How do you know how to ship freight vs. parcel? It’s not uncommon for shippers to mistakenly believe they should send one way when shipping another would be more efficient. Well, freight shipping involves large quantities of goods. Whenever you think of “cargo” or “pallets,” you’re probably thinking of freight. At the same time, shipping parcels lean more toward small shipments in single packages.
How to Ship Freight vs. Parcel
Is your shipment:
– Over 150 pounds?
– More than 108 inches in length?
– More than 165 inches in both length and girth combined?
If you answered yes to all those questions, congrats! You’re shipping freight.
Suppose you answered no to all those questions; congrats! You’re shipping parcel.
Packages heavier than 70 pounds but lighter than 150 pounds can be either freight or parcel. If you are shipping large enough amounts of goods to the exact location, you could package them on pallets and ship them via freight; instead of sending parcels in separate shipments, which costs more money, shipping them all together as freight is best.
How to Calculate Girth
While determining if you are shipping freight or parcel, you will need to know the dimensional length around the package. Girth is the distance around the thickest part of the package. It is measured in inches to help decide how it will fit onto a truck. When calculating girth, measure the two of the least lengthy dimensions of the package and multiply that number by two. (These sides are usually the height and width of the box). After you get the dimensions, add the doubled length and girth to see if the total is over or under 165 inches. The following is the formula to find the girth of a package. 1 x length + 2 x width + 2 x height.
Ready to Get a Freight Shipping Quote?
Ready to ship? Our shipping experts guide you through the process one step at a time. While we are all about educating our customers on the ins and outs of shipping, remember that you always have a team of freight shipping experts ready to help and answer any questions.
FreightCenter’s team of freight specialists makes it easy to find the best way to ship your item. If you’re ready to ship, you have options. Get an online quote or work with one of our shipping experts at 800.716.7608
