One way to lessen the stress of moving is to supervise the move yourself. Schedule the move for a time when you can be there to oversee the loading process. The movers may have questions about boxes or other issues, and when you are there in person, you will be able to make sure that your things are all accounted for, which should give you a sense of relief.

Don’t forget to put aside some money for tipping the local or interstate movers at the end of the trip, after the truck or van is unloaded. Tips are usually between three to five dollars per hour, for each employee. Those numbers are just suggestions, and some people tip the driver extra. Many people also buy drinks and food for the movers. It is strenuous work to lift and carry boxes for hours, especially if you have stairs, and you will want the movers to have snacks and meal breaks.

Remember to get all keys, tools or anything else you have lent, back from the neighbors. Give them back their keys, if you have any. Check to be sure that you have their addresses and telephone numbers, and that they have your new contact information.

Schedule the utility turn off date for a day or two later than moving day, in case any last-minute problems arise. You might need more time to clean or have good lighting for some tasks, and if the power or water are shut off too soon, then you will have to call the utility company and get service reestablished. That will take time and money when you may very well be on a tight schedule and budget.

Before you lock the door and leave your former home for the last time, make sure that no one has hidden any money or other valuables in any attic spaces or behind walls. Things are sometimes forgotten about over the years, and a last-minute check of any hiding places will put your mind at ease.

If you have reconsidered the wisdom of shipping furniture to your new address, look at online and print advertisements for furniture published in the new place—if you look a few times over the course of a month or more, you can get a fairly good idea what new and used furniture is selling for. You can also check into renting some furniture, a TV, stereo or other items you need short-term, or you might choose to rent to own, which costs more than buying furniture, but is usually not expensive on a weekly basis. Renting furniture, dishes and other items can be a great solution for some people. Your decisions depend on your budget, how long you plan to live there and just how much effort you are willing or able to expend; perhaps you would enjoy scouring the countryside seeking out antiques to fill your home with. Full service moving services are always best when moving overseas.

Storing the furniture and other things from your previous address at a unit that you pay for each month can quickly add up costing much more than the items are worth, but the sentimental value of certain possessions and other considerations could be a determining factor. If you calculate the expense of storage and the cost to buy household goods at your new location, that can help you determine which choice is best for you.

You will also have to decide which movers or relocation services that you plan to use for your international move. Moving overseas can be tough, but it is much easier when you hire the right movers. Also if you want to take a more hands off approach to your overseas move be sure to hire a highly trusted full service moving company.

Be sure to register with the State Department so they have your travel details, including telephone numbers, addresses of your previous home and the new one, emergency contact information and any other relevant information. You can learn more about this service and register at no cost online, at http://travelregistration.state.gov.

Find out if you and your family have insurance coverage in the new country. Ask your insurance agent if he or she can recommend an insurance company in case your present policy does not cover certain cases, such as dental care or major surgery.

You will also need to familiarize yourself with the laws and customs in the new country. The State Department can help you learn about the laws of various countries, but you can do a lot on your own to make the transition smoother, including studying the language, geography, weather patterns, and various other aspects of life, and always remember that you will be subject to all of the laws that the citizens are. There will not be any way to avoid penalties and possible imprisonment if you break another country’s laws. U.S. citizenship does not guarantee any special treatment.

Will you be able to buy food and other staples and cook all of your meals with ease? Learn about the area that surrounds your new home, especially if you have any family members with dietary restrictions or other special needs. Can you walk to the stores and carry your purchases home, or will you need public transportation? It can be very difficult to manage children, bags and bus lines, or find a taxi. Different countries often have unofficial taxis which are drivers and their own cars, who make their living driving passengers around. It is a matter of personal choice whether you feel safe using these services, because there are unscrupulous people in all walks of life. Take precautions such as never travelling alone, and do not carry excess cash with you, and learn enough of the native language to be able to make yourself understood and to comprehend basic sentences.

