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Archive for the ‘LTL Freight Information’ Category

LTL Freight Shipping in Winter Weather!
The winter months are a busy time of year for many of our LTL Freight Customers!
Here are a few Things to remember when shipping LTL freight during the winter:

1. Plan ahead- Snow and ice can lead to delayed transit of your shipment. If you can’t drive your car on the road, our LTL freight carriers’ trucks can’t drive either! During the winter LTL freight shipping terminals close when the weather is bad and LTL freight shipments get stuck sitting in a warehouse until the roads clear up.

2.Can your shipment freeze?—If you are shipping anything that is at risk of damage in low temperatures you will need to insulate it or hold off on LTL freight shipping until the weather warms up. Our LTL freight carriers do not have temperature controlled trailers so expect your shipment to get as cold as the air outside. Here are some items that may be affected:

a. Chemicals- We have a customer that ships paints and other chemicals on a weekly basis, during the winter months this LTL freight shipper has to ship using temperature controlled trailers.

b. Food product

c. Equipment with small moving pieces- These moving parts can lock-up and freeze which may damage the machine.

We have a staff of LTL freight quote experts that will be able to answer any questions you might have about LTL freight shipping during the winter months. You may also want to ask the manufacturer of your LTL freight shipment to find out its freezing temperature.

I thought it was only appropriate to recognize the significance of the freight industry as we honor our nation’s independence.  Imagine only being able to purchase goods manufactured in the city you live in and on top of that, manufactured with only the resources found in your community. Because of this industry Americans are able to get products from all over the country and even the world.  The freight industry began with small trucks bringing produce into cities and manufactured goods to rural areas.   It has blossomed into an industry that is vital to our nation’s economic well being.

As this industry has become vital to our nation’s success special interest groups and governmental agencies have been formed to protect the rights of truckers, rights shippers, and the environment.  Today trucks have to meet certain emissions and safety standards to protect the environment, the driver, and the community.

Drive safely this weekend!  Happy 4th of July!

A freight broker and a freight forwarder are basically the same thing.  Each acts as a liaison between an individual seeking shipping service and an authorized carrier.  A freight broker never actually touches the freight, instead they work to determine the needs of a shipper and match those needs with the best suited carrier.  Some freight brokers specialize in shipping specific freight or shipping within a specific region.  At cheapshipping.com, we specialize in LTL freight but are also able to ship small package and international air freight.

Here’s how a freight broker works:

When freight brokers are contacted by the shipper’s customer-



A diagram of what happens when a freight broker is contacted by the shipper's customer

The flow of information and goods when a freight broker is contacted by a shipper's customer.

Sometimes freight brokers are contacted by the shipper-

Diagram of what happens when a freight broker is contacted by the shipper

This is the flow of information and goods when a freight broker is contacted by a shipper.

This is beneficial to the shipper because brokers establish relationships with carriers to negotiate discounts, which are passed along to the shipper.  A freight broker also communicates with the carrier to ensure pick-up and delivery run smoothly.  This saves a shipper time and effort.  Freight brokers are useful for all types of shippers:

  • If you’re shipping rarely- a freight broker can offer discounts and knowledge that an inexperienced shipper may not otherwise have access to.
  • If you ship regularly- a freight broker can essentially become your shipping department, saving you time and money.

Bill of Lading – FAQ

This document derives its name from the verb “lade” which means to load cargo onto a ship, today this term extends to all forms of transportation. A bill of lading is a document issued by the carrier or freight forwarder to the consignor(the shipper of the goods) as a signed acknowledgement that the specified goods have been received as cargo for shipment to the consignee(the party receiving the goods). It serves as evidence that a carriage contract exists between two parties for the carriage of the named goods to and from the named locations. A bill of lading is considered “clean” if the goods have been received and stowed for transport in good condition.

What information must be on a bill of lading?

Bills of lading issued by a carrier or freight forwarder must include the following:
1. Names of consignor and consignee (Business and contact names when applicable)
2. Physical address of origin and destination points
3. Number of pallets, crates, boxes, etc.
4. Freight description
5. Weight, volume, or measurement of freight
6. Freight class

CheapShipping.com bill of ladings also include:
1. Special shipping instructions (i.e.: reference numbers required at pick up, or hours of operation at either location)
2. Accessorials- Any extra services provided by the carrier (i.e.: lift gate service or residential delivery)
3. The phone numbers for the carrier’s terminals at the origin and destination
4. Third- party billing information

Why is it important to use the CheapShipping.com bill of lading?

There are two main reasons why it is important to use the bill of lading CheapShipping.com provides our customers:
1. This will insure that CheapShipping.com is billed for the shipment.
2. Using the issued bill of lading will eliminate confusion for the carrier and shipper by confirming the correct shipment is being shipped by the correct carrier to the correct destination.

Sometimes shippers create their own bill of lading, which causes confusion for all parties involved. Using the bill of lading we send you will save time and money. We generate the document and all you have to do is print it and hand it to the carrier at pick-up!

What is freight shipping?

Freight Shipping is the term used when you are looking to ship commercially from one location to another. Freight shipping is mainly seen with manufacturing businesses that have to ship out quite a bit of merchandise to their customers. Freight shipping is also associated with heavy loads of merchandise so this isn’t your average post office shipping box. The weight of the merchandise can equal to thousands of pounds in one go and sometimes can require a big truck to carry.

I am sure you have heard of freight trains. Before the invention of trucks, the freight train was the most convenient way for freight shipping because it could get your merchandise across the country faster than anything else. But as technology has advanced over the past century, freight shipping has become easier and cheaper for the better. Finding the correct freight shipping company can mean the difference between getting your merchandise shipped on time and in order and getting it shipped late with a lot of damage. If you are a business and you need to ship heavy loads of merchandise, make sure you let professionals help you with your freight shipping.