How to Ship LTL freight: Step by Step Guide
There is a lot that goes into shipping LTL freight. From finding a suitable carrier to preparing orders meticulously, careful planning will set your shipments up for success. If you are new to shipping LTL, we have prepared a beginner’s step-by-step guide you can follow.
Step 1: Get a quote
Your shop has received its first order, that’s exciting news! But what now? To begin shipping, start by getting a freight quote.
A freight quote is an estimate of shipping charges based on the information you provided to carriers. There are several ways of getting a freight quote – through a freight broker, an online marketplace, or an independent carrier. Read more on how to get the best quotes.
Step 2: Choose the right specialty carrier
Depending on your product or your service level of choice, make sure you choose a suitable specialty carrier to fulfill your shipping needs. If your product requires special handling, it is best to select the carrier with the most experience in shipping your type of goods. Selecting a suitable carrier reduces your damage rate and the possibility of filing a claim.
Learn more about the difference between Threshold vs. White Glove.
Step 3: Prepare your shipments.
Not properly preparing your shipment is the number one reason for overcharges and damages to occur. Making sure your dimensions are accurate to the freight quote you have requested can help prevent overspending.
There are two primary ways to package LTL shipments – crating or palletizing. Your shipments will be handled several times throughout the shipping process, which is why protecting your packaged goods with crates and pallets will be your safest bet. Place heavier items on the bottom of crates and lighter on the top. For more packing tips, check out these quick tips on how to package LTL freight.
Step 4: Prepare Labels and Bill of Lading
The Bill of Lading is the most important documentation between you and the carrier, stating the shipment's origin where it will arrive. The BOL has more information than a standard shipping label, including weight, piece count, freight class, and special instructions. The BOL should be completed and handed to the carrier at the time of pickup. If you are booking your shipments online or through a broker, a BOL will be given to you to print.
Whether palletized or non-palletized, each carton should also have a shipping label with phone numbers, complete address information, and PRO numbers for tracking purposes.
Lastly, if your freight requires special handling, such as fragile items or tilt sensitive, label them correctly so that carriers are aware when shipping. If the package is not stackable, mark "Do Not Stack" on the box using labels on all sides. Note that this should be mentioned earlier in Step 1 before getting a quote.
Step 5: Schedule a freight pickup date
Once your shipment is ready to be shipped, schedule a pickup date. Note that the pickup date is not necessarily the date the carrier will come and pick it up – this varies by carrier. Depending on location and distance, pickups are planned for a 90-minute window. There is also a general cut-off time, which is a 90-minute window before the dock closes.
Step 6: Track your shipment
The PRO number in step 4 is what will enable the tracking of your packaged goods. It is a 7-9 digit number on a scannable barcode sticker on the shipments. When the carrier first picks up the load, the barcode will be scanned and entered into their online tracking system. Every time the carrier wants to update the tracking status, they scan this code so that shippers can track the status at every exchange point.
Step 7: Manage any outstanding claims or bills.
Accidents happen, especially in logistics. Shipments can arrive damaged or incur fees due to overcharges.
If you are using an online shipping solution like Freight Club, claims management would be submitted on your behalf and communicated to the carrier. Purchasing insurance will increase your chances of a higher claims payout rate and a shorter waiting period.
A freight broker is a middleman. They typically will not intervene with a claim between the shipper and the carrier. When filing a claim, you must provide supporting documents to request the legal amount you have incurred for the damage or loss. There are four elements to filing a claim:
Original Bill of Lading
Paid Freight Bill
Proof of the value of the commodities lost or damaged.
Inspection Reports
Managing claims and overcharges can be a time-consuming process, which is why we recommend working with a team of shipping experts that can help maximize your payout. At Freight Club, we set your shipments up for success by helping you match your SKUs to the most appropriate carrier and provide a complimentary customer service team for when things go wrong. Freight Club also works with UPS Capital insurance to give inclusive insurance quotes, protecting shippers from damage and loss.
Learn more about how to prevent damages on heavy products.
Final Thoughts
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to shipping. You must plan and execute each step according to your shipment's needs. If you have any complex shipping questions, the Freight Club team is always happy to help!