Hockey equipment is expensive, and shipping it is even more so. This is especially true if you’re going to be purchasing expensive equipment that weighs a lot. You’ll also need to pay for additional shipping costs if you’re going to be shipping more than one piece of equipment.
The truth is that shipping hockey equipment is expensive, and it’s not just the equipment itself. There are a number of other costs that you need to account for. You’ll have to hire a trucking company to transport the equipment to your door. You’ll also have to pay for gas and diesel. And, of course, you’ll need to pay for the actual shipment itself.
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The Equipment Itself
The equipment itself is the first thing that you’ll need to consider when calculating the overall cost of shipping hockey equipment. This is especially true if you have any of the following:
- Bulk goods
- Large items
- Items restricted by weight
- Fragile goods
- Items that cannot be stored in a warehouse
- Hockey gear
You’ll also need to examine the shipping crate or container that you’ll be using to ship the equipment. You’ll have to consider what type of padding is needed around the piece of equipment you’re shipping to prevent damage. You’ll also need to decide how big a crate or container you’ll need to rent or buy in order to accommodate the pieces of equipment you need to ship.
These are just a few of the things that you need to think about when it comes to shipping expensive equipment. There are a number of other costs that you need to factor in as well such as:
- Insurance coverage
- Additional packing materials
- Delivery surcharges
- Extra fees at the airport
- Freight brokerage fees
- Customs duty
- Visa fees
- Rental car fees
- Travel agency fees
- Gym fees
- Lawn sign fees
- Postage stamp fees
Add all of these costs together and you’ll get a better idea of how much shipping hockey equipment actually costs.
Airfreight versus Marine Freight
Marine freight is generally cheaper than airfreight, but it takes a lot longer to ship using this method. If you have a lot of equipment that needs to be shipped, it’s often cheaper to rent a truck and drive it yourself rather than pay for a whole air shipment. You’ll also save on gas and diesel by driving your own truck rather than paying for airfare.
The downside to this is that you’ll need to find a place to stop on your way to the airport. This can be tricky, especially if you’re driving during rush hour. Finding a place to park for the night and taking a break from driving will be costly and inconvenient. You’ll also be driving on unfamiliar roads, which can be dangerous. Finally, you’ll need to go through airport security, which is time consuming and expensive.
The alternative is to ship by airfreight. This is generally faster than marine shipping, and it’s also cheaper. You’ll save on trucking fees and you won’t have to worry about finding a place to stop along the way. You’ll also have the luxury of packing more equipment and storing it in a warehouse until the time of delivery. If you have a lot of equipment to ship, it’s often cheaper to ship by airfreight rather than marine freight.
What type of shipping service you’ll need will depend on what you have. If you have a lot of equipment that needs to be transported, it’s usually cheaper to rent a truck and drive it yourself. If you have smaller items that can be shipped in an ordinary shipping container, it’s often cheaper to have them shipped by air.
Shipping items by air is generally cheaper, but it takes longer. If you have a lot of equipment that needs to be transported, it’s often cheaper to rent a truck and drive it yourself. If you have smaller items that can be shipped in an ordinary shipping container, it’s often cheaper to have them shipped by air. What type of shipping service you’ll need will depend on what you have. (Learn more about shipping here.)
Packing Materials
In addition to the equipment itself, you’ll also need to consider what type of packing material is needed to properly pack and ship the item. You’ll have to use packing materials that are strong and reliable. Some of the things that you might need include:
- Nylon packing tape
- Tape measures
- Saw tooth flashlights
- Twist-ties
- Rulers
- Hockey pucks
- Markers
- Trial balance scales
- Marking pens
- Rockets
There are a number of other things that you might need, depending on what type of equipment you have and where you’re shipping it to. You’ll have to think about what’s necessary and what’s not. Is it better to pack your equipment securely or in a way that is easy to transport? You might also need to rent additional packing materials such as bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts in order to pack your equipment. Additional packing materials will protect your equipment from being damaged during transit.
Insurance
You’ll also need insurance coverage if you’re shipping expensive equipment. This is especially true if you’re shipping across country. It is required by law that you have insurance coverage. If you do not have insurance, you will be penalized by the company you’re shipping with. The cost of the insurance coverage is usually absorbed by the company you’re shipping with. It is rarely cheap insurance, and it is virtually always required.
If you have special items such as musical instruments and bicycles that need to be insured, it is often cheaper to purchase additional riders insurance policies. These riders policies usually cover a lot more than standard insurance policies and only require minimal documentation.
Cost Of Renting A Truck
Trucks are expensive, and it’s not just the equipment that comes with them. You’ll also need to rent one of these trucks in order to ship your equipment. You’ll need to factor in additional costs such as:
- Truck rental
- Gas
- Drivers’ fees
- Insurance coverage
- Fees for using the truck’s telematics device (if any)
- Delivery surcharges
- Parking
- Additional drivers (if needed)
- Lawn sign fees
- Postage stamp fees
The total cost for trucking one small pickup truck for a month will be around $10,000. This does not include the cost of gas and diesel, which will be around another $5,000. Add this all up and you’ll be looking at around $15,000 just to rent a truck for a month.
Shipping From The East Coast
If you’re shipping from the east coast, you’ll have to take into account the fact that there is a lot more traffic on the eastern seaboard. This means that there are more trucks in circulation and it will cost you more to transport goods to destinations on the east coast. For example, if you’re in Boston and you need to ship equipment to New York, it will cost you more to transport this equipment than it would if the opposite were true.
You can try to time your shipment to arrive at its destination at the optimal time. However, the trucks will still be in high demand, and the cost of shipping will still be high.