How to Ship Large Items
When it comes to shipping larger items, most people get confused. Follow these guidelines for easy and cost-effective ways to have your items shipped.
- Nov 08 2021
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Shipment of items fits generally fits into two main categories, namely parcel, and freight. Parcel shipment refers to items that can fit in small packages.
Large items are classified as freight as they cannot fit into standard packages that people send through the mail. An item fits into the freight shipment category if:
It weighs over 150 lbs
The length exceeds 108 inches
The girth exceeds 165 inches
Freight shipping of an item can be through ground, ocean, rail, or air. Shipping large items is more complicated because of strict size and weight limits considering that they affect the price. Businesses or homeowners have a choice of these packaging options when preparing items for shipping.
Courier Shipping
Courier shipping is a premium service that collects and delivers items within the shortest time frame possible. Many shipping companies provide the service that many people associate with smaller items, but they also accept large packages at an additional charge.
Courier shipping has options for express delivery and packing services at a fee. Those who choose courier shipping should know about dimensional weight before any engagement. The price to ship large items depends on the weight and the space they occupy.
Dimensional weight accurately reflects the amount of space a shipment takes alongside actual weight (density). The method to calculate dimensional weight is to calculate cubic size.
L x W x H = cubic size
The next step is to divide cubic size by a specific dimensional weight divisor by a shipping service to determine the accurate dimensional weight.
Courier shipping is a good choice for shipping sensitive boxes or merchandise to customers.
Peer-to-Peer or Rideshare Shipping
Rideshare shipping is a collaboration whereby a person with large items gets transportation service from a shipping partner traveling in the same direction as the cargo.
Connection with shipping partners starts by visiting a reliable online marketplace to post a shipment. The posting should include data like:
Accurate weight and dimensions
Date and location of pickup and delivery
Any other relevant details such as fragility or specific delivery requirements
Potential partners like large logistics companies, single truck owners, or road tippers bid on the shipment with offers. Owners of large items vet the options, ask questions that help rate reliability, and negotiate shipping rates. It is essential to review customer feedback, transport, and safety history.
Shipping cost varies depending on distance, shipment size, number of boxes, and level of involvement required from a shipping partner.
Consolidated Freight Shipping
Consolidated freight is to ship large items in boxes that share space on a truck, train, airplane, or ship with other items on transport to the same direction. Licensed and insured companies provide consolidated freight shipping. The best freight providers have specialist provisions to meet transportation needs, including:
Temperature control
Loading and unloading fragile items by hand instead of a forklift
Packing and other add-on services to ensure large things are packed properly
Consolidated freight usually has these two levels.
LTL/Economy: LTL service customers pack their boxes, assist with loading and unloading. The price depends on the weight and quantity of boxes. Lower cost and faster delivery make LTL service an ideal shipping option for items that are not expensive and highly fragile. It also suits shipments of over 15 boxes as they can be packed onto one pallet. Pallet shipping increases security and convenience when unloading because boxes are kept together throughout the journey.
White-Glove: White Glove service is a shipping service with add-ons. It includes pickup and delivery at the door. It is ideal for packages containing valuable and fragile items since freighters do not use heavy machinery to move boxes. The high level of care makes the service more expensive than LTL, and the delivery timeframe is longer.
Automobile Shipments
Transporting a car can be by open or enclosed shipping. Open shipping is cheaper and suits budget drivers but exposes the vehicle to the elements of the road and weather. Enclosed shipping covers a car for protection from the elements but is more expensive because it is considered a service for classic and luxury car owners. There is also an option for single-car shipping whereby one vehicle is shipped alone, usually in an enclosed container.
The drop-off point is another crucial choice for car shipping. The price of terminal-to-terminal shipping is lower. However, it can be inconvenient if the destination is far from the terminals where a shipping company loads and offloads auto-shipments. Door-door shipping is more suitable for those far from a terminal location or moving to a new home because drop-off will be close.
It is vital to remove personal items from vehicles for safer storage at another position. Clients and their car carriers should inspect vehicles before shipping. It enables to prevent of disagreements and helps in the determination of compensation if damage occurs during transportation.
Many providers of shipping services are careful, but accidental damage or loss might occur. Shipping insurance should be a part of the essential things to acquire when planning to ship large items. Insurance mitigates the risk and cost of replacing a product.
