Timing Your Shipment

Initial Evaluation & Decluttering

Decluttering and determining what you plan to ship cannot be started soon enough.

As you sort through your household goods keep the following in mind:

  • Is it electrically compliant?
  • Do I really want or need it?
  • Is this available in Israel?
  • Will there be space for it?
  • What’s the cost to ship it?
  • Does it cost more or less to buy it in Israel?

Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Preliminary Pricing  

Next, complete this form once you have a clear idea of what you plan to ship.

We will follow up with you to review your shipping plans, answer your questions, and determine the approximate volume and cost of your shipment.

Scheduling The Big Day

In most locations, you should schedule your shipment 3-4 weeks prior to your pick up.  However, shipments from local NY/NJ with a pick up between May and August should be scheduled 6 weeks earlier.

It is possible, but not preferable, to schedule your pick up within a week or two.

The High Holidays this year are in September and they fall in the middle of the week which greatly reduces the time for files to clear customs or make deliveries.  Please review the High Holidays schedule HERE

The Big Day – Partial Shipment

A small shipment (up to 400 cubic feet) will take half a day and a large shipment (400 to 800 cubic feet) will take a whole day.

Partial shipments are returned to the warehouse and stored until there are enough partial shipments to fill a 40′ container.

Due to the many variables, it’s difficult to predict when a shipment will be loaded and shipped.

Here is a video that explains consolidation and shipping partial shipments: VIDEO

The Big Day – Container Shipment

Full-service packing/loading of a 20′ container takes 1 to 2 days while a 40′ container takes 2 to 3 days.

After the container is loaded it’s returned to the port for 3 to 7 days before being loaded on a vessel.

Shipments coming from inland cities like Chicago or Denver are returned to the local rail depot and transported to the port.  The inland rail travel time and port wait take approximately 8 to 11 days.

Sailing from North America to Israel

Sailing times from North America to Israel vary depending on the port’s location, the shipping line’s schedule, the route, and if there is a transshipment (layover and vessel switch).

Here’s a list of typical sailing times:

  • New York : 30 days
  • Savannah : 26 days
  • Miami : 43 days
  • Houston : 36 days
  • Los Angeles : 45 days
  • Seattle : 43 days

Again, these times are approximate and can change without warning or notice.

The Customs Clearance Process

Customs clearance is simply the completion of a few forms and is done via email.

The process can be initiated once your shipment is on the water however, your completed documents cannot go to Customs until your shipment has arrived.

Typically, it takes 1 to 3 business days for Customs to review and process your file.

Delivery

Partial shipments are unloaded into the port’s bonded warehouse and kept there until delivery.  Typically delivery is 1 to 2 weeks after the vessel arrives.

Container shipments are typically delivered 5 to 8 days after arrival.

Countdown Widget

A great tool for staying organized and keeping track of upcoming events is the Countdown Widget for Android.

You can download it HERE.