitive cargo from California to Dammam can be done in two ways – by a cargo plane and by a cargo ship. Or you can arrange to have a mix of those two and a truck cargo (the shipping company you hire will tell you what is the best option for you).
But, just like you have to explore all your options when moving, you have to explore them when shipping too. Not all shipping methods will work for you. For instance, if you need your items to arrive fast, you should opt for plane cargo (air freight). If you are on a budget and can’t afford to spend a small fortune on shipping, then you should opt for a cargo ship (sea freight). Moreover, if you have some sensitive item that is too fragile and too expensive, then you should definitely opt for plane shipping.
Know How to Pack Your Items for Shipping
If you decide to hire an international moving company, you will not have to worry about this step. For instance, if you hire professional movers such as those from fourwinds-ksa.com, they will pack each and every sensitive item and ensure it arrives at your new home intact. But, if you decide to do this all by yourself, you will need some guidance.
First, you need to find a suitable box for shipping. It would be best if you had a box that that sensitive item came in. But, if you don’t, find a box that is similar in size. Moreover, if you are shipping an instrument or some art piece, consider getting a custom-built crate (made of wood, for example) as that crate will best protect your item. Then, get a lot of packing paper and plastic wrap and use these to wrap both the item inside the box and the box itself. Finally, fill the empty space in the box with packing peanuts, seal the box on all sides, and of course, write ‘FRAGILE‘ on it.
Bring Your Sensitive Items Home
Once your sensitive items arrive in Dammam, you will need to claim them. If you shipped one or three things, you can go to the cargo port and take them yourself. But, if the entire container is yours, you will have to make other arrangements. For example, you can hire a moving company to bring that container to your home or you can ask the freight forwarders or the shipping company whether they offer the service of bringing the items to your address.
Have in mind that although expensive, plane freight comes with many benefits. Not only will your items arrive faster but will also arrive straight to your home (the majority of plane forwarders will offer the service of bringing your items to the agreed address. With this service, you will not have to worry about waiting for weeks or even months for your shipment to arrive or about finding a way to transport your items from a port to your home.
As you have seen, there are many things you have to do when shipping sensitive cargo from California to Dammam. We mentioned just some of the most important ones, but rest assured that there are many more. So, keep on researching. And, more importantly, keep talking to people who have already done this. You never know who can give you the best shipping advice.