Welcome to Part Two in our three part series for new and first-time shippers.
Part Two: Price and Preparation
LTL or “less than truckload” freight prices are determined by the weight, distance, and freight class of the shipment. Additionally, there are extra charges for accessorial services; the most common of these for one-time shippers are residential pick-up or delivery and liftgate truck service.
Tip: Avoid accessorial charges by delivering to a shipping terminal instead of a residence.
To prepare your shipment for pick-up, make sure that your item is packaged properly. Improperly packaged goods may not be accepted, which means you’ll need to spend time fixing the packaging and rescheduling the shipment.
LTL freight pick-ups are usually scheduled for a window of two or more hours. When you are ready for pick-up, make sure you have your Bill of Lading ready. Don’t forget to print it out!
Do you have a question about freight shipping? Tweet it and we may include it in next week’s post! @FreightDiscount
Welcome to Part One in our three part series for new and first-time shippers. Whether you’re a one-time shipper or you just ship very rarely, this series will address your questions about freight shipping quotes, costs, and procedures.
Part One: How Do I Get a Freight Quote?
Getting a shipping quote is simple once you’ve gathered the basic information about your shipment. You will need the origin and destination zip codes, the weight, and the dimensions. You’ll also want to find out if both locations have a loading dock or forklift. If they do not, you’ll probably need a liftgate truck.
Tip: If you’re returning a large item to a manufacturer and you can’t find the weight, check your original order and see if it’s included on the invoice, the packing slip, or the product page on the website.
Once you’ve gathered this information, you can get a quote a number of ways:
Call. You can reach a sales representative at ShippingDiscounts.com via phone.
Instant Quote. Enter your details with our email quote feature.
Chat. Try our livechat feature! Go to our homepage and click Live Chat.
Do you have a question about freight shipping? Tweet it and we may include it in next week’s post! @FreightDiscount
When moving furniture, shipping your items as freight will more than likely be the most cost effective. While this is great news, there are some things to keep in mind before deciding to place your furniture on a semitrailer.
- Shipping furniture as freight is usually curb-to-curb service. Inside pickup and delivery cannot be expected, and the driver may only load and unload on and off the truck.
- While in transit, your furniture may be taken on and off multiple trailers in multiple locations. This is the nature of LTL freight.
- And because of the consistent movement of LTL freight, your furniture needs to be cushioned or packaged to the best of your ability. Your furniture being shipped as freight will be exposed to heavy moving and rearranging.
- EHow’s article on How to Ship Furniture Cross Country states that preparing for pickup is important. Make sure your furniture is easily accessible for a driver to load. There needs to be enough room for the truck and a possible lift gate to operate.
If you are considering shipping furniture as freight, contact us today. ShippingDiscounts.com can assist you with finding the best rate for shipping your furniture.
Today’s shipping uses online tools to get fast, efficient results for you and your business. But did you ever wonder what shipping looked like before the Internet? Here are some images from the history of shipping, courtesy of the New York Public Library and the Field Museum Library. Click on each picture to see more information.
