Pickup

BEFORE PICKUP

Prioritize to make sure that the correct goods are taken.   Make lists and labels, and physically separate by priority (and also by estination if there is more than one delivery.)    If you cannot physically arrange your goods according to priorities and destinations, make a map of your house showing groupings of different priorities and destinations.   Remember that if your goods are not organized or if you change your mind at the last minute, and that causes the pickup to take longer than normal, you will be billed for any delays.  Make sure what you want shipped is shipped, and what you don’t want shipped is not.  No matter how tired everyone is, don’t rush–this responsibility is yours alone.   If you have properly prioritized, labelled, and/or separated your goods, this will be much more simple.   Use DNS (do not ship) labels and inspect the site thoroughly before truckers leave.  Do not rush.     During the entire time the packers are at your home, one of your team (family and friends) should be circulating to make sure that priorities, DNS, and destination labels are respected.         Then do a “walk around” of the house to make sure that they correct things were taken and left. 

Types of labels and lists–You may want more than one.  Make clear, bright labels that stick and multiple copies of lists.

Priority    Must go 1st priority,  Ship if Possible 2nd priority,  Ship if Possible 3rd priority,  Do not Ship    Prepare to leave and/or take more than you anticipated.

Home      MB–master bedroom, BR1–1st bedroom, K–kitchen

Destination   ST–storage, 2nd–2nd address

Submit insurance lists to Kef  2 weeks before pickup.  Make a list of “high value” items–art, silver, carpet, antiques etc.–insured above $1,500 whether insuring  lump sum or by comprehensive valued inventory,    There is a surcharge for lists presented after pickup.

Block out spaces for the truck within 25 meters of your home entrance– 3 spaces  for LCL (less than container load),  4 for a 20’ container, 6 for a 40’.    If unavailable, costs for distance and/or shuttle will apply.

How many movers should I expect?     2-6

Can I count on them for accurate communications?    Information from packers/moverstruckers–about services, timing, volume, whatever–is ABSOLUTELY unreliable.  Similarly assume that information or instructions given to moving teams will not be correctly understood–check and confirm their understanding and their work repeatedly.  Because of this, you must totally familiarize yourself with the guidelines we present you and follow them strictly.

High value items that must not be taken (e.g. jewelry, passports) Keep them on your person or remove them from your home.

Contacts    Make sure you have cellphones of the crew, their manager, and Kef managers.

Crew   To ask them to notify you 45 minutes before anticipated arrival.

Crew Manager    If the crew is not satisfactorily responsive to requests.

Kef   If neither the crew nor the manager are responsive, we are on call 24/6 for urgent matters.

If you are having goods delivered to our warehouse:

1. Let us know what to expect and when
2. For self-delivery, arrange a specific time with the warehouse
3. Label goods with name and control number
4. Confirm goods appear correctly on packing list.
5. Do not ask to be present during packing and loading in the warehouse.  It is forbidden for reasons of safety, insurance, and efficiency. 

Goods picked up from a storage warehouse.   Someone who knows the goods (i.e. what goes/stays/goes elsewhere) and can make decisions must be there at all times.    If delicates are present, packers must inspect, repack as necessary, and not mark those boxes as PBO—packed by owner.   Risk:  goods take up too much or too little space.    Remedy:  prioritize, label, and arrange as noted above.

Electrical Fixtures—Do not assume packers will remove them; use an electrician.

DURING PICKUP

Who must be present during packing and loading?     Two or three people who know the grouping of your goods and can make decisions must be there at all times.  At least one must be able to sign.

Completeness of Shipment       Make sure what you want shipped is shipped, and what you don’t want shipped is not.  No matter how tired everyone is, don’t rush–this responsibility is yours alone.   If you have properly prioritized, labelled, and/or separated your goods, this will be much more simple.   Use DNS (do not ship) labels and inspect the site thoroughly before truckers leave.  Do not rush.     During the entire time the packers are at your home, one of your team (family and friends) should be wandering around to make certain that priorities, DNS, and destination labels are respected.

If goods are mistakenly loaded or left behind and you do not correct it before they are loaded,  it could be expensive or impossible to fix.  If  the truckers are not loading according to your priorty, let them know immediately.  If there is any issue with their responsiveness, call their manager and Kef.

Can I help packers?  No, that would put your goods, yourself, and your insurance at risk.   Instead, confirm the correct items are packed and the correct items are left behind.   If they are not loading goods according to your priorty, let them know immediately.   If they have already loaded goods, there could be charges for unloading and reloading.

Documents

• Insurance Lists –  Get lists (high value and/or comprehensive) to Kef office 2 weeks before packing.
• Payments – Pay Kef, not packers or other agents.
• Inventory – Sign and keep a copy of the packing list before the packers leave.  If not available, make sure to get one later and review it.
• Bill of Lading – This is sent directly to Kef in digital form

Mistakes.   For damages to goods or surroundings, mistakes about what is loaded, or any other issues— tell the movers, manager, and Kef immediately.    Record them on the packing list or other document co-signed by the crew leader.  Correct mistakes early!

What if goods do not fit in the container?   You may choose to leave them, send an LCL (less-than-container-load) shipment, or go to a larger container (not an option for “live load”, only  if goods are brought to a warehouse.)

What if there is unused space in the container?    Usually, especially for 40′ containers, your contract is for a certain estimated/minimum weight/volume and if you make use of more than that, the contract notes a rate for additional weight/volume.  No matter what the pickup crew says–just because there is empty space does not mean that it will not cost you money to make use of it–no matter what anyone else says.   Also remember that if you change your mind at the last minute, and that causes the pickup to take longer than normal, you will be billed for any delays.

Are volume estimates really estimates and what is the solution if the estimate is off?  Estimates really are estimates and they can be off by 25% or more.  The best protection is to have made a clear prioritization of goods, so you can add or take-off as necessary.

Packing Lists   Packers make a numbered list of contents, naming items, noting who packed them and any defects.  CP = carrier packed.  PBO = packed by owner.   PBS = packed by supplier.  CU = contents unknown.    Compare this with the list of contents you prepared and the volume estimate.   If there is a physical packing list at pickup, check it, sign it,  and keep a copy.   This goes to customs,  and you use it to verify you received everything.  If there is only a digital copy, review it for accuracy and completeness.

AFTER PICKUP

When is final measure/weight available?  What if actual and estimated volume/weight differ?  Measure/weight may be available quickly or after weeks. Some agreements have estimated/minimum volume/weight.   If you exceed that,  the extra is billed pro-rata (i.e. total contract price divided by estimated volume/weight.)

Timing is unreliable–shipments can be early or late.   We do not make promises or take responsibility for timing, changes, or inaccurate information.    Unpredictability results from unforseen changes in timing at every stage–in series, they compound to dramatic effect.    Time shifts occur in every part of the shipping process–packing, pickup, containerization, sailing, port handling, the train from Haifa to Ashdod, container unloading, customs clearing, and delivery.  We do our best to let you know when they occur.

Local vs. Distant packing agents:   Agents distant agents from the larger shipping hubs tend to be less expensive, though more likely to have unpredicted delays.

Exclusive container shipments (FCL) are faster and more predictable than shared container shipments (LCL).  LCL’s need to be matched up to fill the container, and, on the delivery side, matched up again to fill the truck.   If you are not shipping out of the busiest port, New Jersey/New York this difference is increased.

Please review rates for common and less common fees at origin on our Rates sheet.