Automobile engines are perhaps the most commonly shipped item we see when quoting LTL freight. Here at ShippingDiscounts.com, we get requests to ship engines every day! Here are our experts’ tips for shipping an engine cheaply and efficiently.

Use a terminal or commercial location. This is cheaper than delivering or picking up directly from a residential area.

Palletize the engine. Since your freight will be moved with a forklift during its travel, this is an essential step. The pallet allows the forklift to slide under the engine to move it on and off the truck. You can also crate your engine for extra protection. Crated engines also ship at a lower freight class, so you may even get a lower rate!

Weigh carefully. If you have access to a scale, it is prudent to weigh your freight, including the pallet or crate weight. This will make it much easier to get an accurate quote. Your freight is not weighed at pick-up; it is weighed at the origin terminal, so it’s best to plan ahead!

Insure high-value engines. Although claims are infrequent, extra insurance is great to have in your “back pocket,” just in case.

Thanks for tuning in, everybody! We’ll be back next week with more great tips for shipping your LTL freight.

Here at ShippingDiscounts.com, our specialty is LTL freight shipping, which is most commonly used by industries that ship pallets of goods. LTL freight can also be useful for shipping bulky items such as machinery, or even for multiple boxes of household goods over 150 pounds. Here are some recent requests our team has fielded about LTL freight shipping:

What does “LTL” stand for? It stands for Less-than Truck Load, meaning that your item does not take up all the space in a truck and can share space with other freight.

Will my item be moved on and off the truck more than once? Yes, your item will be moved through shipping terminals (much like when you change planes in the airport) and will be moved by a forklift. A forklift will easily fit under a standard wooden shipping pallet. That’s why it’s especially important to put your item on a pallet!

Can I ship live animals? No, LTL freight is not appropriate for moving pets or livestock! If you are moving a furry or feathered friend, you will need to contact a specialty service.

Can I ship an item over eight feet tall? No, typically, items this size must be shipped on a flatbed truck.

Some LTL freight items are LTL freight classed based on density. This means that as your LTL freight shipment increases in density, the LTL freight class lowers. This relationship is significant when calculating the cost to ship your LTL freight; a lower LTL freight class could lead to a lower shipping cost. To calculate density, you can use this density calculator.

Almost all aluminum LTL freight is classed based on density. This is because the less dense the aluminum, the more fragile it is. This is true for most freight with a density based LTL freight classes.  The key to shipping density-based items is to pack them as compactly as possible. The more weight you can get into a small area, the lower your freight class will be, potentially lowering your cost.

We have several customers that ship clothing; they make it a point to package their LTL freight shipments as compactly as possible. Based on the density of the clothing shipment, it can be LTL freight classed as low as LTL freight class 77.5 and as high as LTL freight class 100.

If you are wondering how to calculate the density or the LTL freight class of your LTL freight, please contact a ShippingDiscounts.com LTL freight quote specialist.

If you’re shipping freight just a few times a year, you may not know what services you’ll need to get your goods moved cheaply and efficiently. Here are some of the services and assessorials you may require.

Liftgate Service. If you are shipping an item that is too heavy for you to lift on or off the truck, you will need a liftgate. However, if you already have a forklift or a loading dock at your location, this will not be necessary.

Notification. You can request a “notify consignee” service if you would like a call ahead before delivery. This is especially useful if you will be offsite or will need to get a forklift truck ready before the freight arrives. It is also useful if you need to open a gate for the driver before arrival.

Residential Service. If you are shipping to or from a residential location –even if you run a business from your home– you will need to include residential service in your request for a quote.

Service to or from a Shipping Terminal. If you want to avoid paying a residential pick-up or delivery fee, you should consider shipping to or from a shipping terminal, or “hub.” This is an easy way to keep your cost down.

Packaging. If your item is furniture, scientific machinery, or medical equipment, you will need to package your item in a crate. If you are shipping an engine, you will need to strap it to a pallet. Most items are protected best if they have a pallet underneath so the item can be easily moved by a forklift. ShippingDiscounts.com does not provide packaging service, but we can advise you on the best resources if you need help with packaging.