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Tired of confusing freight logistics? Learn how to ship by freight with this friendly guide on LTL vs. FTL, packaging, and getting the best quotes.
Learning how to ship freight might seem like a huge undertaking, but it's really just a series of simple, logical steps. It all boils down to one thing: giving the carrier a crystal-clear picture of what you're shipping.
If you get the fundamentals right from the beginning, your first shipment—and every one after—will be a whole lot smoother and more affordable.
Let's cut through the noise. Shipping freight isn't as complicated as all the industry jargon makes it sound. At its heart, you're just providing a carrier with the exact details they need to move your stuff from Point A to Point B safely and on time. The entire process hinges on the accuracy of the information you provide upfront.
Think about it like giving a friend directions. If you leave out the street name or get the house number wrong, they're going to get lost or end up at your neighbor's place. It’s the same with freight. If you guess the weight or forget to mention that the delivery address doesn't have a loading dock, you're setting yourself up for delays and, worse, surprise fees.
Getting this right is surprisingly simple. You just need a solid game plan.
Before you can even think about getting a price, you need to know exactly what you're shipping. Carrier pricing is a direct reflection of the space your shipment takes up on the truck and how much it weighs. Accuracy here isn't just a good idea—it's everything.
To help you out, I’ve put together a table of the must-have details. Having this information ready to go before you request a quote is the best way to avoid sticker shock and get the most competitive price.
Having these four pieces of information dialed in is the single most important step in the entire shipping process. It’s the difference between a quote you can count on and a bill full of surprises.
Ready to see how these details translate into a real price?
Alright, you've got your shipment details ironed out. Now for the big question: how should you actually send it? This decision is a huge one because it directly affects your final bill and how fast your stuff gets where it's going. You’re mainly looking at three options: Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Full Truckload (FTL), and intermodal.
LTL is your go-to for smaller shipments—anything that won't fill up a whole truck. I like to think of it as a rideshare for your freight. Your pallets are grouped with others heading in the same general direction, and you only pay for the space you take up. Super cost-effective.
Let’s say you're shipping a couple of pallets from Chicago to Atlanta. LTL is almost certainly going to be your most budget-friendly play. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, you can learn more about what an LTL carrier is and how they make it all work.
Now, if you have a massive shipment that can fill an entire trailer, Full Truckload (FTL) is the way to go. It’s also the best bet for high-value or delicate items. Why? Because your freight is the only thing on the truck, so it's loaded once and unloaded at the destination. No extra stops, no extra handling.
Think about shipping a full order of custom-built furniture. FTL gives you that direct, dedicated service, which means less risk and often a faster transit time.
Then there’s intermodal. This method is a smart mix of different transport types, usually rail and truck, to cover long distances. It's a fantastic, cost-saving option for cross-country shipments that don't need to be there overnight.
Feeling a little stuck? This chart can help you see which option makes sense based on your shipment's weight and how quickly you need it delivered.
As you can see, for smaller loads, it's often a toss-up between cost and speed. But once you hit a certain weight, FTL becomes the obvious choice.
No matter which path you take, trucks and trains are the backbone of moving goods inland. To put it in perspective, U.S. ports dealt with roughly 1.1 billion short tons of domestic freight back in 2022. Every single bit of that cargo had to rely on our road and rail networks to reach its final destination. That’s a lot of freight on the move.
Let's be honest, sloppy packaging is the number one reason shipments show up damaged. How you prepare your freight is your first—and best—line of defense against all the bumps, rattles, and shifts that are just a normal part of transit.
Getting this right isn't just about protecting your goods. It’s also about protecting your wallet from those frustrating, unexpected carrier fees.
Think about it from the carrier's perspective. They price your shipment based on the dimensions you give them. If a box is hanging over the edge of the pallet, it instantly takes up more space than they planned for and can easily get snagged by other freight. This almost always triggers a costly re-weigh and re-class fee, completely wiping out whatever great rate you thought you secured.
In short, proper preparation means the quote you get is actually the price you pay.
Building a solid pallet is a bit of an art, but it's one you can definitely master. Your goal is to create one single, stable, self-contained unit that a forklift can move without anything shifting, wobbling, or falling off. It needs to be rock solid.
Here are a few hands-on tips I've learned over the years for building a secure, shippable pallet:
Pro Tip: Once you think you're done wrapping, give the top boxes a firm push. Does the load wiggle or feel loose? If so, it needs more wrap. A properly secured pallet should feel like a single, unmovable block.
Finally, make sure your shipment is clearly labeled on all sides. This simple step helps the carrier route it correctly and ensures everything goes smoothly once it leaves your dock.
