Moving Services vs. Freight Movers
When shipping household goods, you have a variety of service options to choose from. It is important to know exactly what kind of service your shipping company provides so you can properly prepare your item for shipment. The two major types of services you will encounter when shipping household goods are moving services and freight services.
MOVING SERVICES
Household moving companies generally provide moving services. While these companies typically only offer full household or office moves, they may transport smaller shipments such as individual pieces of furniture or appliances.
When shipping your household goods using a traditional moving service, you will not be required to palletize or crate your shipment. However, you should make sure to double-check with your shipping company for advice on preparing your shipment. Moving companies typically offer different types of moving services.
FREIGHT SERVICES
Most people don’t know that freight service is another way to move your household goods. While most freight shipments are for commercial goods, freight services are available to transport your items during a move.
Think of freight services as a moving company that only provides transport from one place to another (your old home to your new home). Freight services are typically only curb-to-curb, pickup, and delivery. You will be responsible for packing (in accordance with freight transport guidelines), loading, and unloading your items. Choosing a freight service over a moving service is the cheaper option if you’re willing to do the work.
Find out more about the different types of freight shipments, here.
Pro Tip: Freight companies are like cable companies- they will typically give you an eight hour window for delivery time, so plan accordingly.
Moving with LTL
When you move your items through an LTL freight service, your items will likely be shipped with other shipments. Depending on how far your items are going to travel, they may transfer between trucks several times before reaching their destination. To avoid any loss or misplacement, you want to be sure and pack your items as concisely as possible, labeling each item clearly.
Pro Tip: Look into each option, gather quotes for both LTL and FTL if you can, and ask your prospective freight transport companies which option may be best for your move.
Moving with LTL
When you move your items through an LTL freight service, your items will likely be shipped with other shipments. Depending on how far your items are going to travel, they may transfer between trucks several times before reaching their destination. To avoid any loss or misplacement, you want to be sure and pack your items as concisely as possible, labeling each item clearly.
Pro Tip: Look into each option, gather quotes for both LTL and FTL if you can, and ask your prospective freight transport companies which option may be best for your move.
Packing Your Freight
The most important thing to remember when shipping your household goods as freight is that you will need to properly package your items before shipment. This usually means that you will have to crate or palletize your shipment. Your freight company may offer you this service or can refer you to a packaging company. If you are feeling ambitious, you can palletize freight yourself.
Packing Your Freight
The most important thing to remember when shipping your household goods as freight is that you will need to properly package your items before shipment. This usually means that you will have to crate or palletize your shipment. Your freight company may offer you this service or can refer you to a packaging company. If you are feeling ambitious, you can palletize freight yourself.
PACKING TIPS FOR THE AMBITIOUS
-
- For larger pieces- if the item can be disassembled, disassemble it.
- We recommend crating more valuable and/or fragile pieces.
- Use sturdy, double-wall boxes for all items that you are able to box.
- Label EVERY box with your name, phone number, and the address of your new home.
- Palletize ALL of your boxes together, stacking the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on the top.
Use cling wrap to hold all of your items together. Do not be shy with the wrapping- use enough to ensure your items will remain in place no matter what driving conditions they may go through. We recommend using a colored cling wrap as freight transporters typically use clear. This way, if anything is damaged or replaced during transport, a change of color will be a clear sign of tampering.
- When loading your items onto the truck, you’ll want to load large pieces of furniture first, stacking them right up against the back wall of the truck.
- Next, load your pallets, grouping everything together.
Freight services usually do not include loading, unloading, inside pickup, or delivery, but you can usually request these services from your freight company for an added fee. If you want to avoid this added fee, don’t let the transporters carry your items inside.
Pro Tip: When you can, transport breakables yourself to ensure a safe arrival.
CHOOSING A FREIGHT CARRIER FOR YOUR MOVE
When you list your move as freight on uShip you will have the option to book a freight carrier based on instant quote rates or list it for bids in our marketplace. Both options are simple and cost-effective, so it’s really about what you are comfortable with.
Before deciding on one freight transporter, take a look at all of your options. We encourage our shipping customers to compare transporter’s reputations, customer rating, and transport history along with their bids. uShip conveniently lays out all of this information in each freight transporter’s carrier profile.
All freight carriers are required, by law, to have registered operating authority from the Department of Transportation. Verify that your prospective transporter has a registered DOT/MC number listed. We suggest you go the extra step and look up their registered DOT/MC number with the Federal Motor Carrie Administration. Visit the FMCSA’s SAFER system to do so.
Another resource is the FMCSA’s Company Snapshot; here you can look up each carrier’s transport records by their DOT/MC numbers or by their name. It is important to do your research and know the carrier you are trusting with your belongings BEFORE you accept any bids or book any quotes for your shipment.
Pro Tip: Freight transporters will want an estimated weight for your shipment, but they will also be glad to help you estimate the total weight, so just ask!
What You Need to Know About Freight Insurance
The FMCSA requires all freight transport companies to carry a minimum amount of coverage. This coverage is included and required, however, we encourage all of our freight shipping customers to obtain extra insurance coverage. Visit uShip’s Cargo Insurance page to learn more.
Each freight transporter’s insurance coverage is public information and you can easily look up their coverage details through the FMCSA’s Licensing and Insurance database. We encourage all of our shipping customers to review their freight transporter’s insurance coverage. Don’t be afraid to ask them for details about their coverage as it applies to your shipment- you want to know your items will be protected.
Pro Tip: Check ALL of your items BEFORE signing off on the delivery slip. This will prevent any lost chance to file a claim, if needed.
BENEFITS OF USHIP FOR FREIGHT
-
- Rebill Protection: uShip audits your invoice to ensure no mistakes were made.
- Load Your Own Rates: If you have your own rates with other carriers like FedEx, feel free to upload them to your uShip portal. By doing this, you can compare your contract rates against ours, all in one place.
- Customer Specific Rates: If we notice that you’re shipping an adequate amount of volume, we can offer account-specific pricing.
- Referral Program: Refer your friends to experience uShip and you’ll receive shipment credits and other rewards in return.
- Insurance: uShip fills insurance gaps and offers the option to purchase a full-coverage cargo insurance policy for select shipments.
Ready to ship? uShip strives to provide ltl shipping quotes from industry leaders at an affordable price. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Ready to Ship?
Get Quotes NowRelated Articles
Measuring freight is often confusing for beginners. If you do not know how to measure your freight properly, you run the risk of paying additional fees after delivery.
The true FOB meaning represents the concept of “free on board” or “freight on board”. The acronym FOB is both an accounting and shipping term that indicates whether the seller or buyer will pay shipping expenses.
When shipping household goods, you have a variety of service options to choose from. It is important to know exactly what kind of service your shipping company provides, so you are able to properly prepare your item for shipment.