You’ve got goods to get on the road. In fact, you have a lot of them to get on the road. But you’re not sure whether you’re looking for standard delivery service, or if you’re dealing with a freight situation.
It’s a common misunderstanding that a shipment needs to fill up a tractor-trailer to qualify as freight. Freight can be much smaller than that. A single pallet, an oversized piece of equipment, or several heavy cartons may all move as freight depending on their weight, dimensions, and handling requirements.
What freight shipping really refers to
Freight shipping generally refers to transporting goods that are too large, heavy, numerous, or otherwise impractical to move through a standard parcel network. Freight may travel on a pallet, in a crate, or as a larger individual piece rather than as a typical small package.
Weight is one way carriers separate parcel shipments from freight.
Major parcel carriers generally limit individual packages to 150 pounds for their standard parcel services. A single package or piece above that limit will typically require freight or another specialized shipping service.
But weight isn’t the only factor. A lighter shipment may still be treated as freight if it is oversized, palletized, unusually shaped, or requires equipment to load and unload. That can include anything from a pallet of boxed inventory to a large machine part or several cartons secured together as one shipment.
Once a shipment requires that kind of handling, the transportation setup changes too. Depending on the load and the pickup and delivery locations, freight may need a pallet jack, forklift, liftgate, loading dock, straps, or a larger vehicle to move it safely and efficiently.
Common types of freight shipping
Once you know that a shipment needs freight service, the next question is how it should travel. The right option depends on how much space the load requires, how quickly it needs to arrive, and whether the vehicle will carry other freight along the way.
Full truckload freight
Full truckload, or FTL, service dedicates a truck or trailer to one shipper’s freight. It is commonly used when a load takes up much of the available capacity or when the shipper needs exclusive use of the vehicle because of timing, handling, routing, security, or shipment-size requirements.
Since the freight does not need to be consolidated with other customers’ shipments, full truckload service can also reduce transfers and provide a more direct route between pickup and delivery.
Less-than-truckload freight
Less-than-truckload, or LTL, shipping is used when a shipment needs freight service but does not require an entire trailer. Freight from multiple customers shares the available truck space.
Because those shipments are consolidated, traditional LTL freight may pass through terminals or transfer between trucks before reaching its destination. This can make LTL a practical option when you do not need exclusive use of a vehicle. Expedited and time-specific LTL options may also be available when the shipment has a tighter deadline.
A1 Xpress offers full truckload and smaller-load freight options, including partial truckload and LTL service, as part of its trucking and freight services.
Timing your freight delivery
Freight can also be moved on an expedited or same-day schedule when the delivery is time-sensitive. Instead of waiting for the shipment to be consolidated with other freight or routed through multiple terminals, expedited service may use a dedicated vehicle to move the load more directly from pickup to destination.
The size and weight of the shipment still determine the type of vehicle required. The deadline determines how quickly that vehicle needs to get on the road.
Expedited and same-day service aren’t limited to freight, either. Smaller shipments can also require rush delivery even when they don’t meet the size or handling requirements typically associated with freight.
What information do you need to book freight shipping?
Once you know you’re dealing with freight, the carrier will need a few details to determine the right vehicle, equipment, and service for the shipment.
Before requesting a quote, have the following information ready:
- What you’re shipping: Tell the carrier what the goods are and note any characteristics that may affect how they need to be handled.
- Total weight: Include pallets, crates, and other packaging in the shipment weight.
- Dimensions: Measure the length, width, and height of the freight, especially for oversized or irregular items.
- Pallet or piece count: Let the carrier know how many individual pieces or pallets are moving together.
- Packaging: Specify whether the shipment is palletized, crated, boxed, or traveling as an individual piece of equipment.
- Pickup and delivery locations: Provide the origin and destination so the carrier can determine distance, routing, and service availability.
- Pickup and delivery access: Note loading docks, forklifts, tight entrances, limited parking, or other conditions that may affect the vehicle or loading and unloading method.
- Pickup and delivery timing: Let the carrier know when the freight will be ready, when it needs to arrive, and whether either location has an appointment or restricted receiving hours.
For traditional LTL shipments, the carrier may also need the freight class or enough information about the commodity to determine the appropriate classification.
These details help determine whether the shipment should move by cargo van, box truck, tractor-trailer, or another freight vehicle, as well as whether additional equipment such as a liftgate is needed.
Need to get freight on the road?
You don’t need to determine every transportation detail before you call. Give A1 Xpress the shipment weight, dimensions, packaging, pickup and delivery locations, and timing requirements, and our team can help determine the right vehicle and service for the load.
Call 732-431-9112 to discuss your shipment and get a quote.