Category Archives: Shipping

Heavy haul refers to wide loads that exceed the set measurement standards for loads in terms of weight height or length. This can make your tradeshow shipping stressful as it requires extra effort to ensure cargo reaches its destination as expected and in good shape. However, working with a competent tradeshow transportation company can ease the burden of the whole process. To help you ensure your heavy haul shipping faces as little hurdles as possible, here are helpful tips to follow:

1. Inform Your Carrier in Advance and Get Information Regarding Your Permits
Shipping such enormous loads comes with loads of responsibility and challenges. It is, therefore, prudent to inform your tradeshow transportation company in advance the details of your shipment to allow for early preparation. This eliminates the last-minute rush that comes with your carrier trying to make adjustments to accommodate your heavy haul. 

Since most carriers always handle the permits and include the costs in shipping charges, you want to confirm that this is true. Otherwise, understand the legal requirements for shipping your cargo and obtain the necessary permits.

2. Get Your Measurements Right
The measurement details of your load determine the type of permits you require to transport your cargo. Ensure that you not only have accurate measurements, but also the serial numbers, the make and model of your cargo to make the process easier. Keep in mind that even a slight error can greatly alter your routes, permits and costs.  In case of incorrect details, you’ll have to reapply for another permit using the right dimensions which will cost you time.

3. Know Any Special Requirements You’ll Need
Heavy haul requires special handling due to the size of the load. Establish what you’ll need to facilitate the loading and offloading of cargo. Whether you need a forklift for pallet-stacked items or a crane for the large irregularly shaped items, you should ensure they are available beforehand. Also, establish if you need flags or tarping, and how to secure your cargo if it is fragile.

4. Plan Adequately
Shipping heavy haul needs a lot of early planning for it to be a success. Consider taking advantage of the time by getting everything ready for the shipping early. This includes getting the right tradeshow transportation company early, obtaining the permits, getting the necessary loading and offloading equipment and running your routes early.

While you may have prepared well, understand that everything may not go as planned. Hence, you should prepare for an unexpected circumstance such as foul weather, construction zones which may change the truck’s routes, and permit difference for different states and counties.  

5. Work with The Right Company
Engaging the right tradeshow transportation company for trucking services is essential in ensuring that your load arrives at its destination safely and on time. You want to look for adequately insured professionals with experience in heavy haul. The trucking company you choose should also come highly recommended and have minimal to no injury claims, and with favorable payment terms.

Ship Your Heavy Haul Goods with Our Tradeshow Transportation Company

To eliminate the inconvenience and costs from delays, you want your heavy haul handled by an expert tradeshow transportation company like AMR Group. Contact us today for reliable and efficient heavy haul shipping services.

When winter is in full swing and your tradeshow exhibition is just around the corner, you may start loosing sleep because of the shipping mishaps that winter brings. Not only can it lead to delays, but your exhibition goods can easily get damaged by the frigid temperatures. But, you don’t have to put your business on hold just because it is a chilly season.

Whether you are shipping via road, sea or air, you can still get your freight to its destination undamaged and in time for display with the right tradeshow transportation company. At AMR Group, we’ve compiled these few tips to help you make the duration of your winter shipping a success.

Plan Ahead, and Schedule Your Shipping Earlier

Adverse winter weather, like too much snow or ice, may lead to the closure of ports, disruption of flights and impaired road transport. Make sure you’ve flexible plans in place so you can quickly make adjustments without hurting your delivery time. Although you can control other aspects of your shipping, the weather can be unpredictable.

Plan ahead by ensuring you have everything required for your shipping, and prioritize time-sensitive items by having them shipped first, just in case there are delays. By doing everything earlier and allowing some time to react to unforeseen circumstances, you ensure your freight is delivered in time.

Know Your Shipment

The nature of your shipment determines how you are going to ship them and what safety measures you’ll put in place to ensure its safety in the extreme winter weather. Items, such as food, chemicals and electronics, are vulnerable in extreme cold and need protection against the low temperatures.

Using vacuum-sealed packaging will protect your goods from moisture damage even if they are insensitive to temperatures. You may also need tarping, and heated trucks for items that get damaged if frozen. While climate-controlled shipping may seem more costly, it’s better than having your goods damaged.

