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When should I use a common carrier?
When your item weighs more than 150 lbs., truck transportation is more
economical than using a parcel service. Common carriers transport
your item on a truck with additional small shipments so that the
costs for transportation are shared. If your shipment weighs more
than 8,000 lbs, you may need an entire truck (or have a Truckload
shipment). Standard procedure for common carriers involves a truck
driver backing up to a dock to be loaded by the consignor (shipper),
and driving the cargo to the receiving destination to be unloaded
by the consignee. Any service that isn't considered "standard
procedure"
may require additional fees. |
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Are transit times guaranteed?
Transit times are guaranteed only if noted as such on the carrier options
list returned for your quote. All other transit times are reliable,
but not guaranteed. Transit times do not include the day of pickup. |
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What happens
if my shipment isn't ready when the driver comes?
Most commonly, the driver will not wait. The driver will be dispatched
for the following day, which delays your service. You will be assessed
a fee if the carrier charges shippingquotes.org for the duplicated
pickup. |
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Can I estimate
the weight of my shipment?
If an inaccurate weight or class is used and a shipment is reweighed
or re-classed by the carrier, those costs may be passed on to you.
Reweighing may also delay delivery. |
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What is the
claims process?
Claims are handled directly between the shipper, consignee and the
carrier. shippingquotes.org is not involved in the actual claims
process and has no influence in the carrier's claim decision. Claims
with the carrier must be filed within 90 days of delivery. The claimant
should only file for loss or damage on the product which was shipped.
ALWAYS be as concise as possible in noting specific damage on the delivery
receipt. Our representatives can coach you on filing a claim and provide
the proper forms. |
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Do I call the carrier after scheduling with freighnshipping.com?
Please do not call the freight carrier or terminal - this will duplicate
the pickup. When you schedule with shippingquotes.org, we contact
the carrier electronically. |
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What should I do with the Bill of Lading?
All parties involved should have a copy of the Bill of Lading (buyer,
seller and carrier). It is imperative that the BOL be given to the
truck driver when he makes the pickup. Keep one copy for your records. |
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How should I package my shipments?
Please package, crate or stack on pallets securely to prevent damage.
Secure cartons to the pallet with banding, shrink-wrap, stretch-wrap
or breakaway adhesive. Improper packaging may void the carrier's
liability for damage. Stack cartons squarely on the skid with no
overhang. Be sure the top surface is flat. Labels must be placed
on every piece or package. See Packaging Tips |
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Can I schedule a shipment and have it picked
up on the same day?
Yes, but this service cannot be guaranteed due to our carriers' capacity.
Please allow a 4-hour window before your docks close so freighnshipping.com
can get a driver dispatched out to your location within that same day.
Please note that carriers normally make pickups in the afternoon and
deliver in the morning. |
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What is a NMFC number?
This is a numeric indicator that specifically identifies each type
of product that can be shipped by a LTL carrier. The National Motor
Freight Association presets these product classifications quarterly.
It is always helpful to have the NMFC number on the Bill of Lading
in order to avoid re-classification and accurately identify each
product you ship. You can contact shippingquotes.org at 866-910-0253
to determine the NMFC number for your products. |
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What if my items are fragile?
When shipping personal or fragile items, it is best to use Blanket
Wrap services (also known as Van Line Services). Freight carriers
can move personal items but they will only offer 10 cents per pound
in insuring your freight. Van Lines specialize in moving personal
items and will offer additional insurance to cover your item's value.
Common carriers are NOT recommended for shipping costly fragile items. |
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Do fees apply for residential service?
The carrier defines a business as a location that opens and closes
to the general public at set times each day. You may be considered
a residence if you are located in a residential zone, even if you
open and close at set times. Schools, colleges, and churches located
in residential zones may also incur residential fees. If the driver
is required to go inside (beyond the front door or loading dock)
to pickup or deliver a load instead of remaining on the dock or in
his truck, additional fees may be applied. When the shipping or receiving
address does not have a loading dock, manual loading or unloading
is necessary. A lift-gate is a platform at the back of the truck
that can raise and lower a shipment from the ground to the truck.
Additional fees apply for this service. |
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Are your rates guaranteed?
shippingquotes.org has accounts set up with regional and national
carriers based on our ability to give them a large volume of shipments.
To ensure that you receive the shippingquotes.org rate that we have
quoted, you must provide the driver with a copy of the shippingquotes.org
BOL. This lets the carrier know to bill the shipment on the shippingquotes.org
account at the discounts we have negotiated. |
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What happens if I receive a bill directly from
a carrier?
Simply call our customer service department at 866-910-0253 and fax
a copy of the bill you received. Our customer service staff will be
happy to take care of it and have the charges properly credited. This
situation usually occurs when the shippingquotes.org BOL is not used.
To prevent future problems, please make sure that the shipper gives
the driver a copy of the automated freighnshipping.com BOL for every
shipment. |
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What is dimensional weight?
Dimensional weight is a standard formula used throughout the freight
industry that considers a package's density when determining charges.
Transportation charges are based on the gross weight of the shipment
or the dimensional weight of the shipment; whichever is greater.
Simply put, dimensional weight is when the weight of a package is
inappropriately less than the actual size of the package. For example,
a box filled with inflated balloons. |
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When do dimensional weight charges apply?
When the actual weight of a package is less than the calculated dimensional
weight, carriers charge by the dimensional weight.
Can I make a bill of lading (BOL) for inbound and third-party shipments?
We will handle all of your shipping label needs for you.
Will the Bill of Lading labels print on any printer and any paper?
Bill of Lading labels are best if printed using a laser printer to ensure print quality.
Can I make a payment online?
Not Yet, but we are working hard to add any tools to our web site that might help our cusomters shipping needs process faster for them. We do except credit card payments through Fax via our booking forms and shipping invoices.
Can I schedule a pickup for today?
<br> Yes, most of the time depending how late it is in the day. We handle lots of shipments that are booked the same day for a pick up.
If you pick up my shipment today, when will it be delivered?
<br> That depends on what carrier you choose and the method of shipping that you choose to ship. Contact your personal freight agent to find transit times. Also when you get an instant shipping rate from our website it will give you a delivery time and different options.
Why don't I have to register to get a quote online?
We want to make your shipping as easy as possible with our shipping tools. We understand that people have busy lives and we try to make our software fast and customer friendly so that you have the best possible shipping experience with our company.
How do you figure the costs for Extended Services?
Depending on the carrier that is the best rate for your shipment. Contact your personal freight agent for answers on this. There are several different shipping methodes your shipping agent will be able to inform you about.
Are Extended Services the same as Accessorials?
Yes, there are several different types when shipping freight. Our shipping agents will be able to answer any questions you may have about these shipping services.
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