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Subscription-based freight companies and brokers are a thing of the past. Instead, there is an abundance of start-up freight brokerages or even technology that can provide live quotes on demand at any time. Additionally, these new systems often allow users to get rates from multiple carriers simultaneously so they can make more informed decisions with less effort than ever before.
The “freight quote instant” is a website that allows users to search for freight quotes and get them instantly. The site also has information on how to choose the best shipping option, what documents are needed, and more.
Getting a freight quotation entails more than just entering the dimensions and weight of your consignment into a freight carrier’s website. There are many ways to compare carriers to obtain the best deal, but an exact price is dependent on a number of factors.
FreightPros is one of the greatest places to acquire a freight price. As a freight broker, it provides you with quick quotations from verified and certified freight carriers, as well as the assurance that your freight will arrive safely and on schedule. For a quick and free quotation, go to FreightPros.
FreightPros is a great place to start.
In three easy steps, you’ll learn how to receive a freight quote:
1. Determine where you will get a freight quote.
Quoting and transporting freight is simple with the proper shipping partner. To acquire an estimate, you may either go directly to a freight carrier or utilize a freight broker or online exchange service that allows you to compare rates from several carriers. In any event, you want to ensure that you’re receiving a decent bargain and that your cargo is safe.
Options for Freight Providers
Most Brokers of Freight and freight exchanges will supply you with free quotations, so there’s no harm in shopping around to see who will give you the best deal. The four primary categories of freight suppliers are as follows:
For further information, choose a freight supplier from the dropdown menu below:
Choose a Freight Company Brokers of Freight Freight Exchange Online Carriers that operate on a national or regional scale. Expeditors of Freight
Brokers of Freight
If you’re new to shipping freight, using a freight broker is likely your best option. Brokers of Freight are experienced shipping professionals who tap into many carriers to find you the best rate for your shipments.
If you’re a frequent shipper, most Brokers of Freight have excellent websites that let you manage your account, get freight quotes, book carriers, and track freight shipments yourself.
Brokers are willing to help with one-time estimates even if you’re a rare shipper.
Brokers of Freight are a popular choice because their experience and service can save your business time and money. They know the ins and outs of National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) codes, which we’ll explain later on, as well as carrier reliability and the best price and service to fit your shipping needs.
Freight Exchange Online
These freight sites are the technology-driven new kids on the block. Essentially, freight exchanges are online do-it-yourself broker services that bring wholesale carrier prices straight to you. Before freight exchanges, this freight pricing information was typically only available to Brokers of Freight and other industry pros.
Some Freight Exchange Onlines, like uShip, have excellent online reviews. Their modern websites and intuitive online tools walk you through the entire process in just minutes.
Even for first-time shippers, uShip’s user-friendly website makes acquiring a freight quotation simple.
An exchange might be a wonderful approach to receive affordable freight quotations if you have a simple cargo that isn’t time-sensitive.
However, if you have particular handling requirements or are unfamiliar with freight transportation, concerns such as product classification and accessorial costs might be perplexing. A top-rated freight broker can answer all of these inquiries and guarantee a seamless delivery in this instance.
Carriers that operate on a national or regional scale.
There are hundreds of freight carriers across the nation. These include UPS and FedEx, along with names like Central Freight, R&L Carriers, Saia, and many more. Just glance around next time you’re on the freeway, and you’re bound to see a truck from an independent carrier.
Some carriers transport throughout the country, while others focus on a single area. You may negotiate reduced prices directly with a certain carrier if you ship in large quantities along specified routes or within an area.
Expeditors of Freight
Expeditors of Freight are essentially Brokers of Freight that specialize in import and export shipments. They know what’s needed to ship your freight across borders—whether it’s headed to Canada or even overseas.
Freight forwarding—the planning, management, and coordination of the transfer of goods across borders—is a common function they provide.
Large international third-party logistics (3PL) companies specialize in these services, and some Brokers of Freight and independent carriers offer expeditor services, as well. You also can find companies that specialize solely in import/export.
You may acquire air and ocean freight rates from expeditors for any export shipping needs.