Communication, Communication, Communication

Being in constant contact with your tradeshow transport company when shipping freight either by road, sea or air is important. With AMR Group, your dedicated operations contact will keep you updated every step of the way. You’ll always know your freight’s transit situation, any challenges occur as well as the expected time of arrival of your goods. By communicating with all the parties involved, you’ll be prepared for any challenges and mitigate the effects of any hurdles your shipping may face.

Work with The Best Tradeshow Transportation Company

AMR Group has experience anticipating challenges and finding solutions. We are reliable, efficient and offer you value for your money to help you ship your goods. By working with our experts, you won’t have to worry about much of the delays that come with shipping during winter.

Overcome Winter Shipping Blues by Partnering AMR Group

Working with an experienced tradeshow transportation company like the AMR Group will help you ship your goods successfully regardless of the season. Contact us today for all your tradeshow shipping needs.

You may have noticed tradeshow freight shipping costs are skyrocketing. There are several contributing factors affecting seasonal freight shipping rates, and it’s sometimes difficult to identify any specific parameter that makes up the bulk of the increase. However, it’s clear that when the demand for freight forwarding services increases, the cost increases dramatically, and it can be cheaper to ship one direction than the other. 

Seasonal Freight Shipping Rates

As the increase in demand from retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers increases for the holidays and new year, you’ll realize LTL and truckload rates equally increase. The shipping industry’s peak season starts with back-to-school goods and fall fashion items and ends with holiday shipping. Retail stores always want to stock enough products they expect to sell for Christmas and Thanksgiving way ahead of time. 

Factors Affecting Tradeshow Freight Forwarding Costs

The stability in shipping rates, like every other expense, is a legitimate concern for tradeshow exhibitors. The country’s shipping capacity was already getting thinner way before the recent boost in manufacturing. Coupled with the restricted hours of service governing carriers, there is an increased shortage of equipment and hyped shipping rates. Other factors that contribute to the high shipping rates include:

• The ELD mandate that aims to enhance the safety of drivers and simplify tracking and sharing of records of duty status (RODS). 
• Natural disasters and weather patterns like hurricanes, snowstorms, wildfires, etc.

The tradeshow freight forwarding rates may increase subtly or drastically, depending on market conditions like demand/supply and fuel prices.

How to Manage your Freight Rates

Here are some very simple steps you can take to help keep your freight costs in check: 

1. Avoid shipping several boxes of marketing materials. Instead, distribute them electronically. Utilize interactive technology and smart graphics to showcase some of your bulky products instead of displaying everything in the booth.
2. Be smart and creative in your logistics planning this time of year.  Plan to reduce the overall weight and volume.
3. Design custom exhibits with lightweight display systems that pack down tight and light. This helps to reduce the number of crates and weight you’ll have to ship to and from the tradeshow.

If you’re looking to save on your tradeshow freight forwarding costs, AMR Group has a long-standing track record in handling tradeshow exhibits and products worldwide with zero failure. Whether its small boxes or large crated exhibits and products, we’ve got you covered. We ship to and from various locations around the world, including France, UAE, Russia, UK, Germany, Norway, India, Japan, Canada, China, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the United States. Contacts us today for any inquiries concerning tradeshow freight forwarding!

A whopping 2.5 billion packages were shipped during the 2018 holiday season. With the 2019 holiday shopping season right around the corner, now is the time to make sure that you’re prepared for any shipping challenges associated with preparing for your vendor or tradeshow events. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your event materials arrive on time and within budget throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

1. Make Sure to Keep Your Materials and Supplies Well-Stocked

One way to minimize the amount of time it takes your tradeshow materials to arrive at their final destination is to check that you have the materials on-hand. If you don’t, you’ll have to re-order supplies and wait for them to arrive before you can even prepare them for tradeshow freight forwarding.

Not only does this add to the total time it takes to send your materials to your intended destination, but your incoming shipments may potentially be delayed due to high holiday shipping volumes. Instead, try to anticipate what items you’ll need throughout the holiday season, and order them ahead of time. 

2. Increase Your Shipping Budget for the Holidays

Not only does a higher than normal package volume potentially delay your tradeshow shipments, but you also have to account for the days package and tradeshow freight forwarding companies might be closed around the holidays. If a company closes its operations for a day or two, this will impact the arrival time for your materials.

