Truck Shipments

Truck Shipments – Guidelines

Less than truckload freight shipping (LTL) is used for the transportation of small freight or when freight doesn’t require the use of an entire trailer. This shipping method can be used when freight weighs between 150 and 15,000 pounds.

When shipping LTL, the shipper pays for the portion of a standard truck trailer their freight occupies, while other shippers and their shipments fill the unoccupied space.

Benefits of LTL shipping:

  • Reduces costs: When booking an LTL shipment, you only pay for the portion of the trailer used. The rest of the cost is covered by the other occupants of the trailer’s space.
  • Increases security: Most LTL shipments are packaged onto pallets before being loaded onto a truck. One well-packaged pallet has a better chance of remaining secure than shipments with multiple smaller handling units.
  • Additional service options: When shipping via LTL, you gain access to special services like liftgates and inside pickup and delivery.
  • Tracking: LTL carriers offer tracking capabilities through the bill of lading number, PRO number, PO number, shipment reference number and pick up date range, to name a few.

Please keep in mind:

  • Price quote: Access Line and its third-party agents will generate a quote within 24 hours. Quotes are only valid for 2 weeks. Please keep in mind that carriers have additional charges when they perform additional duties on site.
  • No pallet exchange available: $10.00 per pallet.
  • Business to business: we only quote business to business shipments. No residential addresses.
  • Loading dock: our LTL shipments require a loading dock. If it is not available, LTL carriers will have additional charges.
  • No inside delivery: if delivering to a business, inside delivery generally means the shipment will be left inside the door of the business. Most drivers will not breakdown freight to move it through doors. If your freight is larger than the entryway, a driver will not bring it inside. If the freight needs to be delivered to the interior of the building, up any steps or up an elevator, the delivery charge will increase. Understanding what inside delivery means can help you make sound decisions when planning your freight shipment. Inside delivery doesn’t come standard and has many requirements that carriers must adhere to in order to avoid liability issues.
  • BOL: The bill of lading is a required document to move a freight shipment. The bill of lading (BOL) works as a receipt of freight services, a contract between a freight carrier and shipper and a document of title. The bill of lading is a legally binding document providing the driver and the carrier all the details needed to process the freight shipment and invoice it correctly. We will generate the BOL.
  • PRO number: which is the tracking information, will be sent 24-48 hours after the shipment has been picked up.
  • Third party trucking companies: $40.00 /v.