Costs of Freight Providers
So, how do the various freight suppliers stack up in terms of price? A example chart of recent quotations from a broker, an exchange, and an independent carrier may be seen below. The prices are based on the same shipment with the following characteristics:
- a 285-pound cargo
- Houston to Los Angeles shipping
- Delivering to a private residence
- When making a delivery, consider using a liftgate.
- Freight is standard.
- 150-student class (contains furniture such as bookcases)
- Estimated transit time: 3+ days
Don’t be afraid to compare estimates from several shipping companies. Requesting multiple freight estimates for one or all of your shipments is free. This is an excellent negotiation tool for keeping expenses down and ensuring competitive pricing.
In addition to saving you money, a good freight broker should also offer assurance that your freight will be delivered safely and on time. FreightPros’ robust technology provides your team with freight pickup times, shipment tracking, GPS truck tracking, easy freight quotes, and more. FreightPros is a great place to start. for a free quote.
FreightPros is a great place to start.
2. Gather all of your shipping information.
You’ll need to supply precise information about your cargo now that you know where to acquire a freight estimate. The most essential thing to remember in this situation is to be precise! You may wind up paying more than you should if you enter inaccurate weight, size, or shipping information.
Here are the details that shipping companies will require to provide you with an accurate quote:
Type of Handling Unit
The packing materials and the items included in (or on) a shipment make up the handling unit. To adequately analyze cost, carriers must know what sort of packing they will be shipping.
Pallets are the most frequent handling unit, although additional options include boxes, crates, barrels, and reels.
The handling unit of a material is defined as “loose” if it is supplied without packing, which is occasionally the case with big industrial products or components.
Wrapped pallets (left), wood boxes (middle), and corrugated containers are often used in freight shipments (right). (Image courtesy of Global Industries)
Goods Description or Classification
When getting a freight quotation, it’s critical to properly explain the products you’re sending, since this has a significant influence on the freight price. In fact, if your shipment isn’t specified accurately, you can get an inaccurate freight quotation and end up with upcharges on your final payment after it’s dispatched.
What is the reason behind this?
NMFC codes are used to identify every sort of freight shipment. The premise is that some commodities are simpler, less delicate, and safer to transport than others, resulting in lower shipping costs.
Even experienced shippers may find NMFC code allocations to be random, making this a difficult region to navigate. But it counts because your freight class is determined by these numbers, as well as the size and weight of your item.
Freight classification is a complicated system based on commodities, density, handling, stowability, and liability—but all you actually need to know to acquire a freight quotation is this:
- The numbering of freight classes ranges from 50 to 500.
- The lower the class, the less you’ll pay for shipping.
- The goods you’re shipping can determine the class, as determined by the NMFC code.
- A density-based class is one that is dependent on the size and weight of the cargo.
- Your shipping partner can assist you in determining how to classify your freight.
If you don’t know the freight classification of your products, your broker or carrier may nevertheless provide you a price based on the physical characteristics of the cargo and a description of its contents.
Weight of the shipment
This amount is simple to calculate whether you’re sending boxed products on a pallet or bagged goods in a container. Simply weigh each item separately and add up the total weights; a shipping or postal scale will suffice.
Remember to include in the weight of your pallet or freight container when calculating your total! The weight of crates and other containers might vary, thus a good rule of thumb for pallet weight is 40 lbs. If feasible, weigh crates—or, if you’re building them yourself, weigh individual components before putting them together.
A freight shipment’s weight includes both commodities and packing materials. (Image courtesy of Global Industries)
Simply combine the weights of each packed item together if you’re delivering a multi-piece freight consignment, as shown below:
(Image courtesy of Global Industries)
Dimensions of the shipment
This value is simple to discover if you’re sending an enclosed crate. Simply measure your crate’s length, breadth, and height.
It’s much more difficult if you’re delivering a pallet that hasn’t been stacked yet. If you have a pallet and the product, stack them and measure the final length, breadth, and height as follows:
(Image courtesy of Global Industries)
You may stack your stuff on the floor if you don’t have a pallet yet. A 40″ x 48″ square should be marked or taped off (most pallets are close to this size). Then arrange your boxes such that the layers are near to the square’s boundaries.
Measure the length, breadth, and height of your boxes on the floor, then add 6″ to the height to account for the pallet’s height.
