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What Is Freight Shipping?
Sometimes you need to move something big, heavy, or more than one item, and freight shipping is often the best shipping method to do so. Also known as freight forwarding, items are generally put on pallets or in crates and can be moved by a number of different transportation methods during their journey through land, sea, or air.
There are a number of freight shipping companies and freight transportation services available to give you shipping quotes however, and often this can make it difficult to compare each one and work out which is best for you.
Shiply has hundreds of freight shipping companies who can send custom cheap freight shipping quotes for your job, often up to 75% cheaper than standard rates, but first, you will need to gather some basic information on your delivery and what freight transportation service you require to get the most accurate pricing.
There are a number of freight shipping companies and freight transportation services however and often this can make it difficult to compare each one and work out which is best for you.
Shiply has hundreds of freight shipping companies who can send custom cheap freight shipping quotes for your job, often up to 75% cheaper than standard rates, but first, you will need to gather some basic information on your delivery and what freight transportation service you require to get the most accurate pricing.
Types Of Freight Shipping Services
There are two common methods of freight shipping that you will need to decide between, but the first thing you need to work out is whether your goods will go on a pallet or not. If your items are loose and do not need to be secured to a pallet then you should put them in a container like a crate, whereas if they do need to stay secured together then they would go on a pallet.
Often freight shipping companies will put your non-palletized items on a pallet anyway as it is easier for them to move about, but this is something you can discuss with a shipping company when you have collected some freight shipping quotes.
As mentioned before, the two most common types of freight shipping services are:
Less-than-load (LTL) Freight Shipping - This means that you do not require an entire vehicle to hold your items, just some space within one. Typically these types of freight shipping quotes will be a lot cheaper as they do not require a company to ‘make’ a journey for you, they would be making it anyway. You can read more about LTL freight shipping here.
Truckload Freight Shipping - This type of freight shipping service is required when you have a lot of items that need moving and will require a full vehicle to do so. This will generally be more expensive as it requires a freight shipping company to make a journey just for you. You can read more about truckload freight shipping here.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship Freight?
It is almost impossible to give an accurate quote for your freight shipment due to the details required to do so, but you can look at the following factors to determine what you require and it will give you some idea of whether you can expect your shipment to be expensive or not. Of course, one great way to get accurate pricing is to list the item on our site and receive custom quotes from freight forwarders. Some of the most important factors that will affect pricing are:
Distance - How far your freight shipment needs to travel will affect the price. If you need to make international shipments then this will inevitably be more costly, whereas interstate freight will come out cheaper.
International Freight Shipping - In line with distance, any international freight will likely result in significantly higher shipping quotes than domestic shipments. This is due to the increased logistics involved in international freight shipping, from getting the items to and from the port or airport to loading and unloading them from the overseas transport method. International freight will also require more paperwork than domestic delivery.
Timings - How quickly you need your freight items delivered will also affect the price. The more lenient you can be with timings, the cheaper your quote will be, whereas rushed shipments will usually incur extra charges.
Pallet Dimensions - As stated above, the size and weight of what you need to be delivered will have consequences on the price, with full truckload shipments resulting in higher shipping quotes than partial loads.
Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - If the pickup location is remote then the freight shipping company you select will have to travel a fair distance to get your item. The closer the pickup spot is to the freight shipper the less they have to travel to get it, which will be reflected in their quote.
Time Of Year - Unfortunately weather can also play a part in land, sea, and air travel. Adverse weather conditions such as ice, snow, and wind can block off certain routes and make travel times slower which can, in turn, drive up or lower the shipping quote.
How Can Shiply Help Find Freight Shipping Companies?
Clearly, there are a few things to work out before you go on your search for a great cheap freight shipping company. It can seem like a daunting task to compare the many services available and the many shipping quotes you receive and figure out which one works best for you, and this is where Shiply can be of assistance.
All you need to do is work out the dimensions of the items you need delivered (often this is where pallets are a useful measure) and provide the pickup and drop-off location of the shipment and rated freight shippers will send you custom pricing direct to your inbox. This gives you a place where you can look at all of your options and easily compare them.
You can use Shiply’s custom feedback and rating system to read previous user’s opinions of freight shipping companies and feel confident in the one you select, as well as use our messaging system to ask any questions you may have about pallet provision, insurance, timings and anything else you want to be answered.
Freight shippers on our site are often making the journey anyway, meaning not only can they offer you shipping quotes up to 75% less than usual as they are already planning on making that trip, but you are also helping keep unnecessary emissions to a minimum by stopping extra journeys on the roads.
Preparing For Your Freight Shipment
Once you have decided on a freight forwarder company and shipping quote to go ahead with, you need to make sure your items are prepared for pickup, follow these steps to help you get your shipment ready:
Documents - First off, any documents you may need, whether it’s because it is a commercial shipment being made or if the items are shipping internationally, should be kept at hand for the pick up to avoid any late mishaps.
Cleaning - It can be worthwhile to clean your items before pick up and packaging to ascertain their condition. This can help with identifying any damages that may have happened during shipping once the items are delivered.
Packing - This will vary based on whether you are using pallets or not, or whether your chosen company will help you pack, but either way you want to make sure your items are secure and wrapped with protective material to avoid damage during transit.
Photographic Evidence - Along with the cleaning, taking high-quality photographs of your items before being packaged gives you solid evidence of their condition should any disputes arise.
What To Do After Delivery
The main thing you want to make sure to do once your item has been delivered is to check the condition. Compare the condition of your freight shipment to the photographs you took before pick up and, if there are any issues, raise these with your chosen freight shipping company immediately.
The last thing we ask is that you leave feedback on the service you received. Not only does this allow Shiply users to browse with the same trust that you had, but also lets the freight shipper know how they are doing and whether they could improve or not.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shiply Cover My Area?
Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.
Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?
There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.
How Can I Contact Shiply Support?
Shiply Support is available only on email, at
Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?
Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.
When Will I Receive A Quote?
You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.
How Many Quotes Will I Receive?
Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.
Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?
f your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.
Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?
Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.
Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?
Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.
Can I Travel With My Goods?
The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and to highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.
What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?
If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.
Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?
If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .
What Can I Ship Through Freight?
You can ship anything (legal) through freight. The level of transport service you require will differ based on what you need moving, but there will always be someone ready to accommodate your move!
How Shiply Works
How Shiply Works
- 1
Request quotes from our 450,430 rated shipping companies.
- 2
Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right quote for you.
- 3
Sit back and relax while your item is safely moved by your chosen shipping company.
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How Shiply Helps The Environment
By utilizing spare capacity of vehicles running on the road, Shiply helps reduce the number of otherwise wasteful journeys needed to ship the item.
Recent Testimonials
Debra W.
"Communication was great from the time I accepted the quote until the car was dropped off. In terms of the timeline, I was given a potential range for both how soon the car would be picked up and how many days it would be in transport."
Patrick G.
"Everything was perfect! Fast, easy and hassle-free process! I definitely recommend and would use them again in the future. Thank you so much!"
Sophie G.
"Great experience using these guys. This was my first time having to transport a car using a service like this and I could not be happier. Picked up earlier than expected and delivery was early as well. Quick easy and problem free."
Gary M.
"I’ve used Shiply twice now and have been really pleased with the result. It’s quick and easy to use. For both occasions the quotes were very competitive and the quality of the job was excellent. I highly recommend it."