Shipping Overlength Freight
Learn how to navigate the challenges of shipping overlength freight. Discover the differences between overlength and oversize freight, effective handling tips, proper packaging methods, and how partnering with a 3PL like FreightCenter can streamline the process and save you money.
If you sell or ship bulky or oversized items, you know how tricky shipping overlength freight can be. Sifting through different carriers’ size limits, rules, and regulations can be confusing and time-consuming. Overlength issues can be expected when you’re forging and shipping more essential items. But you don’t have to try to figure out overlength matters alone. We’re walking you through common overlength problems and how to handle them so that you can ship adeptly and low-priced.
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What Is Overlength?
Many shippers confuse the differences between overlength freight and oversize freight. Oversize cargo accounts for limits on width, height, and weight. In contrast, overlength is only citing the length of an item. Most carriers have an overlength limit of 8 feet (96 inches). Therefore, you’ll need to pay more if your freight exceeds that size when adequately packaged. Other carriers have overlength limits stretching out to 12 feet (144 inches). Always check with your carrier on their specific overlength limit.
Handling Overlength Freight Issues
People and businesses who ship items such as pipes or lumber will run into overlength scenarios often. One best practice for handling overlength issues is to see if you could shorten the length of your item. For example, are you shipping lumber or pipes? Trimming the size of your freight by sending your item in pieces or halves could remove an overlength issue. You could also try cutting the pipe or lumber at any specific lengths your customer needs. Doing it for them prior helps you manage shipping costs and helps your customer. It makes your customer more likely to continue doing business with you. An additional option is to keep it as is and take advantage of a flatbed trailer.
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LTL shipping involves combining multiple small shipments from different customers onto one truck, allowing each customer to share the shipment cost. Trust the experts at FreightCenter to give you the best prices and the most comprehensive options for all your LTL freight shipping needs.
Truckload shipping, also known as full truckload (FTL), is a transportation option for freight that requires the entire trucks trailer space. Unlike LTL shipping, FTL shipping is reserved for larger commodities that exceed LTL weight and size limits, typically weighing more than 20,000 pounds or having dimensions that exceed 12 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. 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.
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Specialized is a transportation option for items that require specialized handling, equipment, or shipping conditions. Specialized shipments may include high-value cargo, oversized cargo, or cargo that require temperature-controlled transportation. 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.
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