Globally, from the Americas to China, we import and export product around the world, from a single door-to-door parcel to container loads of dangerous goods.

Our skilled consultants can get as involved as your needs dictate; we can offer a complete global freight management consultancy service – both import and export – or simply provide a multi-modal transport service that gets your goods where you want them, anywhere in the world, in the required time frame. We can also offer you a cargo assembly service second to none.

Give yourself more time to concentrate on running and building your business. Trust Air & Cargo to get you to your global markets.

cargo being loaded onto an airplaneToday’s intermodal freight system is not equipped to handle this growth. Ineffective links among modes are degrading the reliability and performance of carriers, shippers, and terminal operators. Moreover, the lack of effective information sharing among stakeholders creates bottlenecks and unnecessary delays in the efficient movement of freight. These deficiencies increase operating costs and congestion and decrease safety, economic competitiveness, and air quality.

Time pressures to deliver cargo more quickly than ever before have focused more attention on the ground-to-air intermodal link. Truck-to-air cargo movements grew rapidly in the 1990s and are expected to continue to increase in the future. Yet, the logistics links between these two modes are still largely maintained and regulated using paper- and telephone-based information exchanges. To respond to the needs of the marketplace and to ensure the security of air passengers and cargo shipments, the U.S. Department of Transportation is encouraging the development and use of new tools and processes.

Although the deaths reported by the airlines monthly are single digit, we must point out that the Department of Transportation estimates that over 2 million pets and live animals are shipped each year. The numbers most commonly reported are cumulative (they are not stated as such, I might add). Losing an animal is bad press for an airline, and there are many airlines that treat their furry travelers as very special pet cargo. Read the Air Travel Consumer Report, select a month, and scroll down to the last report for the Animal Incident Report.

Certainly, reporting incidents regarding ALL animals under the responsibility of the airline will encourage even more empasis on safety on the part of the airlines.

Q: If my flight schedule consists of a long layover, can I visit my pet? Where does my pet stay?

A: No. Your pet will stay in a temperature controlled cargo holding area that is only available to Delta cargo agents.

Q: Are these cargo agents trained to handle pets?

A: Yes. All of our pet handling cargo agents have gone through extensive training on how to handle and prepare a pet for travel.

Q: Will these agents feed my pet and provide water if necessary?

A: Absolutely. We ask that you provide food in a clear plastic bag and attach it to the cargo crate. We also check all water bowls and refill them if necessary.

Q: Are you allowed to take the pets out of the cargo crate?

A: No. It is against the law for anyone of our cargo agents to take a pet out of their cargo crate unless an emergency situation presents itself.

Q: When is the pet transported onto the plane?

A: Pets are always last to board the plane and always the first to be unloaded.

Q: What happens if my flight is canceled or if my pet misses a connecting flight?

A: If your flight is canceled your pet will wait in the air conditioned cargo holding area until the next flight is available. If a pet happens to miss a connecting flight we will make sure that he/she will be on the next available flight to your destination.

Q: Does Delta have kenneling facilities available at the airport?

A: Yes. Most major airport hubs have kenneling services available in the case that a pet stays overnight.

Q: Is the captain notified if a pet is traveling on the plane?

A: Yes. The captain will be notified if a pet is traveling in the cabin and/or in the cargo area of the plane.

Q: I understand that your limit for pets plus the crate cannot exceed 100 pounds. Could you accommodate me if my pet is over that weight limit?

A: It depends. Most of our larger airport hubs (such as Atlanta, Georgia) will be able to accommodate a larger dog with larger airplanes such as 757’s.

Q: Would you be able to transport my dangerous dog breed?

A: YES. We are one of very few airlines that will accept dangerous dog breeds such as pit bulls and rottweiler for airline travel.

Q: Is there any information that is vital for the pet travel owner to remember?

A: Please keep in mind that a health certificate must be completed within 10 days of travel. If you plan on staying longer than 10 days at your final destination, another health certificate will need to be completed.