Frequently Asked Questions
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Q:How much will it cost to get my shipment to Hawaii?
A: Our FCL (full-container) rates are determined by the container size, weight, and commodity shipped. Our LCL (less-than container) rates for shipping to Hawaii are determined by the weight, cubic feet, and commodity. Our LCL charges are broken down into two parts: overland trucking and ocean shipping.

Overland shipping charges, from any point in the continental USA, are determined primarily by weight, distance, and shipping class (as determined by the NMFTA, but don't worry, UTS can determine your shipping class for you if you don't know it). The higher the weight and shipping class, the higher the charges from a given location.

We calculate ocean shipping charges based on the shipment commodity and the total cubic feet of the shipment. Our rates for especially dense shipments with weights exceeding 45 pounds per cubic foot (density rule) are assesed on the basis of the weight divided by 45. Please note that UTS offers price breaks for high volume (in ecess of 300 c.f.) shipments.

For a detailed quote request, please visit our quote request page to send us your shipment information online. You can also try our new instant online rating tool for a dock to door Hawaii shipping quote. Back to top

Q: How long does it take to get my shipment to Hawaii?
A: Please use the table below to estimate your shipment's transit time from the mainland to Hawaii. Please keep in mind that there are many variables involved in the transportation of goods across the country and on the ocean. The timeline below should only be used to give you a general idea of how long your shipment could take. Back to Top

Departure
Port & Day		 Arrival Port & Approximate
Sailing Time in Days		 Transit time to Carson, CA for
loading to Hawaii & Guam consolidation
Honolulu Kahului
* *		 Nawiliwili
* *		 Kawaihae
* *		 Hilo
* *		 Departure Region West / Southwest Mountain Central Eastern
Long Beach
Sat / Wed		 6 7 / 8 8 / 10 9 10 Approx. Transit Times in days 1 - 2 2 - 4 3 - 5 5 - 6
* * transferred to Neighbor Islands via barge from Honolulu

• All sailing times are approximate and may vary depending on surface conditions on the high seas and local weather conditions on The Islands

• Allow an additional one to two days for truck delivery

 • All overland transit times are approximate and may vary depending on local weather and road conditions
Route Map

Q:Where is your loading facility located?
A: Our receiving facility for the Port of Long Beach is in Carson, California. A map and driving directions to our mainland and Honolulu locations are available here. Back to top

Q: How can I get my car to Hawaii?
A: Sorry, UTS does not ship personal automobiles. The safest and most economical way to ship your car to Hawaii is through a drive- on/drive-off service offered by Matson Navigation Company. Another alternative is a drive-on/drive-off dedicated vessel, the MV Jean Anne, operated by Pasha Hawaii. Back to top

Q: Help! How do I calculate the cubic feet of my cargo?
A: Relax...you can use our Web-based UTS-Cuber2007 tool or read the brief tutorial that follows. Back to top

Calculating the cubic feet (often shortened to "cube" or "cf") of your cargo is easy (and fun!). Measure - in inches - the length (L), width (W), and height (H) of each piece. Then use the formula below to calculate the total cube of all pieces with the same dimensions. Finally, add up the cubic feet for all the pieces to calculate your shipments cube...

(Number of pieces) x L x W x H
                    1728

For example, if your shipment has 1 box measuring 12" x 12" x 12" and 2 crates @ 60" x 30" x 20":

1 x 12 x 12 x 12 = 1728 = 1.0 cubic foot
       1728             1728

2 x 60 x 30 x 20 = 72,000 = 41.7 cubic feet
        1728             1728

Next, add up the total cube of all the pieces:

Total cube for this hypothetical shipment = 1 cf + 41.7 cf = 42.7 cf = 43 cf
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Q: How does freight forwarding work?
A: By using our extensive knowledge and contacts in the transportation industry UTS acts as your agent and arranges all the details of your shipment. In order to handle all the shipping details that we deal with on a regular basis, you'll need a little patience and a lot of time on your hands. First, you will need to find a company who regularly ships to Hawaii. Then, you will need to find a trucking company to get your freight to the shipping company's loading dock near one of the West Coast shipping ports. Finally, you will need to find someone to deliver your shipment in Hawaii. Once your shipment starts moving, you find yourself constantly on the phone coordinating all the pieces of your shipment. You will then find that you need to arrange payment to each company for each leg of your shipment's journey. On top of all that, you'd also find that each of the different companies you utilize will want their payment before they hand-off your freight to the next company.

