Three Common Questions About Freight Shipping in North Charleston, SC

Three Common Questions About Freight Shipping in North Charleston, SC

October 1, 2019

Countless American industries depend on the freighting industry. Every year, the freighting industry is responsible for transporting billions of pounds of goods across the U.S. Whether you are new to the world of freight shipping, or you’ve been using these services for years, here are three common questions about freight shipping.

What is freight shipping?

Surprisingly, this is a common question. Many people only have a vague idea of what freight shipping in North Charleston, SC is. Freight shipping is the transportation of goods, whether that’s by rail, road, waterways or air, that takes place between a freight broker and a merchant. Freight shipping includes both national and international transportation of goods.

What are the options for freight shipping?

Freight shipping is definitely not a one-size-fits-all service. There are a lot of different types of freight shipping:

  • Expedited shipping: Expedited shipping, as the name suggests, is for shipments that need to be delivered quickly.
  • Full truckload: This type of shipping is for shipments that are above the 15,000-pound mark, which means the use of an entire semi-trailer is necessary. Some benefits of full truckload shipping are that shipments are more cost-effective, typically faster and less likely to become damaged.
  • Less than truckload: This type of shipping is also referred to as LTL. Shipping that falls into this category is typically used for shipments that are less than 15,000 pounds and do not require the use of a full semi-trailer.
  • Partial truckload: With a partial truckload, shipments from several businesses will be combined into one full truckload. With this option, the shipping cost is split between several businesses. Partial truckload is the most cost-effective if the shipment is at least 5,000 pounds.

How are shipping rates determined?

There are several factors that determine how much freight shipping will cost, from the type of goods being shipped to the route:

  • Destination: How far goods have to be shipped makes a difference in price. The more miles the goods need to be transported, the more expensive the service will be.
  • Extras: Some shipments required extra services to transport the goods safely. Some examples of this would include hazardous materials, perishable food items or fragile goods.
  • Shipping method: As mentioned earlier, there are different methods for freight shipping, and each one comes with its own price tag. Expedited shipping, for example, is typically the most expensive. Full truckload, meanwhile, is usually not the cheapest option, but it is often the most cost-effective.
  • Size and weight: When determining the cost to ship goods, typically both the weight and size of the shipment are considered. Heavier items that take up more space are more expensive to ship than lighter, more compact goods.

While it’s good to have a thorough understanding of what freight shipping is and how it works, what is even more important is having a shipping company you can rely on to ship your goods. For fast, reliable and affordable freight shipping in North Charleston, SC, there is only one company you can trust: All Points Transport. Reach out to us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

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