shipping items via freight
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 213
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From: Kernersville, NC
shipping items via freight
I'm looking into shipping some large and heavy car parts (doors, engines, trannys, etc.) and I know that they need to ship freight due to their weight. However, the freight system is so complicating when viewed for the first time I've just walked away frustrated.
I don't mind letting the shipper fill out the freight classification and such, but I am concerned about packaging the parts. I picked up a few pallets from my work that they were going to throw out, so I think that is a good start. Can I just wrap it in plastic and strap it down? Are there any hints or tricks there? All the quotes I'm getting are absolutely exorbitant and I'm pretty sure it's b/c I'm not doing something correct when filling out the quote request. Oh, and I do know that I must drain all fluids(no suprise), or at least that is what I've read thus far.
BTW, Recommendations on companies would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bryan
I don't mind letting the shipper fill out the freight classification and such, but I am concerned about packaging the parts. I picked up a few pallets from my work that they were going to throw out, so I think that is a good start. Can I just wrap it in plastic and strap it down? Are there any hints or tricks there? All the quotes I'm getting are absolutely exorbitant and I'm pretty sure it's b/c I'm not doing something correct when filling out the quote request. Oh, and I do know that I must drain all fluids(no suprise), or at least that is what I've read thus far.
BTW, Recommendations on companies would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bryan
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Iowa Soon Texas
There is alot a veriables in shipping LTL (less than load). There are alot of shippers out there that do that kind of thing, it wont be cheap by any means. As ford390gashog mentioned all heavy stuff ( ie:engines, trannies, ect) will need to be strapped to the pallets and the best thing to do is shrink wrap them REALLY REALLY good, (suran wrap works good for the common joe), and the lighter stuff can go ups, unless you can figure a way to put them on the same pallet.
Some companies go not only by weight but dimesions. Sorry I cant help you more but I am more on the working side rather than the desk and paper work side..
Some companies go not only by weight but dimesions. Sorry I cant help you more but I am more on the working side rather than the desk and paper work side..
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
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From: Brentwood,CA
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
It might be worth your while to pick them up yourself if you are buying the parts, since 300 is a lot of money to ship an engine. You could buy a lot of gas for the much money. And hey, road trips are fun too. lol
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Of course I realize that you're talking bigger stuff than what I'm involved in right now, but I'm buying a pair of GT40p heads out of Southern Ca. Having them shipped to No. Ca. I checked UPS, DHL, FedEx, and the good 'ol USPS. FedEx was by far the cheapest, coming in at 34 bucks. DHL was in the middle, around 54 dollars, the Post Office wanted 40.00. UPS has, in my opinion, just about priced themselvs out of the market. They came in at 87 dollars, that's quite a discrepancy. I ran into this before when I sent a Ranger blower motor to Texas, UPS wanted just over 20 bucks to ship it, the Post Office sent it for 9.00+. But shipping very heavy items truck freight is quite pricey from what I've seen. No real experience there yet, but I'm sure it's coming. -TD
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Kernersville, NC
I like the Greyhound shipping rates, I'll have to keep them in the back of my head. In general, can I just have it palleted and wrapped and then bring it to a loading dock? The rates are pretty steep, but if someone want's to pay the shipping then I'll ship it. We havea loading dock at work and I may be able to get a small break working through those guys, who knows. Roadway,Yellow Frieght, any recommendations there?
Bryan
Bryan
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 213
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From: Kernersville, NC
My rule of thumb is that if it's smaller then a breadbox and less than 10lbs, it goes USPS. Above that FedEx. I shipped 100lbs+ of seats in a Weber Grill box that I could tif in for under $30. UPS wouldn't even take it b/c it was over 75lbs. FedEx takes up to 150lbs and a larger girth (160" vs.140" I think)
Our company was giving employees a shipping discount via UPS this Christmas season, but it was only 10%....still cheaper for me to drive to FedEx and ship there. Somebody has got to pay for that NASCAR sponsorship :-)
Bryan
Our company was giving employees a shipping discount via UPS this Christmas season, but it was only 10%....still cheaper for me to drive to FedEx and ship there. Somebody has got to pay for that NASCAR sponsorship :-)
Bryan
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
I work for a LTL carrier (ABF). Email or PM me and I'll get you some quotes if you would like.
Engines, trannys, etc - need to be on a pallet. Try to take as many hoses, etc, off and shrink wrap it like truckertaz said. Doors and things like that can be shipped, but I would advise building a crate around them to keep them protected. It adds a little more weight, but it is always safer.
Your shipping description depends on the weight, the density, and how it is packaged. Just like an engine - if it is just strapped to a pallet, it normally goes class 85. If you build a crate out of 2x4's (doesn't have to have wall panels), it drops it to a class 70...
I've also had a lot better luck and better service from DHL than the other package companies. The price and transit times have been better.
Engines, trannys, etc - need to be on a pallet. Try to take as many hoses, etc, off and shrink wrap it like truckertaz said. Doors and things like that can be shipped, but I would advise building a crate around them to keep them protected. It adds a little more weight, but it is always safer.
Your shipping description depends on the weight, the density, and how it is packaged. Just like an engine - if it is just strapped to a pallet, it normally goes class 85. If you build a crate out of 2x4's (doesn't have to have wall panels), it drops it to a class 70...
I've also had a lot better luck and better service from DHL than the other package companies. The price and transit times have been better.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 984
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
My advice, dealing with FED EX freight on a daily basis....if you value it at all...don't use them. If it can be crushed, dented, or potentially destroyed past any value or use...they can pull that off easily, which probably denotes their shipping price. UPS is pretty solid. I'd suggest strapping trannies and engines to the pallets as well, and PLEASE drain the oil and coolant out. Greyhound won't likely take a whole engine or transmission, but they will take lighter items. For any body parts, I'd suggest building a crate with a pallet bottom. Make it relatively solid, as it'll likely end up with other freight stacked on top of it, despite do not stack stickers and signs placed on the outside.
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