Freight Cost

FreightCenter makes calculating shipping rates quick and easy with our instant freight quote form. If you have questions about how you can book low-cost freight, please get in touch with one of our knowledgeable freight agents. A frequently asked question is, “How much does freight shipping cost?” Below are the variables to consider when defining or calculating actual freight costs. Using our freight cost calculator, you will access all major freight companies and their shipping costs.

• The shipping cost is dependent on a few variables:
• The mode of transportation (TL vs. LTL, Air vs. Ocean)
• Freight class (set class vs. density)
• Delivery time (standard vs. Guaranteed)
• Packaging (pallet vs. crate vs. boxed,
• Destination specifications (business vs. residential)

 

By definition, freight shipping cost includes the price of fuel, mileage, capacity requirements, and any other equipment or services (like White Glove) you need to complete the shipment. Below are a few freight cost estimates to give you a general idea of how much it costs to ship specific items. The prices below do not reflect actual costs but are representations of shipments previously booked by a FreightCenter customer.

Determining Freight Class To Find Freight Cost

Freight costs vary depending on freight class. Your freight class is determined by its National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) number. It is determined based on various factors, including ease of handling, value, weight, length, height, density, and liability. Your freight class to calculate the shipping cost to get the most accurate freight cost estimate. There are 18 different freight classes. The lowest class is Class 50, and the highest is Class 500. Freight classes are influenced by the load’s density, storability, handling, and liability. The higher the freight class, the more expensive the shipping cost. It is common for a Class 100 item to cost half the price to ship as a Class 200 item.

Need to know your freight class? Use our handy freight density calculator to provide a number based on the dimensions and weight of your packaged freight.

Does FreightCenter Use Freight Classes To Determine Freight Costs?

Yes, that’s correct. FreightCenter uses the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system to determine your shipment’s freight class, which is used to calculate the shipping cost. The NMFC assigns a class to your cargo based on density, stowability, handling, and liability. The freight class helps carriers determine how much space their shipment will occupy in their truck and how difficult it will be to handle.

Once the freight class is determined, FreightCenter can provide various shipping options from different carriers based on your specific needs, including transit time, service level, and cost. You can compare rates and services side-by-side to find the best option for your business. FreightCenter also offers access to discounted rates and provides expert guidance and support throughout shipping to ensure your shipment arrives on time and in good condition.

By using the freight class system, FreightCenter can provide a more accurate estimate of the shipping cost for your shipment and help you avoid unexpected charges or delays. Additionally, FreightCenter can help you optimize your shipping strategy by providing insights into your shipping patterns and helping you identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.

Packaging and Shipping Costs

Did you know how well your packaged items could affect freight shipping costs? Factors that determine freight shipping costs are your packages’ dimensions, weight, and distance. With LTL shipments, the more space you take up in a truck, the more expensive your shipping will be. Be efficient when packaging your pallets. Additionally, your packaging can affect your freight class. For instance, look at the expense of shipping a sofa. An assembled sofa will cost more to ship than a disassembled sofa. This increase in shipping costs compensates for the space it will take up in the trailer. Because of this, shipping disassembled items can result in a 20-50% savings over shipping assembled items.

Freight Costs Associated With Transporting Goods.

Packaging costs refer to the expenses associated with preparing your goods for transport, including packaging materials such as boxes, crates, pallets, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other materials. Depending on the nature of the goods being shipped, you may need to invest in specialized packaging materials, such as temperature-controlled containers or hazardous materials containers, which can significantly increase the cost of packaging.

Shipping costs refer to transporting your goods from one location to another. This includes the cost of the Carrier, fuel surcharges, accessorial charges, and other fees associated with the shipment’s movement. The shipping cost is typically determined based on the weight and size of the shipment, the mode of transportation, the distance traveled, and other factors that may impact the cost of the shipment.

It’s important to factor in packaging and shipping costs when determining the total cost of shipping your goods. While packaging costs may seem like a relatively small expense compared to the shipping cost, they can add up quickly, especially if you’re shipping a large volume of goods or require specialized packaging. By carefully managing your packaging and shipping costs, you can optimize your shipping strategy and reduce overall transportation costs.