One workaround for this potential problem is to increase your shipping budget for the holidays. Often, the cheapest shipping options are the first affected by holiday shipping woes. If you have extra funds to upgrade your event shipments to a quicker delivery option, this will help you ensure your materials arrive on time during periods where standard shipping options may be too slow for your needs.

3. Utilize a Company That Specializes in Handling Tradeshow Shipments

Consider utilizing a company, like AMR Group, that specializes in handling tradeshow shipments to see your event necessities make it on-time to their intended destinations. AMR Group has a variety of shipping options that can help your items arrive on time.

4.  Overseas Holiday Schedules May be Very Different from those in the U.S.                            

Of course, we all understand that Christmas is not a holiday in most Middle Eastern countries so there may be limited delays due to closures.  But in Europe for example many countries take many more days off for to celebrate the holidays.  Some countries may include days off that Americans are not familiar with.  An example of this is Boxing Day celebrated the day after Christmas in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

AMR Group has ample experience shipping tradeshow materials and also knows how increases in holiday shipping volumes have historically impacted delivery times for events around the holidays. We can provide recommendations that will help your materials arrive on time and within your budget. Please contact us at 702-800-6385 or request a rate.

One of the best ways to expand your brand is to visit tradeshows in other countries. If you’re looking to grow your company in the South American market, you may want to consider attending a show in Brazil. However, shipping to Brazil can be tricky.

The major issue is loss or theft of goods when shipping to Brazil. If you’re shipping large quantities of items, the last thing you want is to receive opened boxes with missing items. Here’s what you need to know about tradeshow freight forwarding and how to best safeguard your material:

Consider What You Really Need

When it comes to participating in a tradeshow at a foreign destination, you need to weigh the pros and cons. Is it worth the time and energy required to ship items out to the location? Is there an actual market for your business in the new market? Do you actually need everything you’re planning on shipping?

If this is your first visit to Brazil for a tradeshow, you may want to consider downsizing a bit. It’s often best to downplay the tradeshow the first go around. This way, you can get a better feel for how it works and whether you truly have a market in this area of the world. If you already know there is a market, you’ll want to go over your standard tradeshow material and decide whether everything is truly necessary.

Don’t Draw Attention

Avoid drawing attention to your shipment. While you’ll need to include what kind of item you’re sending, avoid using name brands. By not using name brands within the description you won’t draw the kind of attention something with flashy lettering will draw. 

Only Use International Tradeshow Shippers

Never use the mail for shipping to Brazil. You should only use an international tradeshow shipping provider. This will minimize your exposure to possible theft while taking your items out of the hands of the local post office. 

Whatever your answers may be, when it comes to protecting your material and making sure everything arrives in one piece (and on time), you need the help of the tradeshow freight forwarding services AMR Group provides. To learn more about tradeshow shipping to Brazil or if you’re ready to begin organizing a shipment, contact us today at 702-800-6385. 

Visiting tradeshows is a major money maker for most businesses. In fact, a number of companies rely almost exclusively on tradeshows for networking and signing larger contracts with clients and other businesses. Because of this, the last thing you want is to open up your shipped materials to find you items have been damaged. Here are some important tradeshow shipping best practices:

Label Everything
The only thing worse than having a box show up damaged is for the box to not show up at all. In order to prevent this, you need to label every box. Don’t just have a single label for your entire shipment. You need one for every box, as at times, the boxes may become separated from one another (especially when shipping to a popular destination where many shipments are being received daily). 

You should also include a numbering system on your boxes. So, if you’re shipping 10 boxes, label the boxes with 1 of 10, 2 of 10, 3 of 10, and so on. This way, it’s far easier for the shipping company to make sure all your boxes are together. 

Packing Tape
It might not seem like that big of a deal, but make sure you use packing tape on your box. Don’t just grab any roll of tape for your packages. Duct tape might seem like a good idea, and masking tape might be readily available, but these do not always hold up when exposed to moisture or varying temperatures. You should only use tape designed specifically for shipping. 

Multiple Box Shipping
When you purchase a fragile item (such as a smart phone), it usually comes in a smaller box, with packing peanuts or air bags around it, and is then inserted into a larger box. You should do the same with any fragile items you are shipping. 

