Summertime has traditionally been the busiest moving season.  Longer daylight times and summer breaks for children make it a prime time for people to move. It is also a prime time for scam artists to prey on unsuspecting consumers.

The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) wants to make sure that consumers know how to avoid being a victim of a moving scam.  Here are some helpful tips:

1. Don’t book your move on-line or over the phone without verifying that the mover has a location in your area.  Drive by the location.  Go in and meet the company’s personnel.  Use your instincts to discern if the company’s personnel appear to be professional and trustworthy.  Let your common sense guide you…  but don’t stop there!
2. Verify the company’s license.  All movers are required by law to demonstrate their legitimacy on all their documentation.
3. Verify the license number with the California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
4. Obtain written estimates for moves of three or more rooms.  Legitimate movers are price competitve.  Make sure the estimates are based on the same factors (i.e. move and pack; move only, etc.)  If a company provides an unusually low bid … beware!  The company could be illegal, or they may have made an error while estimating the move.  If the latter is the case, the price will likely escalate on moving day.
5. Illegal movers may charge by the cubic foot.  Legal movers charge by the hour (local moves), and by weight/mileage (distance moves).
6. Bandits “rip off” innocent consumers by charging exorbitant fees for extensive and unnecessary packing on items that should be pad wrapped.  Furnishings should be wrapped with shrink wrap or protected with special moving blankets.
7. Bandits will intimidate consumers to tip the crew.  Tipping is not customary but it is accepted when the customer has received exceptional service.

*The CMSA is a nonprofit trade association representing over 385 licensed and insured movers operating in California.

The Positive Approach

Prepare them in advance for the move. Tell them immediately about the move. Give them time to adjust to the idea. Answer all questions. Explain the reasons for the move as explicitly as necessary, depending on the child’s age. An honest question-and-answer session will give you an idea of the specific concerns your children have about the move. This will give you the chance to resolve their fears and let them know you are interested in their opinions and feelings.

Permit children to participate. This will give them a sense of responsibility and self-worth. Choose a professional moving company. A company experienced in moving families will minimize your responsibilities. Then, you can devote more time to your children.

With these steps, you can ease the insecure feelings some children experience when removed from familiar surroundings. It is difficult to break strong ties to the old home, neighborhood, school and close friends. But remember, moving can be a great personal growth opportunity for all family members, including children. Take advantage of the situation and make it a truly exciting experience for everyone.

Take-along Suggestions

Here’s a checklist of things to take in the car with you:

Baby

•     Suitable clothing
•     Diaper or utility bag
•     Blankets
•     Disposable diapers
•     Nursers with plastic throwaway liners, nipples and pacifiers
•     Baby food, formula, fruit juice, water and a cap opener
•     Favorite cuddle toy
•     Baby toiletries such as powder, lotion, oil and cotton balls
•     Safety-approved infant car seat
• First-aid kit (Discuss with your pediatrician any medications you should have on hand. Include a thermometer, baby pain reliever and a small hot water bottle, which also can be used as an ice bag.)

Toddler

•     Collapsible stroller
•     Child’s portable car toilet
•     Safety-approved car seat
•     Favorite small toy

Get the “Moving with Children” Booklet
We recognize the particular needs and emotional reactions of children and have a booklet to help make moving with children easier and enjoyable for the entire family. For a copy of “Moving with Children,” contact us.

(source: www.unitedvanlines.com)

The International Maritime Organization, after years of research and consultation based heavily on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Bering Strait Port Access Route Study, has officially sanctioned routes through the Bering Sea and Arctic for vessel passage. The proposal was submitted by both the United States and Russia. Traffic through these new routes is expected increase 100 to 500 percent by 2025.