Measure the width, height, and length of each item for multi-piece shipments, then put all of the lengths together to determine the overall size of the cargo, as shown below:
(Image courtesy of Global Industries)
LTL or FTL
The dimensions and weights we discussed before help you establish whether you’re transporting LTL or FTL freight. These are charged differently, so knowing the overall size of your package will help you receive the best freight cost.
- LTL = Less-than-load: An LTL shipment consists of one to six pallets or equivalent sized items. This implies it doesn’t take up the bulk of a freight truck’s space. This is by far the most popular mode of freight transportation for small enterprises.
- FTL = Full-truck-load: An FTL cargo consists of seven or more pallets or equivalent sized items. This implies it will take up most or all of a freight truck’s space. Partial truck loads are a term used to describe mid-sized shipments.
Special Handling Requirements
As previously said, you can transport almost anything, but the more demanding the load and service, the higher the cost.
Here are some additional charges that may be included to your freight quotation. Accessorial fees are expenses that are normally listed on both your freight quotation and your final bill:
- Residential delivery: Delivering to a home is more expensive than delivering to a company. In most cases, a liftgate is also necessary.
- A liftgate is necessary to load and unload truck goods if there is no delivery dock or forklift accessible at the time of pickup or delivery.
- Appointment delivery: For a charge, delivery appointments may be scheduled to match your pick-up or customer’s delivery demands.
- Scheduled deliveries and extra destination services, such as inside delivery and signing by a designated receiver, are occasionally required for deliveries to trade show venues. These service add-ons are normally charged separately.
- Refrigerated cargo or reefer freight enjoys climate-controlled travel end-to-end, at a cost, thanks to refrigeration vehicles, also known as reefer trucks in industry jargon.
- Transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat): Hazmat shipments have their own set of transportation limitations and expenses.
Your freight broker or carrier representative may advise you whether your package needs special processing.
Origin & Destination
To receive a freight price, you’ll need to know your shipment’s delivery and origin zip codes.
You won’t be asked for the full address until you’re ready to book the shipment. However, you’ll need to know the type of delivery location (residential or business), plus which Special Handling Requirements apply—such as a liftgate.
Here’s a glance at the uShip freight quotation screen. It makes entering all of the shipping data discussed in this article, such as pickup and delivery zip codes, as well as any additional services, a breeze:
Value
Unless you choose to buy protection beyond the carrier’s liability insurance, the value of your freight normally has little bearing on freight quotations.
However, if your freight is lost or damaged during transit, basic freight liability insurance may not cover the whole cost of replacement. Additional insurance is a smart idea, and some carriers mandate it for shipments with a significant value, usually about $15,000 or more.
Most carriers, Brokers of Freight, and freight exchanges make it easy to add insurance to your shipment when you get a freight quote. You can provide the shipment value when you enter your other shipment details and they will include an insurance cost, which you can elect or decline, as shown below:
The cost of freight insurance varies depending on a number of criteria, including the carrier, the items being carried, shipping routes, packing type, and so on. However, it is typically inexpensive, and we encourage obtaining insurance whenever feasible.
Additional insurance for a package worth $2,000–$3,000 will cost about $50, which is not a terrible amount for peace of mind.
Quickness of delivery
The time your shipment spends in transit is another major factor that affects cost. Freight carriers have different names for the service types that determine Quickness of delivery, but they typically fall under three timeframes:
Freight is standard.
This is your ground transit time, which might vary by two to three days depending on the carrier.
You’ll see both costs and transit timeframes when you obtain a freight quotation, as demonstrated in the picture below. These are just estimates, not assurances of delivery.
Freight is standard. deliveries can take a day or two longer than published times and not be considered late. This is the norm in the freight industry.
Expedited/Express Freight is a kind of freight that is delivered quickly.
This faster delivery service is available at an additional cost. But like Freight is standard., expedited or express delivery times can vary per carrier as much as one to two days.
When getting a freight price, take notice of the delivery periods and choose Freight Guaranteed for time-sensitive items, as indicated below.
Freight Guaranteed
You may pay more for a confirmed delivery date and even plan a delivery appointment time, whether you pick regular or accelerated service.