Turn to The Pros for Tradeshow Shipping

Because each shipment is different, the best way to know how to fully ship your equipment safely and effectively is to contact the experts at AMR Group. Our tradeshow shipping professionals will make sure you have all the necessary packing materials, including documentation and labels, and will ensure your shipment is ready and waiting for you in the exhibit showroom.

Call 702-800-6385 to request a quote.

Shipping dangerous goods isn’t always what it sounds like. When you hear the term “dangerous goods,” you might instantly think of shipping chemicals, something explosive or even a kind of weapon. However, that’s rarely the case.

Hair spray may be deemed dangerous because of the flammable material. Likewise, a lithium ion battery can also be considered dangerous. If you’re planning to send any kind of electronic device that requires a rechargeable battery, there’s a good chance those are categorized as “dangerous goods” as well. That is why, when it comes to international trade show shipping, you should know how to pack and ship these kinds of items. 

Know the Country Requirements
Prior to packing and boxing up anything for an international shipment, you need to know the shipping requirements for the country you’re sending something to. Some countries might require you to package your batteries or flammable materials separately from the rest of your goods. Others might want to inspect these items at customs, which means you’ll need to alter how you pack.

It is a good idea to conduct research on any country you’re utilizing international trade show shipping services for.

Classify Shipment
In most cases, you’ll need to classify the dangerous material being shipped. If you have any questions regarding the classification, talk to a customer service specialist at AMR Group. Often, there are varying classifications in each group (and your item may even fall under a number of them).

Air vs. Ground
Sometimes there are different regulations for shipping dangerous items via ground, air or sea. Usually, shippers and customs officials want the dangerous materials to move as quickly as possible. Most dangerous items become unstable when left in the heat. Because of this, freights that might take longer, like sea freight, may not accept certain items for shipment. Discuss the shipping opportunities with AMR Group to find out the best ways to ship your dangerous goods. 

When it comes to international trade show shipping, you need to pay special attention to country requirements for each item in your shipment. AMR Group’s expert team has the knowledge and experience in shipping sensitive items overseas. Let us handle the process for you. Contact us at 702-800-6385 to learn more. 

When shipping materials for an international event, you want to take every step possible to ensure the shipment arrives as planned. One detail you must consider when shipping items for important events or tradeshows is whether you want to insure your shipment. Most freight carriers have their own liability insurance that will reimburse you for losses that occur due to negligence by the carrier. However, insurance will not reimburse you for losses or damage due to events that are outside of your carrier’s control. 

Factors to Consider When Deciding Whether to Insure Your Shipment

There are multiple components to evaluate when deciding if you should have your shipment insured. First, check the details regarding your quote. Some companies that specialize in tradeshow logistics include a small amount of freight insurance as part of their services. Others may give you the option to select insurance for your shipment and incorporate it into your existing quote. Make sure you understand exactly what your quote includes. 

Another item to contemplate is the value of the items you’re shipping. If they are relatively low in value or cheap to replace, it may not be financially wise to spend more money insuring them.

The Benefits of a Tradeshow Logistics Company

Many shipping losses occur because the materials weren’t packaged properly or were loaded incorrectly. One way to minimize the likelihood of suffering a shipping-related loss is to utilize a company like AMR Group that specializes in tradeshow logistics. AMR Group has the experience and knowledge necessary to efficiently package, transport and unpack your shipment.

We will handle every step of the shipping process to make sure all goes smoothly for our clients. Our experts will thoroughly package your materials so they remain intact during transit. Then, we will load them onto your chosen transportation vehicle and ensure they are secure. 

Once your items arrive, our team will unload and inspect them to make sure no damage occurred during the shipping process. You’ll receive regular updates regarding your freight so that you’ll always know what’s going on during the shipment process. Contact us at 702-800-6385 to learn more about our tradeshow logistics company or request a rate.

Most times, the choice between air freight and sea freight for international tradeshow shipping depends on convenience, cost and speed. Other factors to consider include distance, accessibility and the type of goods being shipped. So, which option is best for you?

Choosing Between Air Freight and Sea Freight for International Tradeshow Shipping

Air Freight
Air freight is great for direct shipping of goods from one city to another between different countries. It is ideal for perishable or light goods and also comes in handy for last-minute shipping due to its speed. As air freight can be expensive, you may want to use it only when the costs are less than 20% the value of your merchandise. Although it limits the type of goods, as well as capacity and weight, you can always charter the largest planes to bring in your large exhibition cargos.

