How International Shipping Works
A plain-English explanation of how your household goods travel from your Canadian home to your new US address — from packing day to delivery.
Shipping containers photo
The Four Freight Modes — How Your Goods Travel
GRD
Cross-Border Ground Freight
Your household goods are loaded onto a dedicated truck at your Canadian home and driven across the US border at the appropriate land crossing. The same truck delivers to your US address. No ocean vessel, no port, no transshipment.
Best for: BC→Washington, Ontario→New York, any Canadian city within 1–4 days drive of your US destination.
Transit: 1–7 days depending on origin and destination.
LCL
Ocean Shared Container (LCL)
Your goods are packed and transported to a Canadian port Container Freight Station (CFS), where they share space in an ocean container with other shipments. The container sails to the nearest US port, where your goods are deconsolidated and trucked to your US address.
Best for: Partial homes under 15 CBM. BC→California, BC→Washington (ocean).
Transit: 2–5 weeks total.
FCL
Full Container Load (FCL)
A 20ft or 40ft container is loaded exclusively with your household goods at your Canadian address (or at a nearby depot). The sealed container is transported to a Canadian port and shipped direct to the US destination port — no sharing, no intermediate handling.
Best for: 3+ bedroom homes. Lowest damage risk for large moves.
Transit: 2–5 weeks ocean + inland delivery.
AIR
Air Freight
Your goods are packed, collected, and transported to a Canadian airport freight terminal. Cargo flies to the US destination airport, where it clears US Customs and is delivered by road to your address. Fastest available international freight option.
Best for: Small volumes, high-value personal effects, urgent moves.
Transit: 1–3 business days door to door.
How a Ground Freight Move Works — Step by Step
Ground freight is the most common mode for Canada–USA moves. Here is what happens from booking to delivery.
01
Free Home Survey
Enveo conducts an in-person or video survey of your Canadian home. Volume is assessed, specialty items flagged, and a full all-in quote is provided within 24 hours.
02
Book & Document
You confirm the move date and freight mode. Enveo prepares CBSA export documentation and schedules the packing crew. All documents are reviewed and signed in advance.
03
Packing Day
Our Canadian crew arrives on move day. Every item is professionally packed, wrapped, labelled, and inventoried room by room. Goods are loaded onto the truck.
04
Border Crossing
The truck crosses the Canadian border at the appropriate land crossing. CBSA clears the export declaration. US CBP reviews the import entry filed by Enveo brokers.
01
US Customs Clearance
Enveo US licensed brokers coordinate CBP Form 3299 duty-free clearance at the US port of entry. Most land border clearances complete within 1–4 hours.
02
Inland US Delivery
The truck proceeds to your US delivery address. If a short-term storage hold is needed, goods are warehoused at an Enveo-approved US facility.
03
Delivery & Placement
Our delivery crew places furniture in each room per your instructions. Beds, wardrobes, and flatpack furniture are reassembled. Unpacking service available on request.
04
Move Complete
You confirm delivery and sign off on the inventory. Enveo provides all customs clearance documentation for your records. Your coordinator remains available for any follow-up queries.
Ocean freight vessel photo
How Ocean Freight Works — Port to Port
For moves to US West Coast or East Coast destinations, ocean freight via Port of Vancouver or Port of Montreal is often the most economical option for larger homes.
01
Canadian Home Packing
Goods packed and inventoried at your Canadian home. Loaded into an ocean container or transported to the port CFS for LCL consolidation.
02
CBSA Export Clearance
B13A export declaration filed electronically via CERS. Goods cleared by CBSA at the Port of Vancouver or Port of Montreal.
03
Ocean Transit
Container sails to the US destination port. Vancouver→Seattle: 5–8 days. Vancouver→LA: 8–12 days. Montreal→NY: 5–8 days.
04
US Port Arrival
Container arrives at the US port (Seattle, LA, Newark, Miami, Houston). US CBP clearance coordinated by Enveo brokers — 2–5 business days.
05
Inland US Delivery
Goods trucked from the US port to your home address. Furniture placed room by room and reassembled. Move complete.
Frequently Asked Questions — How International Shipping Works
Item #1
Enveo recommends the right mode after your free home survey. Key factors: your Canadian origin city, US destination, home size (CBM volume), timeline flexibility, and budget. Ground freight suits most Canadian cities within 4 days of their US destination. Ocean LCL suits smaller homes heading to West Coast US ports. Ocean FCL suits large homes on any route. Air suits urgent or small-volume moves.
Item #2
Yes. Split shipments are common when you need a few essential items (clothing, laptop, bedding) to arrive quickly while the bulk of your household goods follows by ground or ocean freight. Enveo coordinates split shipments under a single contract.
Item #3
A CFS is a licensed warehouse facility at or near a seaport where LCL (shared container) shipments are consolidated before loading onto the vessel. Your goods are transported to the CFS, combined with other partial shipments heading to the same destination port, and loaded into one shared container. At the destination port, the container is deconsolidated at a CFS and your goods are separated for delivery.
Ready to Move? Get Your Free Quote Today
Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc. provides free, no-obligation moving quotes from all major Canadian cities to all 50 US states and worldwide. One all-inclusive price — no hidden fees.
Serving Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax and all major Canadian cities.
