Break Bulk Shipping

Break bulk is the name for cargo that must be loaded individually. The term covers a wide range of goods, from structural steel to drill rigs.

What Is Break Bulk?

Essentially, break bulk means cargo that is either really big or really heavy. Break bulk cargo is pieces of machinery that are oversized or that require heavy lift. Truckers will sometimes call the cargo high-and-wide or heavy haul cargo. Basically, break bulk cargo cannot be containerized because its size means it cannot be broken down into pieces that will fit in a container. It is sometimes also even too big for a vehicle (Ro-Ro) carrier.

Our first piece of advice is to research break bulk services thoroughly. Take care that you do not entrust precious break bulk cargo to a freight forwarder that does not have the necessary experience. In theory, moving cargo from point A to point B is simple but there is far more to the work than meets the eye. Make sure you choose a freight forwarder that knows everything there is to know about how to ship break bulk cargo or it could mean disastrous cost overruns and damaged cargo. Ask your freight forwarder a lot of questions; their knowledge, expertise, experience, connections, and care should be evident.

We Reach the World

That’s where InterStateCarriage Freight comes in. We provide break bulk, heavy lift, and project logistics solutions to all corners of the globe and we ship break bulk for power companies, crane companies, engineering firms, construction projects, mining operations, OEMs, marine and naval yards. Our cargo includes transformers, power gneration goods, massive cranes, turbines, drill pipes and pipe casings, oil rigs, and Capex plants for energy installations.

Break Bulk Ports

InterStateCarriage Freight ships break bulk cargo from a number of ports in the US and Canada, including:

Houston
Galveston
New Orleans
Mobile
Savannah

Jacksonville
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Port Hueneme
Vancouver

And that’s just the largest ports we ship from.

InterStateCarriage Freight ships break bulk cargo all over the world, to destinations including Canada, Mexico, the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Norway, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, China, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Libya, Syria, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Spain, Algeria and many other countries besides.

Our Scope

A typical project logistics operation for us would be transporting heavy lift, out-of-gauge, and over-dimensional break bulk cargo to an unusual or unconventional location. InterStateCarriage Freight has the expertise to carry out even the most complicated project cargo moves and through our extensive knowledge and experience in highly complex and sophisticated break bulk moves we have built up great relationships with break bulk carriers and freight agents throughout the world, ensuring that all the bases are covered and operations run smoothly.

Break Bulk Logistics

InterStateCarriage Freight can handle very specialized projects from the start to the finish. That could be moving thousands of tons of steel casing for a pipeline, or the intricacies of moving an industrial plant where no two parts are alike: we can take care of it.

As customs brokers, InterStateCarriage Freight can clear imported cargo at the port of entry. As we know the terminals so well, we are able to offer the relevant advice on any handling charges at the destination terminal. We are able to work with the stevedores to load the cargo onto trucks, then, after loading, we can transport the break bulk cargo to the end destination in the US before, finally, we offer rigging services for projects to offload cargo from the trucks at the destination.

What Makes InterStateCarriage Freight the Shipping Agent for You?

InterStateCarriage Freight has years of experience providing project cargo, heavy lift, and break bulk services to companies throughout the United States. Our company can pick up cargo from the origin and ship it all the way to the destination site on the other side of the world.

We complete break bulk shipments to foreign inland locations by means of ship and then truck freight. We employ both specialized truck equipment and barge for shipping break bulk cargo and when it comes to heavy equipment we call on air charter. Our long-standing relationships with the major heavy lift and break bulk carriers put us head and shoulders above our competition. We can even source bulk carriers – vessels made to ship things like oil, coal, aggregate, fertilizer, etc. – when there is a need.

And, we have agents in almost every foreign country who can assist in clearing customs. Moreover, they are all trained and capable of handling special, oversized freight.

Our Expertise

In conclusion, we are experts on the subject of shipping oversized cargo. In our globalized world, it might seem effortless but that is not so. Booking heavy equipment online might be easy, but doing the actual shipping of oversized equipment is not which is why you need a team of professionals.

InterStateCarriage Freight has years of experience in the business so we know, from the many oversized pieces of cargo we have shipped, that not all shipments are equal. We know the big vessel players who operate in this sphere and, we know the subtleties of the business. Lastly, we know the tiny details that always make the biggest difference.

Break Bulk Shipping Lines

As an example, the ship lines that operate in this market are very sensitive to fluctuations: ships might go to a certain port one month but not the next. A freight forwarder with excellent connections to the ship lines that carry project freight – like InterStateCarriage Freight – will get you the right sailing.

The important little details that can make or break a shipment are no problem for us either. Some ports charge for certain services while others do not and even terminals within the same port might operate differently from one another. But at InterStateCarriage Freight, we know exactly what is required at each port in the US and how much the charge will be so customers can rest assured that there will be no unexpected costs or nasty surprises.

What Is Breakbulk Cargo?

Breakbulk cargo refers to shipments that are too large or oddly shaped to be transported in standard containers and must be “broken down” or unloaded piece by piece. These types of shipments are typically loaded and unloaded manually, rather than being moved by machinery as with containerized cargo.

Breakbulk cargo can include items such as machinery, vehicles, construction equipment, and large commercial goods. It is typically shipped via ocean vessels, but can also be transported by truck, rail, or air.

InterStateCarriage Freight specializes in breakbulk cargo shipping. We are based near the Port of Georgia, which ships more breakbulk cargo than any other in the United States. We have unparalleled and special relationships with all of the major carriers who specialize in this type of freight.

Getting good ocean freight rates,
Hiring the best services and breakbulk vessels in the world,
Using our knowledge of ports worldwide and each port’s regulations,
Offering specialized warehousing and crating facilities for handling project logistics, and breakbulk cargo,
Trucking to/from the port,
Oversize break bulk cargo handling at every terminal
Crane for up to 350 metric tons.

Breakbulk Cargo Case Study

The above featured video is an earthmover that was manufactured in Minnesota and sold to Asian customers. We aided in every step in the shipping process. We started with the critical path analysis to the final delivery overseas to the customer’s door.

This shipment began in 2011 when InterStateCarriage Freight provided the quote needed to see if the deal was feasible. Upon being contracted for the move, we consulted weekly about how to ship this breakbulk cargo. We visited the site of the American manufacturer. Next, we crated the entire earth mover’s components. Then, we trucked the cargo using a dozen heavy haul trucks to the Port of Georgia. After that, we surveyed the cargo before loading and booked the ocean freight to Asia. Last, we cleared Chinese customs and delivered to the customer’s door.

Any qualified freight forwarder can book LCL cargo and container cargo. Very few freight forwarders have the know-how and the experience shipping high value breakbulk cargo. We ship this sort of cargo on a regular basis for the mining industry, for the energy industry, for the shipbuilding industry, and other heavy industries.

Call Texas International Freight at 770-353-9200 if you are facing the daunting challenge of shipping oversized equipment. We can help you avoid the problems and get around the pitfalls to ensure safe and timely delivery of your cargo.