Shipments done by Travellers

Strongly not recommended!!!!!

they cheated on us, took a lot of money.

when we asked for a better price because we are travelers they said that they do not want business with travelers and this is why they charge so much money.

please try to avoid them!

We collecting the motorcycle from customs/ the warehouse wasn't all that difficult. The hardest part is waiting and the transportation between your hotel, the sustoms, Pan Star (shipping agent) and the warehouse. It takes hours with public busses.

This is how it all went:

1- We arrived in LA December 10th 2012. It took two hours with bus 232 to Long Beach.
2- Checked into a ("cheap") motel. We can not recommend the hotels at Pacific Hwy they are run down and the streets are dangerous at night (homeless people and drugs addicts). Better check in a Holiday Inn.
3- The ship arrived Thursday 13th.
4- In the weekend they scanned the bike at the harbor / customs compound (add. costs 200 $). It then got transported to STD George warehouse.
5- We went to the Customs on Monday 17th. Here we made an informal, personal and temporary importation of the motorcycle that is valid for one year. Prior to our arrival in the USA we had prepared an EPA letter (you can request this at the EPA department, they will reply with an 'exemption letter'.) But we did not need this letter. The only thing that's necessary is: the shipping invoice, the original BL, the arrival letter (from Pan Star), your vehicle registration, driver's licence, passport, you will have to fill out some other declaration
forms like the DOT and the 7501 and some other. They will give you copies there (Ocean drive in Down Town LB). Go there one day to collect the information, fill it out at your hotel and return the next day to complete the temp. import.
6- Then we went to Pan Star office (Mr. Harry) and paid 200 dollars for the x-ray of the cargo (yes, a rip off but then you should have gone with roro via Singapore which has very high red tape barriers that will costs you about a 400 $ additional costs any way).
7- The next day December 18th, we received notice (by email) from Harry that we could pick up the bike at the STD George warehouse.
8- We went to the warehouse by bus the same day. This is a 'normal' warehouse with no crazy security. After paying 70 dollars for storage and 50 dollars for disposal of the crate, we could get our bike. The people in the warehouse were super friendly, especially the Mexican supervisor. They meet with a lot of travelers on bikes, so it's nothing unusual. They help you release the bike from the crate and they even wanted to help us jump start it as the battery was down.

So, all in all we were satisfied with the whole process although the 200 dollars x-ray came unexpected. We were also surprised about the condition of some of our clothing and helmets, they were moist and 'molded' probably caused by the conditions at sea?

Highest costs in the USA are costs of hotels / motels. We managed this by staying in a cheap (not safe) motel and later by meeting friendly people through Couchsurfing.com. They owned a car and were so incredibly friendly to bring us to the various locations.

We did not use a Customs agent at all. We did not have to file a 10+2 ISF document.

Anyway, I think anyone can pull a trip to the US for together. Just don't arrive here too early in Long Beach. It will cost you. In case you will need this port for the return shipment, it's possible to 'keep' the crates and store them for when you get back.

- We bought an insurance through Progressive.com (one year valid, 119 dollars) - used the motel's address as the address where to send the policy to. Customs didn't ask about this though.

We rode 2 small 110cc rented Honda motorbikes ftrom Hanoi in the North, down through Vietnam to Saigon in the South.
Distance between stations close to 1790km

We arrived at Saigon train station about 15:30h Thurday.
They worked right infront of us, so we took many pictures.
First the mirrors are removed, and locked under the seat.
Then the petrol is siphoned out, so no more than minimum, ie, needle in the red.
Then the front of the bikes and the speedo clocks etc, are wrapped in toilet roll tissue.
Then the bike is 90 wrapped in cardboard.
Then the bike is wheeled into a wooden frame, and put on the main stand.
Then the wooden frame is completed, so the bike can not move.
We gave details of our passports, so only us could retrieve the bikes in Hanoi.
This all took less than 90 minutes for the both bikes, and the paperwork.
Wery fast.
We were told to collect the 2 bikes after Monday lunch time at Hanoi train station.
At just $28.33 it was very good value.
We picked both bikes up, and watched tham remove the wooden frame.
All very good, and no scratches.

Facing big issue to get Turkmenistan visa in Tashkent we had to fly from Tashkent to Dubai.

We sent approximately 40 price request and got 20.
Kuehne & Nagel was the less expensive and very professional.
900 USD all in (except arrival fees)

Day 1 (2hours): Meeting with Dilmurod, he explained us the procedure.
Day 2 (1full day): Go to airport cargo terminal with him and your bike.
You need to unplug the battery and have very low fuel lever. Once you get the gate pass, you have to fill thousands of papers in Ouzbek (he help to to fill and have already filled most of them). The bike go on a full palette (no crating required). Customs inspection and finally you get your airway bill. Go back in the car, give him 900 USD and wait for him being back from distributing money to all service (air company, inspection, dangerous goods,..). Then you go for a coffee.
Easy!

Once arrived in Dubai (we were not in the same flight) you wait a few hours to get the bike in the cargo terminal. It take approximately half a day to get the bike back. Only 40 USD fees for customs at arrival for inspection.

The easiest shipping I ever did!

When I was looking for some solution to send my bike from Port Klang at passenger terminal I met two guys who work for travel agency. They offered me to send my bike by one of the ferries to Tamjung Balai using their connection, next day. I paid 300 ringits for taking motorbike across and another 100 for someone to help me to sort travel and customs on the other side. I could also go on the same boat, for another 100 but as I had no visa they didn't allowed me to board and I had to fly to Medan and take minibus to Tanjung Balai instead. Everything was well organised, nonetheless I had to spend a half day with Indonesian customs. They said they had never dealt with it before, but after a few hours of calling they got familiar with procedure and said proudly that next time they will be smarter, so hopefully it takes an hour or so. The clue is to have letter from Ikatan Motor Indonesia beforehend, just email them a few days before arriving, then they send permission and instruction to customs in chosen place how to proceed.
And I hadn't paid any duty or other charges, everything was free.
After you leave the customs you have to go to police station and wait for Road Permit, that's another story, a few hours again but free too.

Before you get there good idea is to have Indonesian visa in passport, it save you money, unnecessary flights, time and stress when traveling by minibus. You can apply in Kuala Lumpur, it takes three days for them to issue one.

All operation was easy and quite well organised and when I called to the guys from other side they said I can recommend them for others, they can do it again any time. If I am to do it ones more I am sure I go this way: everyday shipping, shorter time, half price comparing to Cacra.

Contact number to Izainil is +60136367611 but, as he doesn't speak english perfectly well better email him on izai...@yahoo.com

And remember to have CPD stamped when crosing border to Malaysia from Thailand. Doesn't matter that they say it's not required, they won't allowed you to leave without it later. But if you forgot ask Izainil, he's got solution for it too.