Expedited Freight Services - Service Checklist

If you are in a bind and it had to go yesterday, this will increase your costs a bit. If it needs to be on a private plan for cargo shipping to Mexico to avoid stopping a production line, that will be $$$. You may want to check freight quotes for the best transportation services available.

This add-on cost is influenced by the need for ‘straight through’ transportation services. Do you require each driver to maximize their 11-hour drive time? Is your cargo shipping route 4-9 hours away or 11+ hours away, and is it exclusively via road? Additionally, consider how these factors play into your freight quotes.

The ball was dropped, and we are at T-1 hour to get our cargo shipping off the dock and out of the office to reach the trade show. I need it picked up in 1 hour and shipped ASAP. This may drive up the cost a bit to secure transportation services, but we can solve for this while still getting the best freight quotes.

You have a bit of time to review a few freight quotes and get everything organized. The pricing for cargo shipping is better because we have 4-6 hours or more to put it out to bid and determine the best transportation services for your needs.

Does the driver have to assist in the load/unload of the items during cargo shipping, whether at a dock or via a pallet jack? This will incur what we call ‘Lumper Fees,’ usually around $75/hour. If you are uncertain, it's best to pay it to ensure the items are handled properly. Almost ALL drivers involved in transportation services will not touch cargo unless compensated. We don’t make the rules; we just play by them.

Your cargo shipping needs a lift gate and pallet jack at pickup, drop-off, or both. Additionally, we can meet vans to offload where necessary. This service adds a cost, typically not exceeding 15-25% of a standard cargo rate, and can be factored into your freight quotes for our transportation services.

Most carriers offer $100K in cargo shipping insurance for your freight. If you require a higher coverage, the price may increase slightly. Some carriers provide up to $250K for high-value loads, particularly suitable for data center transportation services. Need to ship 16 insured Rolex watches to Europe for Groomsmen gifts? We can handle that. We've been there and done that.

You needed your cargo shipping delivered ASAP, but when you arrive at the dock at the tradeshow, the union workers won’t unload your items for 4 hours. Generally, freight quotes include a built-in 1-2 hour detention period that a driver will wait. After that, you should expect to pay around $75 per hour. This additional cost is applied after the initial rate, as we cannot predict detention periods in the contracts. Other significant causes of detention include pick-ups and drop-offs at O’Hare airport, where the transportation services can be quite slow.

Schools, churches, military bases (where no felons are allowed to drive on any military property), severe rural areas (more than 10 miles from major roadways), and other hard-to-access locations that a regular 18-wheel semi cannot reach will increase costs for cargo shipping. We work hard to minimize any increases and collaborate with our drivers to find the best routes, ensuring that our transportation services remain efficient and cost-effective while providing accurate freight quotes.

Indexed to the DOE diesel index and factoring in the route, Missouri offers significantly cheaper options for cargo shipping compared to Illinois. If you're looking for freight quotes for a load from STL to Columbia, MO, there will likely be minimal, if any, surcharge. In contrast, shipping from STL to Chicago will most likely incur a surcharge for transportation services.