This article walks you step by step through preparing, dismantling, wrapping and crating these items to Canadian customs (CBSA) standards so they arrive intact.

Step 1: Remove moving and sharp parts

Whether it’s a medium-sized model or a larger version, a mini cyclo or rickshaw has parts that bend easily under pressure in an aircraft hold. Before packing, do the following:

• Remove the wheels and handlebars: If they are held on with screws, take off the wheels and handlebars. This makes the parcel smaller and saves on shipping.
• Bag the small parts: Put all screws, washers and small chains in a sealed zip bag and tape it to the frame so nothing gets lost.
• Secure moving parts: For parts that can’t be removed, such as a fabric or plastic canopy or pedals, use cable ties to fasten them tightly to the frame so they can’t move freely in transit.

Step 2: Wrap in PE film and bubble wrap against scratches

The frame is usually powder-coated or lacquered. If it rubs directly against the carton or a wooden crate, the finish will scratch immediately and the decoration will lose its appeal.

• First layer – PE film: Wrap 2–3 layers of PE stretch film around the whole frame, especially the sharp corners and welds. This protects the finish from dust and damp.
• Second layer – bubble wrap: Wrap sensitive parts such as wheel spokes, leather seats and handles thickly in bubble wrap. Tape the edges firmly with wide tape.
• Third layer – corner foam: On the sharp points of the cyclo (such as the mudguard tips or footrests), add thick foam blocks or foam corners so they can’t pierce the carton.

Step 3: Crate it, and the important plant health rules

Because decorative cyclos and rickshaws aren’t box-shaped, an ordinary carton is easily crushed when stacked. The safest option is a wooden crate or a pallet.

However, Canada’s plant health authorities very strictly control imported wood products to keep out foreign pests. Follow these rules:

• Crate materials: Never use raw, untreated natural wood for the crate frame or padding. Use plywood or pressed wood instead. These have been heat- and chemically treated, so they are exempt from quarantine in Canada.
• Treating natural wood: If you must use pine or other natural wood for the crate, it must be fumigated and stamped to ISPM 15 standards (with a clear IPPC mark on the wood). Without this mark, Canadian customs will refuse clearance and require the goods to be destroyed or returned, at great cost.

Step 4: Measure the parcel and calculate the cost

When shipping to Canada by air, the charge is based on the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is greater. The standard international air freight formula is:

Volumetric weight (kg) = (Length x Width x Height) / 5000 (in cm).

Decorative cyclos are usually light but take up a lot of space. Dismantling them neatly in Step 1 greatly reduces the width and height of the crate, saving you anywhere from tens to hundreds of dollars in shipping.

Soleil Transportation offers door-to-door air shipping to Canada from $16/kg (import duties included). Average transit time from Vietnam to Canada is 7–14 business days.

Mistakes to avoid when shipping handmade decorations to Canada

• Not filling the gaps: Many people put the cyclo in a crate without foam around it. When the plane shakes or the crate is handled, the cyclo knocks against the wooden sides and breaks.
• Declaring the wrong value: Declaring a value far below the real value of a handicraft can make customs hold the goods and ask for the actual purchase invoice.
• Missing recipient details: Make sure the recipient’s phone number in Canada works so the driver can contact them for door-to-door delivery.

Before packing, photograph the cyclo with its three dimensions and send them to Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com. Our team at the Mississauga warehouse (2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario) will advise you on the best way to crate it and give you an accurate all-in quote.