International shipping can be a tricky thing. Whether you are moving to another country, or simply need to send a package to friends, family or business associates in another nation, youll need to know a bit more about shipping to Russia and other nations. Shipping internationally is very different from domestic shipping, so you need to be armed with quality information before choosing any logistics company.

First, you need to make sure that the company with which you intend to do business has experience shipping to Russia or other nations from the US. In fact, the more experience the company has, the better your results will be. Why is experience such a significant factor? With experience in the shipping industry comes expertise at navigating these sometimes murky waters. Customs, tariffs, transit time from the main shipping hub to your destination within Russia and many other factors will play an important role in the process. Choose a company with experience in these areas.

You should also consider the companys fees and surcharges. While shipping to Russia is certainly more costly than domestic shipping within the US, you will find a wide range of fee structures out there. Before you choose a company offering rock-bottom pricing, you need to consider whether or not they are the best option for your needs. Often, incredibly low prices are simply due to a lack of experience, expertise or because of subpar services. Of course, you dont need to choose the most expensive shipping company either. Look for some middle ground in the industry in terms of pricing, but be prepared to pay a bit extra if you need expedited shipping.

If you need shipping to Russia, you should also know whether the company is willing to deal with only full container loads (FCL) or can work with you on less than a container load (LCL). These are important distinctions. As your shipment will most likely be going by sea, you need to know whether or not the company can help you if you do not have a full container load to ship. Some international shipping companies do not deal with anything less than a full container, which may not apply to you.

Finally, you need to know what form of shipping the company will use once the ship has docked in Russia. Will your shipment go by rail to another hub, or will it travel by air? These are important considerations and you must know the answers prior to making a decision regarding your shipping needs.