Before pickup

Prioritize and Separate

To make sure that the correct goods are taken, organize your goods according to “A”, “B”,  and DNS (do not ship).   Affix labels that are bright and colorful–one color, shape, and size  for “A” and  completely different colors, shapes, and sizes for “B”, and DNS.    If possible, keep your “B” and ‘DNS” goods completely separate and out of sight until and unless there is room for them.  During and following the packing, make sure that the packers are following your instructions.   You must do this WHILE the packing is going on.  Physically separate by priority    Keep your “B” list and do-not-ship items completely separate and out of sight until and unless there is room for them.    If they are visible, movers will be tempted to take them.

During and following the packing, make sure that the packers are following your instructions.   You must do this WHILE the packing is going on.

If you have a container and packing/pickup is to be over 2 days,  a smaller group of packers may come for a shorter amount of time on the first day, to organize for the 2nd day of packing, when a larger team comes for a longer time, and everything happens very quickly.   After the first day of packing, segregating, and organizing, go around and check that priorities are separated.

Once goods are loaded in the shipment, it may be too late or expensive to take them out.     The last chance you will have to confirm the correct items were taken and left is before you give the tip–go around the house and make sure everything you wanted to have taken was taken and everything you wanted to have left was left.  Take your time!   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 (best of all) 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. 

Truck Parking–Save spaces near your entrance- 3 spaces  for less than container load shipments,  4 for a 20’ container, 6 for a 40’.    If not within 30 yards, shuttle and/or distance carry charges may apply.

Is there uncertainty about the arrival time of  truckers/movers/packers/container , number of movers, how much work they will do each day?     Yes, no matter what information you have received, know that the situation is fluid and dynamic.   If you have a container and packing/pickup is to be over 2 days,  a smaller group of packers may come for a shorter amount of time on the first day, to organize for the 2nd day of packing, when a larger team comes for a longer time, and everything happens very quickly.

Accurate communications?  

ALL Information to or from any source other than the Kef Office—is unreliable.  Information or instructions given to moving teams will not be correctly understood.       Therefore, follow our instructions religiously and ask any questions asap.  AVOID AT ALL COSTS making decisions while the Movers are at your home.   Plan everything in advance, clearly separating your “A” list goods from your “B” list goods from your “Do Not Ship” goods.

If you are unable to communicate accurately, or to get the movers to follow your instructions,  please speak to superiors in this order:   a) the manager of the team, b) the manager of the local agent, c) kef international (18664255224).

High value items– (e.g. jewelry, passports, drugs..) Keep them on your person or remove them from your home.

Contacts--make sure you have cellphones of crew, agency, and Kef managers.

 Timing of the crew, truck, and container–Ask to be notified 45 minutes before expected arrival.    With or without notice, trucks and crews can be hours late.   Shipments, and all the components of the shipping process– containers, steamships, airplanes, trucks, crews, materials, drivers–can be early or late.   Whatever you believe or have heard or read the projected time frame to be—uncertainty is a given.

Goods delivered to our warehouse:

1. Let us and our agents know what, when, and how to expect goods.
2. For self-delivery, arrange a specific time with the warehouse
3. Label goods with name and control number
4. Make sure you or your delivering agent receives and keeps a signed warehouse receipt noting  what, how, and when goods were received as well as any exceptions, incorrect, missing or damaged items.
5. Confirm goods appear correctly on packing list.  If your contract is FULL PACK and you have made sure that all self-packed boxes are either unsealed or clearly visible for inspection , make sure that there are no items/boxes, marked PBO (packed by owner).

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.

Filling empty spaces in drawers, cabinets..–Only if  goods are very light and furniture very strong

Crating–Packing, crating, and palletization can each add 10-25% to the volume, because of:

1.   a wide variety of shapes and sizes, esp. unusual sizes.

2.  Crates under 200 cubic feet– fewer ways to load items

3.   Delicate goods–need isolation and insulation.

Crates– Big, standard size crates are “Lift Vans”.   Crates provide the best security against breakage and loss, though they are expensive and take up space.  They can be built to order.  Pallets are more efficient, and free.

Lift Vans come in a variety of sizes–  75 cubic feet, 150, 200, 220 or 250.   200 is most common.  Inside measurements are 84” W, 84” H, 45″ D.   Outside in meters:  2.2m W x 2.2m H x 1.2m D.

DURING Packing and Pickup

Present at all times–2 or 3 people who know what goes and what stays and can sign lists.

Help packers?– No, that would put your goods and insurance coverage at risk.   Instead, confirm the correct items are taken and left.   If they have already loaded and left over goods, there are costs to unload and reload.

Documents

• Insurance Lists –  to Kef by 2 weeks before packing.  High value, self-packed and/or comprehensive.
• Payments –              Pay Kef, not packers or agents.
• Inventory –              Review, sign and keep a copy or photograph of the  packing list before packers leave.    If your contract is FULL PACK and you have made sure that all self-packed boxes are either unsealed or clearly visible for inspection , make sure that there are no items/boxes, marked PBO (packed by owner).
• Bill of Lading –      Sent to Kef in digital form

Problems

Any problems at all during packing or loading??  (eg. improper packing, not following instructions, mistakes about what was loaded, damages to goods and surroundings)–tell the movers,  the manager, and Kef immediately.  Record them on the packing list or other document co-signed by the crew leader and save a copy.  Correct, report, and document mistakes asap.     If you are unable to communicate accurately, or to get the movers to follow your instructions,  please speak to superiors in this order:   a) the manager of the team, b) the manager of the local agent, c) kef international (18664255224).

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.

If your contract is FULL PACK and you have made sure that all self-packed boxes are either unsealed or clearly visible for inspection, make sure that there are no items/boxes, marked PBO (packed by owner)..

Compare this with the list of contents you prepared and the volume estimate.   Click here About Volume Estimates.  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.  Even if there is only a digital copy, review it for accuracy and completeness.

Marine Insurance

Lists due... not later than 2 weeks before pickup

 LumpSum Marine Insurance  (LS)

Here is the link to see the costs of LS, and to list

A.  Goods/sets to insure above $3,000

B.   Contents of self-packed boxes to insure up to $300 each for loss/theft only.   Alternatively, leave them unsealed so  packers can check, repack as needed, seal, and NOT mark as PBO (packed by owner).  Then they will be covered fully for damage, loss, and theft (all-risk) by your Lumpsum with no additional cost.

 Comprehensive Valued Inventory Marine Insurance  (CVI)

Here is the link to create your lists of:

A.  all items and their replacement values at destination in simhttps://kefintl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/comprehensive-or-minimum-valued-inventory-marine-insurance-spreadsheet-1-1.xlsxilar condition.

B.  contents of self-packed boxes to insure up to $300 each for loss/theft only.     To insure fully for damage, loss, and theft,  leave them unsealed so  packers can check, repack as needed, seal, and NOT mark as PBO (packed by owner).  Then they will be covered fully for damage, loss, and theft (all-risk) by your Lumpsum with no additional cost..

There is a surcharge for lists presented after pickup.

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.