Experience with freighting?

[koesdibyo]

Anyone have any experience with getting larger items like axles across the border?

Im trying to do research, but my lack of internet is limiting me.

Im located in Edmonton, Alberta... and theres so many great deals on this site for axles to do my axle swap its hard to pass up. However, i just need to figure out the steps to take in order to get it shipped here. Ive heard horror stories about it stuck at customs cause of all sorts of reasons.

Currently, im in afghanistan, and id like to have all bits and pieces to get my driveline/drivetrain swap ready to go for when I return (mayish). Ill be doing my swap at the communal shop on CFB edmonton, but i also have some buddies with garages that i can get it sent to (so either residential or business).

Obviously ive googled a bunch of places that do LTL freighting, and asked for quotes. But what other processes are involved?

Thanks,
cody

[Paul Gagnon]

As far as customs your best bet is to tell the shipper that you will self-clear the items. What this means is that you have to go down to the shipper when your goods arrive in Edmonton, pick up the customs documentation and take it to the Customs office near the International Airport. Once Customs stamps your papers the shipper will then be able to release or deliver your goods. It is a little extra driving around but for large and/or expensive items it can save you a pile of money as you don't have to pay any brokerage fees.

[koesdibyo]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

As far as customs your best bet is to tell the shipper that you will self-clear the items. What this means is that you have to go down to the shipper when your goods arrive in Edmonton, pick up the customs documentation and take it to the Customs office near the International Airport. Once Customs stamps your papers the shipper will then be able to release or deliver your goods. It is a little extra driving around but for large and/or expensive items it can save you a pile of money as you don't have to pay any brokerage fees.

Well with some of the deals for D44s on here, its not hugely expensive; $300-500. what would brokerage fees on that be roughly?

Id gladly take that option, but being away right now hinders me from doing that. I'd have to wait until I was back and have them shipped rather than have everything waiting at the garage for me.

[chevalade]

For a d44 you should be able to get it local for alot cheaper than buying out of the states, and getting em shipped.

[koesdibyo]

Originally Posted by chevalade

For a d44 you should be able to get it local for alot cheaper than buying out of the states, and getting em shipped.

ive tried kijiji, craigslist, and theres only 1 local forum for 4x4ing in the area. As far as scrap yards, ive sent out parts request, but no returns yet.

I figure if theres some built danas and get em shipped, it'll end up costing me roughly the same as getting some and doing them up myself.

Obviously theres a few local that ive located, but prices are almost equivelant to those of the built ones.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by koesdibyo

ive tried kijiji, craigslist, and theres only 1 local forum for 4x4ing in the area. As far as scrap yards, ive sent out parts request, but no returns yet.

I figure if theres some built danas and get em shipped, it'll end up costing me roughly the same as getting some and doing them up myself.

Obviously theres a few local that ive located, but prices are almost equivelant to those of the built ones.

Don't forget to add GST and the exchange rate.

There are several Alberta message boards as well as several in B.C., as well as Buy and Sell and Auto Trader.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by koesdibyo

Well with some of the deals for D44s on here, its not hugely expensive; $300-500. what would brokerage fees on that be roughly?

Id gladly take that option, but being away right now hinders me from doing that. I'd have to wait until I was back and have them shipped rather than have everything waiting at the garage for me.

It depends on who you are shipping it with. For normal couriers you can use them as your shipping broker (and their rates are high) but freight companies usually don't provide this service so you'd have to find a broker of your own.

[koesdibyo]

ahh seen. Seems it may be a much less of a headache getting it locally, or just within canada at least. Especially with not being in the same country to try and organize it right now. Thanks for all your help.

Only NA4wd, edmontonjeep and calgaryjeep are the only boards i know of or have been able to find... any other ones that you know of?

[eglaisi]

I'm lucky, living in Vancouver. I get my stuff shipped to a UPS/USPS/FEDEX dropoff center and they hold it there. I drive across the border, pay them a small fee at the dropoff center (under $20 most times) and drive back. All I have to pay at the border is the tax of the declared value.

Been doing this for years... alot of places do free shipping within the USA too, so that cuts down on the cost. Too bad you weren't further south.

[koesdibyo]

I used to have something similar to that when i was on the island. Was in Nanaimo, but ordered parts to some place along the border, they brought em across and dropped it off in Victoria, and all i had to do was drive down the island to get everything i needed... and only payed minor fees

[DoYouLikeItHere]

I'm lucky too, living near the border
I had an crate engine shipped to Olympia WA from hiperformer.com
For customs, I looked up on the internet the 'harmonized tarriff code' for the item on the gov.ca website. I found that automotive engines have a duty around 12%, however I/O marine engines have zero duty.
So, Guess what I had written on my invoice because I knew to ask for it...
I cleared customs in the middle of the night, no probs, no waits, no duty. Had to pay pst/gst.

Sometimes it easier to look for a complete wrecked truck that has what ya need eh?