Ask Matson, The Container Moving Company - FAQs for Shipping Household Goods By Container

Still have a question about shipping household goods by container port to port? Please call our account specialists at 1-800-4MATSON to learn more about shipping household goods and get a free quote; for Alaska moves, please call Alaska Customer Service 1-877-678-7447.

General
Insurance
Packing, Loading and Unloading
Transit Time
Booking a Shipment
Claims
Billing

General

Q: Can Matson pack up my household goods and furniture and put it in the container for me?
A: No. You or a moving company would need to pack the household goods and furniture and put it in the container. Matson provides the container and manages the ocean transportation.

Q: Where can I get the Acknowledgement Form to sign at the time of booking?
A: The Acknowledgement Form can be downloaded by clicking here.
For the Alaska Booking Acknowledgement Form click here.

Insurance

Q: Can I get insurance to cover my household goods during the move?
A: For current coverage please see Matson's limited liability clause. For additional coverage please:

Check with your current insurance carrier to determine whether your current coverage includes moves from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii or Alaska.
Consult your local Yellow Pages or internet for Marine Insurance Carriers.
Additional coverage may be obtained by purchasing Ad Valorem with Matson Navigation. Rate is 2% of the declared value of your goods and is in addition to normal shipping charges.

Packing, Loading and Unloading

Q: How do I find a reputable trucking company to move the container between my home and the port?
A: All truckers are required to be registered with the UIIA in order to carry Matson equipment. You may search your local yellow pages or the internet to find a UIIA registered trucking company.

Q: Does Matson move household goods that are not in containers?
A: No. Matson can only ship full container loads. If you are interested in shipping less than a container load, please consult your local yellow pages or search the internet for freight forwarders or moving and storage companies.

Q: Is the inside of the container corrugated or smooth?
A: The interior of our containers is corrugated. Matson does not provide blankets, ropes, or tie-downs.

Q: Can I put a car, truck, tractor, boat, or other vehicle in the container along with my furniture and other household items?
A: Motor Vehicles or boats may be included in your container for an additional charge.

All vehicles or boats must have a disconnected battery, have a fuel tank level of ¼ tank or less, and be properly blocked and braced. If your vehicle carries any auxiliary propane tanks, they must be emptied. All fire extinguishers must be removed. For electric vehicles, batteries should have a charge between 45% and 65% or they may be refused.

All vehicles will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection if they are going from Oakland or Tacoma to Guam or the Marshall Islands.

Please review the OK to Lade Guidelines and make sure household goods are loaded first and your car last so the vehicle is closest to the container doors and accessible for inspection.

In addition, the Shipper's Hazardous Cargo Declaration for Autos/POV must be completed prior to container delivery.

Q: What are the requirements for loading an electric vehicle into a container?
A: Electric vehicle batteries should have a charge between 45% and 65% or they may be refused. In addition, the Shipper's Hazardous Cargo Declaration for Fully Electric Powered Autos/POV must be completed prior to container delivery.

Q: Can we load household items in the car we put into the container?
A: Yes. If you are loading your car into a container with household goods you may put household goods inside the car. However, cars tendered to Matson and shipped on their own must be free of all personal items.

All vehicles or boats must have a disconnected battery, have a fuel tank level of ¼ tank or less and be properly blocked and braced. If your vehicle carries any auxiliary propane tanks, they must be emptied. All fire extinguishers must be removed. For electric vehicles, batteries should have a charge between 45% and 65% or they may be refused.

All vehicles will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection if they are going from Oakland or Tacoma to Guam or the Marshall Islands.

Please review the OK to Lade Guidelines and make sure household goods are loaded first and your car last so the vehicle is closest to the container doors and accessible for inspection.

Q: How do I get my car in and out of the container?
A: Matson does not provide ramps of any kind. Customers are responsible for getting their cars in and out of their household goods container. Some customers contact a roadside assistance service to have a flatbed lift the vehicle to the container's height. You can refer to your local Yellow Pages or the internet for equipment rental companies to obtain a ramp.

All vehicles will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection if they are going from Oakland or Tacoma to Guam or the Marshall Islands.

Please review the OK to Lade Guidelines and make sure household goods are loaded first and your car last so the vehicle is closest to the container doors and accessible for inspection.

Q: Are there any guidelines for how to load my motor vehicle in the container?
A: Cars must be loaded in compliance with US Coast Guard regulations. Please review the OK to Lade Guidelines and make sure household goods are loaded first and your car last so the vehicle is closest to the container doors and accessible for inspection.

Q: Are there any weight or content restrictions for loading a container?
A: Household good shipments normally are not heavy enough to warrant weight restrictions. However, you may wish to check with your local Highway Patrol Office to confirm legal weight limits in your area, as these restrictions vary depending upon location and route traveled.

Illegal, dangerous, or hazardous cargo may not be included in your container. Please check with our Customer Support Center for your specific questions.