As a Hawaii/Guam freight forwarder, UTS does all the above work for you. Our long-term business relationship with truckers, carriers, and warehouses allow us to get the best rates and service for you and your customers. You tell us when and where to pick-up the shipment and when and where to deliver it...we do the rest! Back to top

Q: What does your "basic" service provide?
A: Our basic commercial service is "door to door." This means that our truck backs up to a loading dock to pick-up your shipment and the dock employees load the properly packaged freight onto the trailer. Upon delivery, our driver backs the trailer to a dock and the dock employees unload the shipment.

Residential "door to door" service can be thought of as "curb to curb." You meet our truck with your shipment out by the curb (can a tractor with a 53' trailer get to your residence?) and put the shipment onto the back of the trailer (will you need a liftgate for heavy items?). Upon delivery, our driver will move your shipment to the back of the truck for you to unload to the curb (will you need a liftgate for heavy items?). Please note that our drivers are helpful people, but they are not movers and are not paid to handle freight. If you will need help please be prepared to have someone physically capable present or arrange with UTS to make your pick-up or delivery with professional movers. Back to top

Q: What are some service "options"?
A: Dock to Door: instead of "door to door" service, you may consider delivering your shipment to our dock yourself. Delivery is made as described in "basic service" above.

Dock to Dock: similar to "dock to door" above, except, instead of having your freight delivered, you pick-up your freight willcall at our facilities in Hawaii or Guam. Of course, you can mix and match the options described in this F.A.Q. to your satisfaction. Back to top

Q: What are your packaging requirements?
A: Because UTS is a bulk freight forwarder we require that all items shipped in our less-than container load consolidation to be packaged in shipping grade boxes, cartons, or crates. This requirement is for the protection of your shipment as it will be loaded into an ocean container with all kinds of freight from around the country. Back to top

Q: What are your payment terms?
A: UTS requires all first time shipments to be prepaid before delivery is made. Subsequent shipments can be paid on 14 or 21 day credit terms after approval of your company's credit application. Company checks, cashier's checks, or money orders only. No personel checks or credit cards accepted for first time shipments. Back to top

Q: How do I ship a full-container of Household Goods (HHG) to Hawaii?
A: At UTS we want you to get the best deal possible. We are unable to offer a price for full-container loads of HHG lower than you can obtain for yourself through the steamship line, Matson. Check out Matson's HHG information page for more information.

What we can tell you is that shipping a full-container of HHG to Hawaii can be expensive. Expect to pay, up front, at least $4000 or more for a 20 foot container and $6500 or more for a 40 foot container. It is entirely possible that the cost of shipping a full-container of HHG to Hawaii will exceed the value of the HHG. Also, you will have to load the container yourself and, at that, without a ramp - the container floor will be about four feet from ground level. Still, if you're a resourceful do-it-yourself type of person and the cost of replacing your HHG in Hawaii is more than the price of shipping, then, by all means, go for it!

On the other hand, if you cannot afford a full-container, less-than-container load (LCL) shipping might be a good alternative. With LCL shipping, you can choose to ship over only items that you deem essential. Now, the tricky part is, a freight consolidator, cannot ship items that are not properly boxed or crated. Freight consolidators make money by combining all kinds of freight, from all over the country, into one full-container load. Items that are not properly boxed or crated stand a good chance of incurring damage and will not be accepted by any freight forwarder. In fact, if you have an expensive, irreplaceable, or fragile item, you will want to have it professionally crated before you even consider shipping it LCL. Back to top