How to Get Freight Rates
If you are planning on shipping freight, due to the typically high cost, knowing the freight charges beforehand is helpful. Getting a rate for a freight shipment is a simple and quick process. To obtain the most accurate rate you'll need a few details about the shipment including the weight and density.
What You'll Need:
- Computer with access to the Internet
- Freight density
- Freight weight
- Open your preferred Internet browser and visit the website of the freight shipping company you plan to use, such as UPS Freight or Old Dominion. A helpful alternative is FreightQuote.com, this website gives you quotes from several companies side by side. Once on the website look for information on estimating a rate.
- You'll be asked to enter the origin and destination of your freight shipment. For any U.S. based shipments, the zip code is all you'll need to obtain a quote.
- Designate the freight class for your shipment. Refer to the list of codes on the Freight88 website for proper classification of your shipment.
- Get the most accurate weight and density of your shipment. Depending on the size of the package, you may need a forklift to move and weigh your shipment. To calculate the density of the package, divide the total weight by the total cubic feet to get the pounds per cubic foot. You can get the total cubic feet by multiplying the outside length, width and height of your package. The more accurate these measurements the more accurate the rate you are quoted. Enter this information into the online rate tool.
- Notate any special services you plan to add to your freight shipment including C.O.D., arrival notification and construction site delivery. Each of these options typically requires an additional fee added to the cost of your shipment.
- Once you have entered all the requested data submit your information to obtain a rate for your freight shipment.