Freight vs. Parcels: Not The Same Thing   by Roland Dudas

in Business    (submitted 2011-04-25)

When in the market for shipping large items, there are a number of possible choices to fulfill your shipping needs. Whether you are a small business owner, the head of a large Fortune 500 company or an individual, understanding the difference in these choices is key to ensuring your package arrives safely and that its shipment doesn’t cost you a small fortune. When shipping by way of LTL freight, there are a couple of different things one can do to keep the price reasonable and to guarantee the safety of the cargo. The first thing to realize is that it takes a little more work to prepare a freight shipment than the usual taping shut of a cardboard box. Crates and barrels are sturdy options, but most items can be wrapped and/or strapped to a pallet. Though this may sound a bit scary at first, it is often the best choice to ship most items.

It's Your Baby (Not Theirs)

Considering the amount of freight that gets moved across the U.S. every day, one might consider spending a little more money on something particularly fragile. Long-haul truckers don't have the time or inclination to treat your shipment like a crate of eggs. Precision foam-molding can be done by companies that specialize in meeting the exact dimensions of the object to be packaged.

Do Your Legwork and Your Homework

The expense might be worthwhile, and can even be offset somewhat if you can manage to get your shipment down to the freight terminal. Depending on where you live, the fee for sending a full size semi-tractor-trailer down your street can often exceed the $50 mark, and could result in the murder your azaleas as well. If you handle your own packaging, you should also have a good idea of the weight and dimensions, which will help you choose the best shipping option.

There are any number of shipping brokers out there who will use LTL software to find - based on weight, measurements and other factors - the best price available. Or you could do all of that legwork yourself. Of course, some people are loyal to well-known companies (such as Con-Way), and wouldn't think of shopping around. In today's economy, such loyalty is rare, but there's a certain wisdom in using an established, reputable shipper even if it means spending a little more. Thankfully, there are websites available that help you shop around for the best price.

About the Author

Roland is not only a small business owner and part-time writer, but at one time, he was also a long distance trucker. He knows how important LTL Software and reliable freight carriers are for any business.