Ground Freight Shipping Explained in 5 Easy Steps

Looking to Ship Ground Freight? Let’s Do it Right!

When it comes to transporting cargo, ground freight is one of the most common and cost effective available ways to do it. Whether you’re shipping a single pallet or a full truckload, the process can seem complex at first, but in reality, a ground freight shipment is fairly easy to book if you break it down into clear steps like we do at Freightera and do it a few times.

Below, we explore five key steps that will make your freight shipping experience easy. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be a freight shipping and automation guru with the power of Freightera behind you.

Determine Your Shipment Requirements

The first step with ground freight is figuring out your exact needs. Do you need a full truckload (FTL) shipment or less than truckload (LTL) shipping? Is your shipment delicate? Does it require any special handling? Can both locations (shipper and consignee) handle it while it’s there and load it on and off the truck? Here are some things to consider.

Shipment Size & Weight: Measure and weigh your goods accurately, including the pallets. This will help you determine whether your most cost-effective option is LTL, FTL, or some form of specialized services.

Origin & Destination: Make sure you have the correct and precise locations of both the shipper and the consignee. If a location is difficult to find, you may want to include landmarks in the bill of lading (BOL) comments or add additional contact numbers in case the original can’t be reached.

Time Sensitivity: How quickly do your goods need to make it to the destination? This is a major factor that affects carrier selection and cost. Rail shipping is usually the cheapest (and most eco-friendly) way to ship. But if you need something delivered urgently, it won’t be your best option.

Handling Requirements: Is your shipment oversized? Will it require a specified truck or additional loading and unloading equipment? Anything from a remote location to using a tailgate to unload your shipment, to needing a flatbed truck falls under special handling and might need to be quoted and booked on a case-by-case basis. It’s best to have all of this information ahead of time.

If you understand and have all of this information available at the time of quoting your shipment, you’ll have a much easier time getting everything ready and quick! 

Choose the Right Ground Freight Mode

Once you know what and where you’re shipping, you can pick the best shipping mode for your specific needs. The standard shipping options are:

• LTL: Ideal for smaller shipments that don’t fill an entire truck. You pay only for the space you use, which will make it cost-effective for many shipments. The ideal volume is 1-4 pallets since this is where you’re likely to get the best possible prices.
• FTL: If you have enough cargo to fill an entire trailer, if your shipment is fragile, or if you need to have your goods delivered ASAP, then FTL is likely the option for you.
• Intermodal: While we’ve mentioned LTL and FTL earlier, Intermodal shipping is new and it combines road and rail for longer distances, which usually means slightly longer transit times, but better pricing and, again, lower emissions. Keep in mind that this means increased handling, so if your shipment is delicate, you may want to take that into consideration.

Outside of these “common” options, you may need to look at flatbed shipping, container shipping, expedited shipments, etc. These all fall outside the scope of what’s considered standard, so you may want to check out our services or reach out to us directly via Online Chat, by email, or by phone at (800) 886 4870.

Package and Label Your Goods Properly

A well-packed and labeled shipment is going to make your life quite a bit easier. Here is the whole process in detail: 

• Use a pallet or crate. Make sure that the boxes placed on or in them are sturdy and reliable. If you use a pallet, distribute the weight evenly, and make sure to shrink-wrap the entire load for stability and a bit of additional protection.
• Add lots of cushioning inside the boxes themselves and mark boxes if relevant. Keep in mind that most damage to cargo is caused by the stress of travel itself (road bumps, turns, etc.) so cushioning will help. For oversized or odd-shaped items, consider custom crates. Considering an oversized shipment might have to be loaded onto a flatbed which leaves it exposed to the elements, so if you want it protected, a crate will be a great option!
• Make sure that the labels are placed on each pallet. This is the bare minimum that has to be done when shipping so that the carrier can identify your cargo based on the paperwork. If you want additional security, it’s a good practice to place shipping labels on all sides of the pallet so that it can be more easily identified and noticed. The more effort the carrier’s staff has to put into managing your shipment, the higher the chances of mistakes.
• Freightera’s smart system will generate a BOL for you along with the instructions on how to use it. You need to make sure that this document (as well as any other necessary documentation, such as a commercial invoice for cross-border shipments) is printed and ready for the driver at the time of pickup.

You can learn more about properly packaging freight right here! Visual learners, check out our infographic about palletizing freight.  

Book and Schedule Your Shipment

With details sorted and your goods ready, it’s time to schedule the actual pickup. Once you’ve gotten a freight shipping quote, simply follow the steps, and you can book your shipment in minutes. This goes for shipments of all kinds, going from LTL to flatbeds. 

On top of all that, our 5-star Client Care team is there to help you if you do happen to hit any snags. It’s unlikely with how intuitive our system is, but we’re prepared for anything!

Once you’ve booked your shipment, you’ll get all of your paperwork emailed to you and you’re ready to go. The carrier will arrive at your requested date.

Track, Communicate, Deliver

You can track your shipment at every step of the way, and we understand that you want to, whether your shipment is delicate or not. Our system allows you to do it easily yourself, but as always, you can contact us for assistance if you so desire.

For example, in the unlikely event that your shipment is lost, damaged, or even delayed, we’ll communicate with you with transparency and honesty. You will likely want to do the same with Freightera, your shipping partner, so that the issue can get resolved as quickly as possible. In freight shipping, responsiveness and communication is key!

Once your shipment is delivered, the consignee should inspect the goods for visible damage and sign the proof of delivery (POD). This is doubly important because concealed damage claims have silently been going away for a while. It’s best to make sure everything is reviewed and noted right away. A POD signed as in good order if that is not the case will complicate the claims process.

Good communication throughout ensures a smooth experience for both you and your customers. We’ve been busy, so here’s another helpful resource for how to keep all parties informed properly in the shipping process.

Conclusion

Ground freight shipping might seem tricky, but it’s easier when done step by step, and with the right automated solution like Freightera. Simply make sure to follow the steps outlined above, collect all of the information and you’ll be booking your freight like a pro in no time! 

Once you get used to the process, ground freight will be a piece of cake, making your life as a shipper a whole lot easier, if you do it with us!