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In 2017, the e-commerce industry in the United States sold over $453.46 billion worth of products. What’s amazing is that Amazon accounted for 40% of that.
It’s poised to grow even bigger in 2020, which means carriers will have a lot of jobs waiting for them.
There are now many ways to fulfill online orders thanks to carriers. Shipment can be as fast as one day, and even large items are easy to ship to buyers. Shipping larger items will take more effort and money, though.
Wondering how to ship large items on eBay and Amazon? Read on to find out everything you need to do about freight shipping.
What You Need to Know About Freight Shipping First
Freight shipping, also called LTL shipments, is the solution for when you want to ship large items. However, you need to consider some things about it first so you can give proper information to the buyer.
More Expensive
Freight shipping is expensive, even for items that are only larger than what’s considered a small package by an inch. You might have to pay more for packaging, as well, as you’ll need to provide pallets and more.
Less Convenient
Both parties will need to pick up or drop off the package at freight terminals. There might be an option to deliver to or pick up from an address, but this would cost more. Still, this option is not flexible as you’ll have to make sure you clear your schedule for theirs.
For the seller, you’ll have to put more thought into the packaging on freight than on small packages.
Riskier for the Packages
A forklift or hydraulic lift will move the packages for you, which is why it may be harder on the packages. Humans handle small packages, which gives them better treatment on average. It may also switch between numerous trucks before getting to the destination.
When is It a Freight Package?
Because of the various inconveniences of freight shipping, you have to identify freight packages from small shipment items so as not to go through the whole trouble of shipping freight. You should be able to tell with ease; in general, any package that an average person can’t handle is a freight package.
If you want to make sure, though, each carrier has different guidelines for freight. USPS freight shipping, for example, considers packages that are larger than 130 inches in combined length and girth as freight. If it’s smaller but weighs more than 70 pounds, USPS also considers that a freight package.
UPS Ground and FedEx services are a little more generous. They classify a package larger than 165 in combined length and girth as freight. Both carriers also consider packages heavier 150 pounds as freight.
How to Ship Freight Packages
If you sell on Amazon and the warehouse fulfills the order, you won’t have to worry about shipping. If your items are FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant), Amazon won’t help you; the same is true for eBay. You’ll have to research companies and arrange the shipment yourself.
You’ll need to provide a BOL to the carrier to proceed to schedule your appointment. You must do this for every shipment. If you’re picking an Amazon partner, the shipment will generate a BOL within 24 hours.
The information in the BOL is important as the carrier can refuse it if it doesn’t meet their requirements. You can ask for their template; if they don’t have one, follow Amazon and eBay’s guidelines for it.
Once you have a schedule, you may then wait for the crew to pick up your package. There are times you’ll need to bring it yourself to the freight terminals, though.
How to Pack Your Freight Package
Because it’s riskier, you need to pack your items with adequate packaging. The carriers will have requirements as well; Amazon, in particular, requires the seller to use acceptable pallets for freight shipping. They have a guide on the dimensions you should use, materials, and the right grade to use for certain items.
Inside the box, make sure the item has enough protection, especially if it’s fragile. Some companies might use hydraulic lifting equipment, which will increase the risk of damaging your items if it doesn’t have proper protection.
Use paddings, such as blankets or other soft items. Then, reinforce it with Styrofoam, reinforced cardboard, and the likes. This will prevent the item from getting crushed or dented when the hydraulic equipment grabs it on the sides.
Don’t forget to wrap the whole thing in plastic; this is more of a protection from dirt and grease. Then, strap the box to the pallet in a way that it won’t disassemble when lifted by a forklift.
Most trucking companies will assess your package if it’s protected enough. They must see that it can survive the hydraulic lift or the forklift.
They can refuse your package if they deem it not protected enough. If they do, try again with better packaging and thank them for trying to protect your package.
How Much Does Freight Shipping Costs?
Freight shipping is especially expensive for small businesses; you may have to ask for professional help on this one. If you’re on eBay, make sure to take advantage of eBay freight shipping discounted rates. It has partnered with carriers like FedEx to make shipment easier and rates lower for sellers and buyers.
If you want to have the item picked up at your location, you may have to pay an additional fee. Likewise, the buyer will pay a fee if they want it delivered straight to their address. Otherwise, they’ll have to pick it up from the freight terminal.
Read more about the costs associated with freight shipping here and make sure the buyer knows about it.
Learn More About Fulfilling Orders
Fulfilling orders goes beyond having the items ready and shipping it. For freight shipping, for instance, you’ll have to go out of your usual way to make sure it gets to the buyer in good condition. If you need to know more about the needs of a user/customer, check out our other guides today.