Shipping two trucks from US to Europe

[greenmeanie]

Yes I have heard it is expensive. My wife has a job there with a US company and they are paying accordingly. Once we have completed the move and got the kids settled in I'll be looking for a job too. Fortunately the company has setup the work permits for both of us already through the immigration lawyers.

We have seen what rent is like and in comparison to the US it is eye watering. No 3 bay garages for me.

I may not get on there, however, as it really seems that the Swiss are not car people.

 

[piper109]

You might have trouble getting an indoor parking space let alone a 3 bay garage.
Quite often you have to put your name on a waiting list otherwise you will be parking outside the building, maybe in the street and have to fight for a spot everyday.
Switzerland is a beautiful country. Very clean, very proper, very tidy and everything is good quality but it can be a boring place. There are lots of things you might want to do and take it for granted but in CH it may just not be allowed.
"Si ce n'est pas obligatoire, c'est probablement defendu"

Steve

 

[greenmeanie]

My wife's job is in Rolle and so far we're looking at renting a house in a more rural area. The couple we've been shown as examples had their own garages and driveways. Not workshops but a place that a vehicle can at least be stored. Again not cheap. We've got a big dog and two very active kids so apartment/city living is not for us.

I'm interested to see how I fair when we get there with their more rule based society. Mainly I'm a mountain biker, snowboarder and I like tinkering with my vehicles. I understand the biking trails are well defined and you're fine as long as you stick to the path and snowboarding shouldn't be an issue given the location. The truck stuff may be the problem although with the HOA I'm not supposed to work on them currently here either. I've done the heavy work building my 109 and 101 already so it wouldn't exactly be up on bricks in the street.

It's interesting to hear the opinions of someone who has lived there. Any other good advice about living there in general?

 

[piper109]

The society is definately more rule based plus there are unwritten rules like you never phone anyone after 9.30 in the eve though that does not apply to young people. You have to buy the authorized trash bags and put them out in a tidy fashion at the right time otherwise they will not be picked up. You will have to dispose of green glass bottles in the correct bin and plastic in the correct bin etc. If you walk your dog you will have to have your pooper scooper close to hand. If you share laundry facilities you will be amazed at what you are expected to do and when.

Rolle is a neat town on the Lake. I used to ride through there on a road bike frequently or maybe stop at one of the bars for an expensive glass of something. Mont sur Rolle is a neat little rural village but anywhere within striking distance of Geneva and Lausanne, Morges etc will have very high rent. You should count on $1500 to $1800/month for something very ordinary.
A few miles to the north there are some neat mountain passes (Mollendruz, Marchairuz etc) where the cross country ski trails are used by mountain bikers when there is no snow.

Encore une fois, bonne chance. Vous en aurez besoin.

Steve

 

[Maryland 110]

Gregor,

Ok it took awhile 'cause as we say in the South "you cain't get there from here". This is the direct quote. If you wish to proceed please call R.L Swearer Co. directly as I cannot add any value to your transaction beyond getting you this quote. This was their price to me as an importer but I told them I would have you deal with them directly. In a nut shell it's not going to be cheap as I suspect you already knew. FYI this is about $5000 higher than UK>East Coast container cost but yours is quite a bit more distance and overland expense and the container gets lifted more times. Please note this is you loading and unloading the container-ie have plastic (to avoid the wood issues) chocking, ratchet straps, and fasteners that will go into the wood floor ready. They are only allowing 1 hr loading time but thats always negotiable.
Best of Luck,
Doug Crowther

Good Day Mr. Crowther,

Below you will find the above subject quotation based on the below information:

Equipment: 40' Standard and High Cube Containers

(useable dimensions per container: 40' ST: 474” x 90” x 90” – door opening and 40' HC: 474” x 90” x 101” – door opening)

Commodity: Land Rovers

From: Phoenix, AZ

Via: Long Beach, CA

To: Rolle, Switzerland via Bremerhaven, Germany

Freight: USD5216.00 per 40' ST or HC (Phoenix, AZ to Bremerhaven, Germany)

On Carriage: USD3163.20 per 40' ST or HC (Bremerhaven, Germany to Rolle, Switzerland)

RLS Handling Charges: USD175.00 per Ocean B/L

Communications: USD25.00

EEI: USD25.00 (Electronic Export Filing – filing of the SED)

Courier (dom. & int'l) USD75.00

DDU Rolle, Switzerland: USD8679.20

Notes:

1) The above pricing does not include the loading, securing, blocking and bracing of the automobiles in the container

2) All wood packing material (including blocking and bracing) must be ISPM-15 compliant and bear the IPPC stamp / mark

3) Sailings: weekly / Transit: approx. 34 days

4) The above pricing (DDU Rolle, Switzerland) does not include insurance, clearance, duties or taxes

5) The above pricing also does not tinclude he “title” verification by U.S. Customs prior to export – these estimated charge is: USD550.00

6) The above freight includes 1 hr of free loading time at Phoenix, AZ

7) All quotes are subject to change at the time of shipment and are based on equipment or space availability at the time of shipment

Should you have any questions / concerns please do not hesitate to contact this office.