When shipping to residential clients who may need to make arrangements to meet the vehicle, this feature comes in useful. For time-sensitive shipments, such as trade fair displays or special event demands, it’s well worth the money.
Delivery times can vary by days depending on the carrier, as shown below. Remember, only Freight Guaranteed with additional charges is guaranteed to arrive on a certain day.
uShip’s example quotation providing
Distances & Travel Times for Freight Quotes
The distance traveled by your freight is a significant aspect in your freight quotation, although vast distances don’t always imply higher prices or even longer delivery dates.
Freight carriers in the United States travel over commercial routes known as lanes, some of which are quicker and less expensive than others.
Lanes to nearby destinations might be more costly than lanes to faraway destinations, depending on where you’re shipping from and to. Furthermore, shipments to distant major cities may be speedier than those to nearby small towns.
Shipping from Houston, TX to New York City (1,628 mi) is, for example, often less costly and quicker than shipping from Houston to Los Angeles (1,546 mi). So don’t be surprised if you notice this when getting freight quotes for various destinations.
Working with a freight expeditor to manage all of your cross-border export/import responsibilities is your best choice if you’re exporting freight out of the nation.
You’ll get a price after providing your shipping provider with all of the necessary information. Depending on your supplier and the service you want, you may be given a single price or a number of options.
After you’ve decided on a pricing and service, double-check the specifics with your supplier to ensure everything is in order. Then it’s time to move on to the next phase.
3. Schedule Your Shipment
The good news is that after you’ve completed the quotation procedure, the rest is straightforward—all you have to do now is schedule your shipping.
This normally occurs with a few easy clicks whether you utilize a broker, exchange, or carrier website. If you got a quotation from a broker or carrier through email, all you have to do now is react.
Following that, you must complete the following steps to complete your shipment:
Create a Bill of Lading (BOL) & Paperwork
The shipping documentation for a freight cargo is called a Bill of Lading, or BOL. Ship-from and deliver-to addresses, contact phone numbers, cargo contents, freight weight, class, size, number of sent units, service level, special services, and the freight tracking number known as a PRO number are all included.
You’ll input your delivery address information online or offer it to your representative through email or phone once you’ve booked your shipment. This information will be used to produce the BOL documentation. Make sure the address, class, weight, and any additional costs are right according to your quotation before printing.
A BOL created by uShip as an example
Attach the BOL to your packed freight package as advised by your shipping provider if the BOL is in order. This is usually placed in a transparent plastic resealable envelope that is attached to the exterior of your package.
Make an appointment for your pickup.
You’ll set the collection day and time when you reserve your freight package. This is usually a period of time in the afternoon. The majority of freight companies deliver in the morning and collect up in the afternoon.
Make a note of your possible pickup hours so that your truck driver may come while you’re still operating. Add a cushion as well, since drivers might be late. If you close at 5:30 p.m., set a pickup time of 4:30 p.m.
Get to Know Your Driver
When your driver comes, make sure your freight package is packed and ready to go in a location where the truck can get to it. Your driver will load your freight from your loading dock if you have one. If you don’t have a loading dock or a forklift, you should add liftgate service to your pickup quote to ensure that your freight is loaded.
Before loading, your driver will examine your BOL and sign off on the pickup day and time. If you have two copies, the driver will sign one and leave it as evidence of pickup for you. Your freight will then be on its way, and you may watch its progress on the websites of your broker, carrier, or exchange.
Conclusion
Getting the best freight quote isn’t hard if you have accurate information about your shipment and a reliable freight provider. You can get freight quotes and book your shipments through a number of sources—including Brokers of Freight, Freight Exchange Onlines, independent carriers, and Expeditors of Freight for import and export needs.
Of these, Brokers of Freight tend to be the best bet for price and service, especially if you’re new to shipping freight.
We recommend looking into FreightPros. With FreightPros, you get fast, accurate freight quotes and a support team that works on your specific shipping needs. FreightPros is a great place to start. for a free quote.
FreightPros is a great place to start.
The “convoy freight quote” is a freight quote that allows users to compare rates and find the best shipping routes. This article will provide you with all of the information you need to get started.
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