How Much is Freight Shipping?
Shipping freight can be expensive! Discover what goes into a shipment's price tag, and why FreightCenter can help you find cost-effective quotes for unbelievable quality and care.
How Much is Freight Shipping?
To put it simply, it depends. Several factors can impact how much freight shipping will amount to. These include:
- The type of freight being shipped
- Its weight and dimensions
- The mode of transportation
- The shipping option you choose
- Distance between pickup and delivery
- Additional services
- Extra fees
Understanding what kinds of shipping expenses to look out for can be beneficial to making final decisions on your quote. Continue reading to learn more about how we calculate your freight’s price tag and how much freight shipping is once receive your final billing.
We provide competitive freight shipping prices and an all-inclusive, easy-to-use shipping experience for our customers. Exceeding our customers’ expectations results in thousands of satisfied customer reviews and repeat business. We believe in the power of our customer relationships. Check out FreightCenter reviews from real customers, and learn what they have to say about their freight shipping experience!
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Why Choose FreightCenter For Cost-Effective Shipping?
Expertise in Freight Shipping: With over 25 years in the logistics industry, FreightCenter is dedicated to guiding you through the entire logistics process, from beginning to end. Our goal is to make freight shipping easy to understand and book. Don’t waste time researching and receiving quotes from individual carriers- FreightCenter’s got your back!
Competitive Rates with Tailored Solutions: We prioritize high-quality customer service without breaking your wallet. We utilize our relationships with regional and national carriers to offer you competitive, affordable rates while providing personalized solutions to your needs. Need a liftgate? We got you! Want to expedite your order? Leave it to us! We’re ready to provide tailored solutions that don’t compromise your freight shipment.
Personalized Customer Support: FreightCenter is committed to satisfying our customers. Our friendly customer support team is here to help you every step of the way, from initial inquiries to post-shipment concerns. We handle all aspects of logistics, including tracking, paperwork, and communication with carriers, so you can focus on your business while we manage your shipment. Choose us for our reliable service and affordable quotes!
Primary Factors Determining Freight Shipping Price
When you get a free freight quote with FreightCenter, you get an estimated rate based on the preliminary information you gave us. However, a lot goes into creating your initial quote and final shipping rate. Let’s dive into what variables affect your freight shipment’s pricing.
Type of Freight
What are you shipping? This seems like a basic question, but it’s also the most important thing to know for freight shipping. Depending on your shipping option, your freight will either be packed with other shipments or take up an entire trailer, so knowing your freight type is imperative to keeping your items safe during transit.
Your freight will be fine if it is sturdy and well-packaged. However, heavy, perishable, valuable, and fragile items are vulnerable to damages or losses during shipping. These items need specialized trailers and services to safely transport them to their destination, which can raise the shipping price tag.
The Shipment’s Dimensions
How heavy is your shipment? How much space does it take up? Is it too tall or too wide to fit properly in a trailer? All of these questions are critical to determining your freight’s price. Very heavy or oversized loads need specialized trailers like flatbeds to accommodate them, while
Your shipment’s dimensions will also determine its freight density, which is how much space a shipment occupies in terms of its weight in pounds per cubic foot (PCF). The higher the PCF, the denser the freight, and vice versa. You can calculate the freight density yourself or a FreightCenter agent can help.
In freight transportation, the freight density is used to classify shipments using the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). This standardized system sorts freight based on density, stowability (how well your shipment fits in the trailer), handling, and liability (fragility). This helps carriers determine price points, charging higher rates for higher classifications.
You can use our Freight Class Lookup Tool to find your estimated freight class or our freight quote tool to get rates from multiple carriers without having a freight class on hand. A FreightCenter agent will verify that the freight class is correct during booking.
Mode of Transporation
How do you want your items transported? There are several transportation vehicles you can choose from, depending on how far your freight is going or where your freight is coming from. The types of transportation for freight include:
- Truck
- Rail/Intermodal
- Air
- Ocean
Each transportation method has additional fees, especially if you use air and ocean shipping for international freight. The most common and cheapest method is by truck. However, each type has pros and cons, and you may not have a choice depending on where your freight is heading.
Type of Shipping
What shipping option will you choose for your freight? There are several ways of shipping your freight you can choose from:
- Full Truckload (FTL): An entire truck is dedicated to a single shipment belonging to the consignor (aka customer). This includes bulk and oversized shipments.
- Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): A shipment shares trailer space with other freight heading towards similar destinations.
- Partial Truckload (PTL): Somewhere between FTL and LTL, this is when a shipment does not need an entire trailer’s worth of space, but the shipment may be too large for regular LTL shipping.
- Other services also apply here, including expedited shipping and heavy haul services.
How you ship your freight will depend on its size and weight. The minimum requirement for a package to be shipped by LTL shipping is 150 lbs, while the minimum for FTL is 15,000 lbs. Small, valuable, and fragile freight can use FTL if necessary.
In general, LTL is the much cheaper option, as you’re only paying for a portion of the trailer, but the other options may not have additional fees you might have to pay for inaccurate weight or insurance.