Thank You and Regards

Lisa

R.L. Swearer Co., Inc.

Phone: 412 269 1919 ext: 123

Email: lkorkus@rlswearer.com

 

[piper109]

Hmmm Thats quite an investment. By comparison I wonder what it would cost RO-RO from an East Coast port. Of course all the formalities would need to be in place, Carnet etc.

 

[greenmeanie]

First of all thanks Doug for hooking me up with a quote. Its a lot of money but I wasn't expecting it to be cheap.

Roro from an east coast port would probably not work out any cheaper and would be a LOT more hassle. I am in Phoenix with 2 trucks - one currently a non runner. I'd be at 2-3K just getting across the country before getting on a ship. Then I'd have to arrange to pick them up at the port and get them to Switzerland. It would be fun if I had time but right now I'm running flat out getting everything sorted for the move. We're also flying our doggie out there which shouldn't be too much hassle other than sorting through all the airline rules and regulations and getting the paperwork in order.

As Doug points out a significant amount of the cost is the over the road transport as opposed to the mere shipping travel.

It'll hurt but I'm most likely going to do it.

 

[piper109]

Sounds like a very expensive move and I can understand you being busy.
RoRo from UK to East Coast is about $1200 for 1 vehicle and I would expect it to be about the same going the other way. A port on the Gulf or West coast would make more sense for you and would be a bit more.
Calais to Rolle would be 7-8 hours drive. A non runner makes things very complicated however. I do not envy you that project.

By the way, you probably know this but make sure you dont take your doggie to the UK or make a change there. They have 6 months quarantine.

Steve

 

[greenmeanie]

I am an expat Scot so I'm aware of the whole quarantine thing in the UK. It would be really nice if they would let you just transfer without leaving the building kind of thing but nothing in life is that simple. Between that and the heat embargo for flying animals out of Phoenix in the summer this trip is going to be fun. We start with a road trip to LA, Lufthansa LA to Frankfurt and then a hop to Geneva. If I actually make it there with both kids and the dog I'll be impressed.

If I had another 6months to play with I'd seriously consider the roro option but finding a second driver for both ends, dealing with customs at the docks etc just makes it more of a pain than just placing them in a box and waiting delivery. Sometimes its easier to just pay your money and let someone else deal with the hassle.

We may have found a house with a double garage plus a couple of parking spaces so at least I can keep them off the street while I sort things out. This place, however, is NOT cheap. Oh well I think that's the Lake Geneva area for you.

 

[piper109]

Well renting anywhere close to the Lake would probably start about $5000/month and could be easily be $15000/month.
At those prices paying the equivalent of 1 or 2 months rent to ship your trucks is small change:sombrero:.
My son lives in Cossonay about 25 mins drive from there and he pays about $1800/month for something that would be about $700/month here.
He has no garage and his motorbike stays out in the weather in his allocated car parking space.

Your wife must have a marvelous job.

Good luck, Steve

 

[Maryland 110]

RoRo from UK to East Coast is about $1200 for 1 vehicle and I would expect it to be about the same going the other way.

Steve

$1360 as of Mondays quote for one that shipped from Southampton today.


Best of luck Gregor- relocating to Lake Geneva sounds like one of life's better adventures.

BTW my family was part of the McGregor Clan.

 

[piper109]

BTW my family was part of the McGregor Clan.

Hmmm This has nothing to do with Gregor's adventure but my family too was part of the McGregor clan. I play pipes at the clan tent at the highland games sometimes.
You probably know the clan was outlawed at one time. Some of us made it through:smiley_drive:

Steve

 

[greenmeanie]

Well I am actually a McDowall. The center of our territory was down around Maidens near Culzean Castle on the south west cost of Scotland.

Of course, I like to point out that I came all the way to Phoenix and they managed to spell the mountain wrong. Typical.