FREIGHT SHIPPING

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Shipping heavy and oversized items used to be such a pain. Carriers would overpromise and underdeliver. Shipping brokers would constantly give you the runaround and refuse to present you with an accurate quote. Now there's a better way to do freight shipping. With just a few quick clicks, Freight Buddy gives you an instant rate quote that we will stand behind 100%. What are you waiting for? Grab your free freight shipping quote today.

WHAT IS FREIGHT SHIPPING?

Perhaps we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. In the shipping industry, freight is generally defined as any goods transported in bulk. Also referred to as cargo, freight is typically packaged and loaded onto pallets or crates before being picked up by the carrier. Freight shipping is the physical process of hauling these goods by land, sea, and air. Most often this is accomplished using large, specially designed trucks, trains, ships, and planes. Freight carriers may even offer several different options for shipping, such as full truckload (FTL), less than truckload (LTL), intermodal, and expedited freight services.

HOW MUCH DOES FREIGHT SHIPPING COST?

The cost of shipping freight can depend on many different factors. Fortunately, there is a standardized classification system in place for LTL shipping known as freight class. A freight class is assigned to every shipment and ensures that customers receive an unbiased price when shipping their goods, regardless of the carrier. There are four main aspects that serve to determine a shipment’s freight class:

• Density—Also known as pounds per cubic foot, this is the amount of space required for an item. In general, bulkier items cost more to ship than compact ones.
• Stowability—How well does your freight get along with others? If your item is crated or boxed it can usually be stacked, which will save you money. If it’s flammable or hazardous, it can’t be shipped with certain other items, which can cost you more.
• Ease of handling—How much extra care does your item require? If it’s fragile or needs special handling, it’ll fall into a higher freight class. If it’s unwieldy or oversized, the same thing applies.
• Liability—What is the inherent risk your shipment carries with it? Is it especially valuable or more likely to damage other freight? If so, the risk of theft or damage is much greater, which affects the cost.

There are other factors that can determine shipping costs, such as time sensitivity and the mode of transportation being used, however the freight class of the items you are transporting is the biggest single determiner of cost. There are 18 traditional freight classes in total, ranging from 50 (the least expensive) to 500 (the most expensive). Here are some examples of different items and their typical freight class, ranked from lowest to highest cost:

YOU NEED A FRIEND YOU CAN COUNT ON IN THE FREIGHT SHIPPING WORLD

While this may all seem a bit overly complicated, Freight Buddy is here to make it much simpler for you. Use our Freight Class Calculator Tool and we will automatically calculate your freight class for you. All you need to do is select your item’s industry (i.e. clothing, fasteners, etc.) and then enter your item’s length, height, width, and weight. Or, call us at 800.578.6009 and one of our expert customer service representatives will help you through the process every step of the way. Sounds like a good friend to us.