Q: How can I be sure my contents are secure from the time I load them into the container to the time the container is delivered?
A: While the container is in your possession, you may lock it with a padlock if necessary. However, the lock must be removed before the container is delivered to Matson for shipment.

All containers receive a security seal when closed for final transport.

The US Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and Matson can inspect any container at any time to insure no illegal, dangerous or hazardous cargo is loaded into a container.

Q: Once the container arrives at the port, can it be delivered to my local address or does it have to be unloaded at the dock?
A: Containers may not be loaded or unloaded at the Matson terminal.

Matson cannot deliver your container or offer destination trucking in Hawaii or on the mainland. You will need to work directly with a UIIA registered trucking company to have your container picked up at the port and moved to your location. Please search the internet or the local yellow pages for a UIIA registered trucking company.

Loading

Customers should load their containers within 10 days of receipt of the empty container.

Unloading

To avoid storage or detention charges, westbound containers sailing to Hawaii must be picked up from the Matson destination port and brought back empty within 10 calendar days once they are made available for pick up.
To avoid storage or detention charges, eastbound containers sailing from Hawaii must be picked up from the Matson destination port within 2 working days once they are made available for pick up. The container should be returned empty to the port within a week.
To avoid storage or detention charges to or from Alaska
Tacoma- containers must be picked up and returned empty within 10 calendar days once they are made available for pick up.
Anchorage- containers must be picked up and returned empty within 72 hours once they are made available for pick up.
Dutch Harbor, Captain’s Bay, and Unalaska- containers must be picked up and returned empty within 5 calendar days once they are made available for pick up.
Kodiak- containers must be picked up and returned empty within 5 calendar days once they are made available for pick up.

Containers provided placement service, including constructive placement, under the provisions of this tariff will be allowed 72 hours free time.

Free Time/Detention/Storage

All applicable rules/charges regarding Free Time, Detention and Storage will apply except when cargo is diverted to a port other than that named in this tariff. In this case, carrier will allow a maximum of 10 calendar days free time at Tacoma only. After expiration of free time, applicable detention and storage charges will apply.

Free Time, Detention and Storage - Alaska

Containers consigned to Dutch Harbor, Captain’s Bay or Unalaska will be allowed free time beginning with the first 8 A.M. following the actual arrival date of the vessel (This shall be the first day of free time), and expiring at 8 A.M. on the sixth calendar day following the start of free time. (See Notes 1 and 2) In the event that the container is not returned to Carrier empty or Carrier is not notified that the container is empty and available for loading before the expiration of free time the following detention charge shall apply: $132 per day or fraction thereof.

Containers consigned to Kodiak will be allowed free time beginning with the first 8 A.M. following the actual arrival date of the vessel (This shall be the first day of free time), and expiring at 8 A.M. on the sixth calendar day following the start of free time. (See Notes 1 and 2) In the event that the container is not returned to Carrier empty or Carrier is not notified that the container is empty and available for loading before the expiration of free time the following detention charge shall apply: $74 per day or fraction thereof.

Transit Time

Q: How much time does it take for my move to get from origin to destination?
A: Transit times will vary based on vessel and connecting barge schedules and loading/unloading time.

To Hawaii from West Coast 5 - 7 Days*
To Guam from West Coast 14 Days
To Alaska from Tacoma 4 - 7 Days*
To Micronesia 18 - 27 Days*

* Depending on origin/destination

Booking a Shipment

Q: How much lead-time is necessary to set up a household good move?
A: Depending upon your location, you can book your container to move in 2 business days or less, prior to when container delivery is required.

Q: How and when do I pay for the household good move?
A: Household good moves must be paid prior to the container being tendered to Matson’s port for shipment. You can pay via credit card (Visa, M/C, Discover or American Express) at the load port or via telephone with Customer Service at 1-800-4-MATSON. For Alaska shipments call 1-877-678-SHIP.

Claims

Q: What if my household goods or car is damaged during the move?
A: Claims forms can be submitted online. Alaska Claims forms can be submitted online by clicking here.

Billing

Q: Why did I receive a bill in the mail after I shipped my container and I've already paid?
A: An original bill of lading is generated as soon as your container is physically received at our ports. Matson does not accept any collect shipments. If you paid for your shipment and received an invoice, this is simply a timing issue with posting your funds to your booking information. Please retain your invoice for your records.

Q: Why is my trucking company charging me a Clean Truck Fee for picking up my container in Long Beach?
A: Please note that this is not a Matson fee and is in addition to any quoted or freight bill amounts. Effective April 1, 2022, all containerized cargo moving through the Port of Long Beach will be assessed a Clean Truck Fee of $10.00 for D20 and $20.00 for D40/D45H per container. Private individuals are not permitted to pay the Clean Truck Fee directly and the trucking company you hire to move your container will claim and pay this fee on your behalf. Your containers will not be accepted or released at the Port of Long Beach if your trucking company has not claimed and paid this fee.

Ask Matson, The Container Moving Company - FAQs for Shipping Household Goods By Container