Full Story

(The Maritime Executive)

It is a good idea to pack a separate “Hot Box” of essential items you’ll need immediately upon arrival in your new home. Crown packers or your customer service coordinator can supply you with specially marked Hot Box cartons or self-adhesive Hot Box labels. If you’re packing yourself, simply request a Hot Box label from your Crown coordinator. You may wish to include the following:

KITCHEN: Cleaning supplies, hand soap and paper towels, paper plates, cups, napkins can & bottle opener, plastic cutlery, plastic wrap, zip-lock bags, aluminum foil, trash bags, ready-to-eat foods.

BATH: Toiletries, towels, facial and toilet tissue, medicines, first-aid kit.

BEDROOMS: Bed linens, pillows, change of clothing, children’s books and toys.

OTHER ROOMS: Hardware to assemble furniture, remote controls, light bulbs, portable radio or television, hand tools, reading material, flashlight.

These rankings were created using a blend of statistics including the Job Market, Value Index (how comfortable a resident can live within their means), Quality of Life Index (life satisfaction), Quality of Life Index (how satisfied residents are with their daily lives), Desirability Index (number of people who want to live in a given city) and Net Migration. Three cities in California made the list. San Francisco is 20th, San Jose is 17th and San Diego is 30th.

The top 10 best places for 2018 are:
1. Austin, Texas
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Denver, Colorado
4. Des Moines, Iowa
5. Fayetteville, Arkansas
6. Portland, Oregon
7. Huntsville, Alabama
8. Washington, DC
9. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
10. Seattle, Washington

Full Story

(Business Insider)

If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your move, take the following into consideration. If you are not pressed for time, downsizing by either donating unwanted items or having a garage sale can be both beneficial to your pocketbook and to the environment. Using old newspapers, towels or other cloth items to wrap delicate items in transit is also an option. Used cardboard boxes or reusable plastic containers (Crown Crates) can also make your move greener. Finally, when cleaning your new home or your old home there are many green cleaning products on the market that are as effective as traditional cleaning products, but are safer for the environment.

During the World Ports Sustainability Program on March 22, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations were embraced by almost one thousand ports and related companies. “Ports all over the world are aiming for a future built around sustainable economic models,” Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority and also the host and keynote speaker at the event, pointed out.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)

The European Community Shipowners’ Association says, “Current complex, repetitive and duplicative reporting requirements not only result in productivity losses for maritime carriers and their customers but also create unnecessary workload and stress for ship crews.” The World Shipping Council agrees. They both call for a more consistent set of data and processes in all EU ports.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)

Moving into a new house can be an exciting time. We have some expert unpacking and moving tips that will help you get settled quickly.

Call your new utility companies to set up services the day before you expect to move in. The first few days in your new home will be much more comfortable if you have electricity, water and heating or air conditioning!

Develop a plan for where you would like to have your furniture placed in the home, even if it’s a simple drawing. This will save you the trouble of moving furniture by yourself after your movers depart.

Start with a fresh palette by cleaning your new home before the movers arrive.

Be prepared to pay your driver for the moving services. Depending on the company you hire, accepted forms of payment could include cash, traveler’s check, money order, cashier’s check or even pre-payment via credit card.

If you can, have two people in the new home on move-in day. One person can make sure everything from your inventory list is unloaded and the other can tell the movers where you would like the items placed.

Check items off the inventory list as they are unloaded from the truck. If you discover that anything is missing, contact a customer service representative at the moving company right away.

Consider hiring a babysitter if you have small children in the house and put pets somewhere where they will be safe and out of the way.

Keep in mind that many moving companies will offer additional services for a separate charge, including electronics installation and unpacking.

(source: United Van Lines)

Mr. Greenstein, Vice President of Watson Internet of Things (IoT), Consumer Offerings, IBM, believes that “Digitizing the shipping industry enables supply chains and businesses to be more efficient, cost-effective, and transparent.” This transformation will include AI. The idea is to have IoT-enabled sensors gather data (tides and currents, temperature, wind speed and direction, water levels, berth availability and visibility), analyze with AI and provide it to operators thought one interface. There will be no one size fits all solution for all ports, but digitization should save shipping companies and ports allot of money through greater efficiency, so many ports are currently exploring their options.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)