Accessorial Costs: An accessorial charge is a fee added to a shipper’s freight invoice for services the motor freight carrier performed beyond the standard pickup and delivery. The additional charges cover a wide variety of services outside the line haul charge and fuel surcharge connected with the transportation of goods. Below are some accessorial freight costs.

Liftgate Costs: Not all trucks are equipped with liftgates. You will need to specify before pickup or delivery if you require one. Commercial trucks are designed to load and unload onto loading docks. Trucks going to addresses with no loading dock area will require a liftgate. A liftgate is a hydraulic platform on the back of a truck. The liftgate raises or lowers a shipment to and from the ground.

Redelivery Costs: If the receiver rejects the shipment, a carrier may need to redeliver an order. Redelivery can also occur if the necessary equipment isn’t on-site. Redelivery is one of the priciest accessorial fees because it requires the Carrier to redo the job and miss out on other income.

Layover Costs: A charge will apply if the truck cannot be unloaded/loaded during its slated delivery day.

Reclassification and Reweigh Costs: Factors that determine LTL base rates are weight, dimension, and classification. Dimensions, weight, and class all impact how a truck is loaded. Accurate shipment details are the best way to avoid unexpected shipping costs. The freight carrier will reclassify or reweight your order if these details need to be corrected or provided.

Advance Notification Costs: This fee applies if a carrier needs to notify a consignee before making a delivery.

Limited Access Costs: Places with limited access, either by permission or hours of services, may charge this fee. For example, Government facilities, schools, prisons, medical facilities, camps, and nursing homes have limited access.

Lumper OR Driver Load/Unload Costs: Unloading a vehicle is outside the requirements of a carrier. A fee applies if the driver must load or unload the freight. Distributors pass these charges on to shippers as a “lumper” fee.

Residential Costs: Carriers charge an added fee for delivery into a residential area, much different from a commercial office or warehouse.

Inside Delivery Costs: Inside delivery costs are fees to bring a shipment into a house. The inside delivery fees often cover equipment (such as a pallet jack to lift the pallet curbs and stairs), extra time, and, sometimes, a different workforce.

Metro Pickup/Delivery Costs: Congested cities with parking limitations can be challenging to navigate ads with additional costs.

Fuel Surcharge Costs: A surcharge is charged according to the current price of fuel.

Oversized/Overlength Costs: Carriers must specially configure loads to accommodate. When an order takes up more space than a pallet, it costs additional to transport.

Sort/Seg Costs: There is an additional cost If a driver is required to break up an order and move the product from one pallet to another.

Hazardous Materials Costs: The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that Hazardous Materials (HazMat) are adequately documented during transport. This includes extra paperwork and risk, to which the carrier adds accessorial costs.

After-hour Deliveries Costs: Going to a facility outside of regular operating hours can cost extra.

Truck Ordered Not Used (TONU) Costs: The Carrier will have a clause allowing for a TONU. There is only a charge if the truck is canceled after a pre-established cut-off time.

Diversion Miles Costs: Diversion costs will occur if the Carrier is told to drive to a different location upon arrival at a shipper or receiver.

Additional Stops Costs: These charges typically occur when a shipment has two or more destinations, requiring a driver to make several stops.

Detention Costs: Detention charges may apply if a carrier is delayed at a shipper/receiver.

Delivery Time Costs: Logistics are carefully managed to ship your LTL or truckload shipment nationwide. The ground shipping delivery time can be booked as guaranteed or estimated, depending on which option you choose for your shipment. Unfortunately, we can’t always predict natural disasters, road collisions or blocks, or even driver illness. Thus, delivering an exact date for your delivery will only sometimes be accurate. However, we offer guaranteed shipping for those willing to pay extra shipping costs to ensure their freight shipment arrives on time. With guaranteed shipping, should an instance occur, your shipment will move to the front of the line in order of importance.

Destination Specifications Costs: Specifications at your destination can also affect shipping costs. Requesting a call before delivery, ordering inside delivery, or delivering to a limited-access location can increase your shipping cost. Here is a list of limited access delivery locations: storage units, churches, schools, commercial establishments not open to the public, construction sites, farms, fairs, or carnivals.

Freight Cost FAQs