Ebay Freight Shipping

Identifying “Freight” Packages

Without getting into numbers, the rule of thumb is that if the item is too large or too heavy to be lifted and carried by the average adult without serious trouble, it’s probably a freight package.

In practice, the standards at the “big three” carriers (UPS, USPS, FedEx) for classifying a package as freight when shipping via their most basic service are as follows:​

United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Requirements

Larger than 130 inches combined length and girth (measurement around the outside of the box plus the size of its longest side in the other direction) and heavier than 70 pounds.

United Parcel Service (UPS) Shipping Requirements

Larger than 165 inches in combined length and girth and heavier than 150 pounds.

Federal Express parcel(FedEx) Shipping Requirements

Larger than 165 inches in combined length and girth and heavier than 150 pounds.

Many household and furniture items (chairs, desks, etc.), as well as a variety of auto and truck parts and industrial tools and equipment, will run afoul of these standards and thus be classified as freight shipments.

Be sure to state very clearly the necessity for freight shipping arrangements in any auction involving items that will have to be shipped freight and to make clear who will be responsible for making such arrangements.

Packaging for eBay Freight Shipments

• After you put your item in a box or crate make sure the item can be picked up by a forklift.
• This is often best done by placing the item on a shipping pallet.
• If your item is not boxed or crated and is simply sitting on a pallet make sure you wrap your item in plastic wrap to prevent it from getting damaged due to the elements and also from the dirt and grease from the freight terminal and other warehouse messes.
• Protect the sides in thick styrofoam or reinforced cardboard, or even wooden crating if necessary.
• Just like you would label a parcel shipment, make sure you label your freight shipment. This ensures that if the shipping paperwork gets separated from your item, the carrier still knows where to deliver the load to.

Note that in many cases freight shippers will refuse to accept items that they feel won’t survive the crush of the hydraulic lift or the arms of a forklift.

If this is the case, don’t get angry—simply do a better job packing. They’re working to protect your item and transaction!

Making Your eBay Freight Shipment Arrangements

If you want to save money on shipping your eBay item, you can attempt to organize your own freight shipment through FreightCenter.com directly.