$800-$900 plus US inland freight , clearance fees , airport charges , Doc's etc , GST .
If you get it less the $1500 your doing ok.

I've done it heaps of times .

 

U are definately correct, 44 machines in a 40 footer are unboxed 2nd hand dmds excl pin2000 from Europe, with maybe a few more projects crammed in. 
Yes, u would get more in a container if u packed to the roof with Stern boxed machines. With those amounts, I would think it would make it cheaper with more pins in a container. I spoke to a company in the USA today about freight generally, and the prices have levelled out with a slowing transport market. Oil prices are up, but seafreight companies have slowed the fella was telling me, as well as 3/4 full planes only, making prices more competitive.
    Airfreight on standby rates (sits there for 3 or 4 days til a unused opening becomes avail) can be had for $800 to $900. Depends who u use, so many variants/different companies/where the machines are etc.

*I try to buy USA machines from L.A cause its so close to the seafreight terminal, saving $400 to $500 from Central USA inland truck shipping..

Look forward to the photos. Thankyou for sharing. That would be a fun day at Joe's place 4 sure.