To create value for our customers by delivering customized shipping solutions that meet their unique needs and to fulfill shipping demands from simple to complex with expertise, guidance and ingenuity.
Trust the experts at FreightCenter to give you the best prices and the most comprehensive options for all your LTL freight shipping needs.
We deliver optimized solutions for full or partial truckloads and competitive dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated freight pricing. We can cover your full truckload shipping needs.
Nationwide Expedited Trucking services move your freight securely and rapidly. Your freight requires fast delivery; our freight shipping experts can get your shipment fast, whether in one large box or a full truckload.
The most reliable Specialized Freight Services rates from all the top carriers are just a few steps away. From white glove service to international shipping, we've got you covered.
Distance to Delivery Point
How long is the route between the pickup point and the delivery point? Carriers look at the distance between the two locations to determine initial rates. The final cost will account for fuel consumption, the number of stops the driver had to make in between, and unexpected issues during transit.
Another consideration is international shipping. In addition to the fees associated with shipping abroad, drivers must also comply with customs rules and regulations. A customs broker is necessary for filing customs paperwork and understanding restrictions and licensing for imported goods. All of this adds up, especially if you are using air freight.
Add-ons and Accessorials
Do you need additional help or assistance? Consignors can also purchase additional services (called accessorials) for their shipment. Some of these services will be necessary depending on the type of freight you’re shipping, while others are great additions that will elevate the experience.
A couple of accessorials you can add to your booking include:
- Liftgates (mandatory for residential areas or businesses without docks)
- White glove services
- Freight Insurance
- Inside Delivery or Pickup
- Hazardous Material Handling
- Storage
- Residential surcharges
- And more!
Extra services provided by the driver may result in additional charges. If these services are required during the shipping process, such as helping to unload or load the trailer, and you haven’t added them beforehand, you may incur unexpected fees.
Additional Fees
What other charges may apply? Carriers may add extra fees during/after shipping. Most of these will be added by the carrier after the shipment is completed, usually because of an issue the driver or shipment encountered during delivery. For example, the driver having to help unload and load deliveries will incur an extra fee.
Another example involves the shipment’s weight. When a shipment arrives at a terminal, they are weighed using a dimensioner machine for consolidation. The dimensioner accurately determines the actual weight of the freight. If the weight measured does not match the initially provided weight, the Bill of Lading (BOL) will be updated accordingly.
FreightCenter Provides Low-Cost Shipping to Our Customers
Multiple variables influence the cost of freight shipping, making it challenging to predict the final price. Planning ahead and understanding the factors that impact shipping costs can help you avoid unexpected charges, make more informed decisions, and manage your budget more effectively.
At FreightCenter, we leverage our extensive expertise and industry connections to provide competitive rates that won’t break the bank. Our tailored solutions and personalized customer support ensure a smooth shipping experience from start to finish, handling all logistics details while providing quality service we’ll never charge extra for.
By choosing FreightCenter, you gain a reliable partner dedicated to optimizing your shipping process and minimizing costs, ensuring your freight arrives safely and on time. Try our free online quote tool or call (800) 716-7608 to get your cost-saving rates today!
More Answers About “How Much is Freight Shipping”:
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Frequently Asked Questions about Freight Shipping Prices
Q. How can I estimate the cost of freight shipping?
That’s what our free quote tool is for! You can look through options from over 50 carriers we’re partnered with by filling out some basic information about your freight. Once you get your initial quote, a FreightCenter agent will contact you for supplemental information. They will provide you with a final quote based on your preferences, which you can use to determine whether it’s within your budget and compared to other freight quotes.
Q. What’s the cheapest way to ship freight?
When considering freight costs without additional factors, shipping low-density freight in boxes (and on a pallet) via rail or road is one of the most cost-effective options. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Your freight may have a higher density, and boxes are susceptible to damage if not properly packaged. Additionally, you may not be aware of extra costs associated with shipping by rail or road unless you conduct thorough research. There are many ways of shipping cheaply; ask your FreightCenter agent for help reducing your freight costs.
Q. How can I lower the cost of freight shipping?
Preparation and negotiation are the keys to lowering rates. Planning your shipment in advance helps you better recognize what services and add-ons benefit your shipment. Depending on your shipping, you can negotiate with your carrier and FreightCenter agent for a lower rate. We have an article covering this question that goes into more detail.
3 Advantages to Using FreightCenter for Low-Cost Freight Shipping
25+ Years of Service
We have over 25 years of experience, as evidenced by our large network of professional carriers. Our knowledgeable team of shipping experts is ready to help you optimize your small business for the intricate world of logistics.
Customizable Shipping Options
Need a liftgate? No problem! Need to ship your products quickly? We’ve got you covered! Our FreightCenter agents can offer you tailored solutions for your specific shipping needs, no matter what kind of small business you are.
Friendly Customer Support
Our customer support team has the answers to many of your shipping questions and concerns. We’re here to help you through every step of the shipping process, from initial inquiries to post-shipment issues.
