UNISHIPPERS GUIDE TO ACCURATE FREIGHT QUOTES. Do you know any business owner who wants to spend more money than necessary

Transcription

1 UNISHIPPERS GUIDE TO ACCURATE FREIGHT QUOTES D yu knw any business wner wh wants t spend mre mney than necessary n a shipment? We didn t think s! Since even small missins r mistakes when quting shipments can be cstly, it s imprtant t understand the factrs that can lead t inaccurate quting. These quick tips can help yu get the mst accurate freight qute pssible and avid thse pesky billing surprises.

2 TIP #1 UNDERSTAND CLASSIFICATIONS Cmmdity classificatin r class is ne f the factrs that impacts the cst f yur shipment. Shippers and carriers rely n the Natinal Mtr Freight Classificatin (NMFC) system t assign classificatin fr all prducts shipped. All cmmdities are assigned an item number, which describes the gds and ne f 19 different classes ranging frm 50 t 500. THESE CLASSES ARE DETERMINED BY FOUR PRIMARY FACTORS: DENSITY STOWABILITY HANDLING CONSIDERATIONS LIABLITY / VALUE In general, the higher the expense r risk f handling the cmmdity, the higher the class will be. Taking a few extra mments t enter the crrect classificatins fr yur shipping qute can make a wrld f difference t bth yur qute s accuracy and yur bttm line. It s wrth it! WEIGHT CODE & CLASS If yu fail t accurately state the weight and class f yur shipment, yur qute will be incrrect and yu run the risk f a reweigh r reclassificatin. D yur hmewrk ahead f time and make sure yu re listing the crrect weight, NMFC cde, and class n the bill f lading. REMEMBER LEARN HOW TO ACCURATELY CLASS YOUR SHIPMENT WITH UNISHIPPERS HOW TO CLASS FREIGHT IN 4 MINUTES VIDEO. 1

3 TIP #2 CONSIDER SIZE LIMITATIONS Shipments that have versize pieces r that exceed standard less-than-trucklad size limitatins may be subject t additinal charges. When requesting a qute, be sure t include the accurate dimensins f yur shipment. Always measure the full length and width f the pallet, and the height frm the flr. Inaccurate dimensins can be cstly especially fr versized items. Accurately measuring yur shipment helps yu t determine the shipping service that wrks best fr yu, and can help yu accurately classify and price yur shipments. KEEP IN MIND THIS RULE OF THUMB: Less-than-trucklad shipments typically cnsist f five r fewer standard stackable pallet spaces and weigh less than 5,000 punds. If yur shipment cntains large pallets, versize items, r weighs a lt, we recmmend getting a vlume spt qute t ensure yu re getting the best deal and aviding cstly additinal charges. 2

4 TIP #3 ANTICIPATE EXTRA FEES Accessrial charges are extra fees added by carriers fr prviding certain services. SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ACCESSORIAL CHARGES INCLUDE: REDELIVERY If the carrier attempts t make a delivery but is turned away by the receiver, a redelivery charge may be incurred. If n ne is available t accept a delivery, r if the delivery is changed t a new lcatin, a redelivery fee may als be applied. Avid this charge by carefully stating all delivery details n the bill f lading. LIFTGATE DELIVERY If yur freight receiver des nt have a dck, a liftgate may be necessary t lad r unlad yur shipment. Make sure yur cnsignee cmmunicates accurate infrmatin abut their dck situatin t yu. Schedule liftgate pickup and delivery n yur qute when necessary t avid delays and additinal charges. INSIDE PICKUP OR DELIVERY If yur freight needs t be picked up r delivered inside a cmmercial lcatin rather than a receiving area, there may be an additinal charge. If yur freight needs an inside pickup r delivery, make sure t indicate this fr an accurate qute. VEHICLE NOT USED If yur shipment is nt ready when the driver arrives fr a scheduled pickup, yu will be charged a fee. Avid this fee by canceling r rescheduling pickups befre the driver is dispatched. APPOINTMENT, NOTIFY, OR CHECK CALL This charge is added when yur bill f lading says that the carrier needs t cntact the recipient t set up an appintment. If yu want t avid this charge and yur cnsignee desn t need a delivery appintment, make sure that yu d nt state that an appintment is required n the bill f lading. 3

5 TIP #4 AVOID LIMITED ACCESS OR NON-COMMERCIAL FEES Freight pickups and deliveries t lcatins that have limited r secured access, r shipments t nn-cmmercial areas, ften require an additinal fee. While each carrier has slightly different guidelines, the fllwing lcatins are cnsidered limited access r nn-cmmercial by mst carriers and will incur additinal fees: Schls, clleges, and universities withut a dck Prisns Medical and urgent-care sites withut a dck Mini strage units Camps, carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks Nuclear pwer plants Churches, msques, synaggues, temples, and cnvents Curthuses Htels, mtels, and retirement hmes Daycares Mines, quarries, and il fields Restaurants Parks, farms, ranches, and Indian reservatins Cemeteries Military bases and installatins Cnstructin sites Glf curses and cuntry clubs! Avid surprise limited access r nn-cmmercial fees by checking in with yur carrier r 3PL befre yu ship. Make sure t indicate if the address is in a residential r limited area when preparing yur shipment t get an accurate qute. 4

6 TIP #5 SHIP SMART If yu ship freight, yu ve cme t the right place. Unishippers can help yu get mre accurate freight qutes in tw ways. Thrugh a dedicated team f shipping experts wh can help yu successfully navigate all things freight. By leveraging Unishippers Freight Manager, ur nline transprtatin management system, that gives yu access t 30+ carriers and prvides helpful Tl Tips that can help yu get mre accurate qutes. CONTACT UNISHIPPERS TODAY 5