Air freight has the following advantages:

• Speed
  It is the fastest means of transportation, and you can use it for your international tradeshow shipping if your goods are time sensitive. Since your cargo spends less time in transit, your insurance costs are also reduced.
• Reliability
  Air freight is predictable as planes follow a strict schedule. You can rest assured your goods will be delivered at the stipulated time. The limited capacity also ensures quick handling of cargo at the airport, eliminating delays due to congestion.
• Safety
  Strict airport regulations and minimum handling guarantee the safety of your shipment. You don’t have to worry about goods being damaged when using air freight.
• Flexibility
  Shipping by air is more convenient in terms of location and accessibility. This is not true for sea freight as it requires multiple transport options to bring your goods inland, and some ports cannot accommodate large vessels.

Sea Freight
Sea freight is perfect for transporting large volumes of cargo over long distances and across vast waters. Since sea freight is slower than air freight, it is only recommended for goods that are not time sensitive. It also requires adequate planning and proper packaging for timely delivery and damage prevention.

The benefits of sea freight include:

• Large Volume and Capacity
  Sea freight allows you to ship large volumes of goods at once, unlike air freight, which is subject to limitations. With sea freight, you can transport large volumes of goods in containers.
• Less Expensive
  It is a less expensive option compared to air freight, as shipping costs are calculated by volume. Shipping by sea is especially cost-effective considering that you can move large volumes of cargo at one time.
• Accommodates All Types of Goods
  Whatever commodities you are shipping for a tradeshow, you can transport them by sea. Sea freight doesn’t have strict regulations, so you can transport anything from heavy machines to clothing.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint
  In the spirit of environmental conservation and sustainability, sea freight is a “greener” option compared to air. You reduce your carbon footprints by choosing sea freight for your international tradeshow shipping.

While these advantages are significant, it is important to also be aware sea freight is prone to delays due to large volumes of goods handled at the port, leading to congestion. This may cause you to incur additional expenses from detention and demurrage.

Depending on your needs, either of these two shipping options could be ideal. Contact AMR Group today at 702-800-6385 for your international tradeshow shipping and enjoy timely delivery of your goods. AMR Group can help coordinate the transportation of all goods to and from the show.

Dubai is one of the fastest growing business hubs in the world. It has trading links with almost every country, which makes it a perfect location for tradeshows and business expos. If you are looking to ship your event’s merchandise to Dubai, you need a shipping partner you can trust to deliver your goods safely and on time.

AMR Group will handle all of your international tradeshow shipping needs from the moment your goods leave the United States to when they arrive in Dubai. To ship there, you have two options: air and sea freight.

Shipping to Dubai by Air Freight

Air freight is the fastest international tradeshow shipping option if you want your goods to arrive in Dubai on time for your event. Usually, you can ship your time-sensitive goods by air, as it only takes 3-5 days. As your international trade show shipping partner, AMR picks up your cargo from the designated pick-up point, takes care of all documentation and ensures your goods are delivered at the airport closest to your destination.

Shipping to Dubai by Sea 

Sea freight gives you the opportunity to ship all types of goods in large volumes, as there are no capacity and weight limitations. It is also more cost-effective compared to shipping by air.

You can have your goods picked from your facility by our team and delivered at the nearest port. Here, your goods go through the necessary customs procedures, after which they are transported by truck or railroad to your desired location.

AMR will ship your goods in 20’ and 40’ containers that adequately accommodate your exhibits. You will also have your merchandise delivered at your exhibition’s booth if you so wish, so you only need to set them up for display. When shipping your goods to Dubai, give it a few weeks’ allowances to accommodate the delays that may occur at the port. 

Reduce Costs with an International Tradeshow Shipping Partner

Your shipping costs to Dubai or any other destination, whether by air or sea freight will depend on factors like the weight of your cargo, type of material and the timeframe. You can request shipping rates, so you can properly budget and plan. Prior knowledge of the costs will give you an insight into how much you will spend, and ultimately determine who you choose as your shipping partner.

Working with AMR Group gives you peace of mind, as you can monitor your cargo while in transit, and you also don’t have to worry about customs. Contact us at 702-800-6385 for all of your international tradeshow shipping needs, and trust your goods will be delivered on time and in good condition!