When your shipment needs to cross a border, the game changes completely. Figuring out how to ship freight internationally really comes down to two main choices: by sea or by air. The right one for you will always be a balancing act between your budget, your deadline, and what you’re actually shipping.
For those big, heavy, or non-urgent shipments, ocean freight is the undisputed king of global trade. It’s hands-down the most affordable way to move a lot of stuff, which is why so many industries rely on it. The trade-off, of course, is time—you’ll need to plan ahead for the longer journey.
On the flip side, when you absolutely, positively need it there fast, air freight is worth every penny. This is your go-to for high-value goods, perishable items, or anything on a tight deadline. Imagine you're sending critical parts to keep a factory running; the cost of flying them in is nothing compared to a full production shutdown.
It's not just about cost versus speed. It's about risk. Air freight generally means tighter security and less handling, while ocean is the reliable workhorse for bulk goods where you have more wiggle room on the delivery date.
While ocean freight is the backbone of global commerce, it's not always smooth sailing. In 2024, for instance, global seaborne trade volume growth slowed to just 0.5%. This reflects all the supply chain headaches and global tensions that can throw a wrench into shipping routes and pricing.
For any business looking to go global, getting a solid handle on the ins and outs of exporting shipping containers is a crucial first step. It gives you a real-world look at what's involved.
Not sure which international option fits your shipment? Get a clear cost comparison.
Alright, your freight is all wrapped up and ready to go. Now for the moment of truth: booking the shipment and getting it on a truck. This is where we finalize everything, starting with the single most important piece of paper in this whole process—the Bill of Lading, or BOL.
Think of the BOL as the birth certificate and passport for your shipment, all rolled into one. It’s the legal contract between you and the carrier, acting as both a receipt and a document of title. It spells out everything from what you’re shipping to where it’s headed. Getting this document 100% right isn't just a suggestion; it's essential for a headache-free shipment. When you're dealing with freight, mastering document control procedures is a skill that pays for itself by preventing expensive delays and mix-ups.
Once your BOL is filled out and you've hit "confirm" on the booking, the carrier will give you a pickup window. Come pickup day, make sure your freight is staged somewhere the driver can easily access it, like right by the loading dock door or at the front of the garage.
The driver will show up with their own copy of the BOL. Before you let them load a single thing, take a moment to compare your copy with theirs. Do the addresses match? Is the piece count right? A quick double-check here can save you from a major hassle later. Once you're satisfied, sign their copy, hand over the shipment, and you’re set.
As soon as the truck pulls away, the carrier assigns a PRO number to your freight. This little number is your golden ticket for tracking. We've got a whole guide on how to use it effectively right here: freight quote tracking.
Key Takeaway: The PRO number is what gives you, the carrier, and your customer total visibility. You can see exactly where your freight is at any given time, which is invaluable for planning and keeping everyone in the loop.
This kind of tracking isn't just for trucks, either—it’s just as critical for air freight. While air cargo doesn't move the same massive volume as ocean shipping, it's the go-to for anything that needs to get somewhere fast. Interestingly, in 2024, air cargo capacity has started to pull ahead of demand in some markets, leading to a global price drop of around 7%. You can dig into more of these shipping trends on Freightos.com. This makes tracking all the more important, as you'll want to confirm your shipment is actually moving as efficiently as the prices suggest.
Even when you think you have the whole freight process down, questions pop up. It happens to everyone, from seasoned logistics pros to first-time shippers. Let's tackle some of the most common ones we hear every single day.
The main distinction between LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) and FTL (Full Truckload) is all about how much of the truck you're actually using.
Think of LTL as a carpool for your cargo. Your pallets share space on the truck with shipments from other businesses heading in the same general direction. This makes it a fantastic, budget-friendly choice for smaller shipments that don’t take up an entire trailer.
FTL, on the other hand, means you've booked the entire truck for yourself. It's your dedicated ride. This is the way to go for big shipments, delicate or high-value freight, or when you need your goods to go directly from Point A to Point B without any extra stops.
The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the single most important piece of paper in your entire shipment. Seriously. It acts as a legal contract between you and the carrier, serves as a receipt for your goods, and even functions as a document of title.
This document spells out all the crucial details: what's being shipped, where it came from, and where it's going. A flawless BOL is your best protection against billing adjustments, lost freight, and frustrating delays.
Pro Tip: Never let a driver leave your dock without double-checking the BOL for accuracy. A tiny mistake here—like a wrong address or piece count—can snowball into a major headache later on.
The secret to a rock-solid quote? Details, details, details. The more precise information you provide from the start, the less likely you are to see unexpected charges on your final bill.
To get the most accurate price, make sure you have this info ready:
Nailing these details upfront means the quote you get is the price you'll actually pay. No surprises.
