The benefits of using split truck loading to transport pallets

When you ship large items or multiple products to the same location, you can save costs by transporting pallets. By consolidating your goods on one pallet, you also minimize the risk of individual packages being damaged in transit. A tightly tied stretch wrap package provides additional strength and protection, and the mobility of the palletized products provides the shipper with convenience for transport and storage.

To understand how to transport your goods and then your shipping costs per pallet load, you need to look at your product (s) from the perspective of the shipper. There are several keys to calculating pallet freight rates, and the better you understand these factors, the better you can package your product at the best possible rate.

Volume of cubic meter (CBM)

If you ship internationally or domestically, consider the CBM (or cubic meter volume) of your pallet load.

You can calculate CBM by multiplying the width times the height times the length of your shipment. If your shipment contains different sized items or boxes, measure each package and add up the total. If you use pallet shipping, you can measure the entire pallet for CBM.

If you are using irregular or cylindrical packages, ask your carrier to determine whether to "square" the package (diameter is considered width and height) so that you know whether to multiply the radius of the package by Pi and then again by two. . Then multiply that number by the length of the package. This will give you the volume (or CBM) .volume

Volumetric or dimensional weight

Carriers may charge for shipments that are large or bulky, but relatively light due to their size, based on dimensional weight rather than actual weight. This creates a theoretical number that takes into account disproportionate sizes and weights, like a paddle of ping pong balls. Although ping pong balls are very light, they still occupy the same volume on a plane as a dumbbell platform.

Affordable weight

The pay weight is simply the greater sum of the dimensional weight and the actual weight. While ocean liners care less about actual weight than volume, airlines are more sensitive to actual weight and therefore base their rates on dimensional weight.

Load classification

Within the United States, most freight traffic accounts for less than trucks (LTL). Understanding the shipping costs for your domestic pallet load starts with understanding the load class for your item (s). The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), published by the National Motor Traffic Association, sets the standard for shipping all types of freight in the United States. When you find out the freight class for your goods, you get a common, standardized code that carriers can use to classify and price your shipment.

Classes of freight based on four factors.

1. Density

Density is the most important factor in determining your load class. Industry measures density in pounds per cubic foot. Shippers need to know the density of each individual package or an entire pallet of items. To determine the density of your shipment:

Multiply the height, width and length of the load. This will give you the total number of cubic inches. To sort individual packages without combining them into the same shipment, measure each unit and then add the cubic inches to the total.

Then divide the total cubic inches by 1728 (the number of cubic inches in one foot).

Divide the weight (in pounds) by the total cubic feet for the density in pounds per cubic foot.

The density gives the sender a clear picture of the size of the shipment. When you shop around and design your shipping strategy, you can save money by creatively manipulating the size and weight of your products, especially when packing and stacking your pallets.

2. Storage capacity

To optimize truck space, shippers want to know how well their package or pallet can be stored alongside other shipments. A stretch wrapped pallet is an easy way to store merchandise on a ship, plane, or truck, especially if the carrier can stack it. Unusual dimensions or hazardous substances are of additional concern and thus increase freight class (and costs).

3. Treatment

How easily is your cargo loaded and unloaded? Pallets are very easy to maneuver unless they are not stacked or tied properly. The dimensions, weight, vulnerability and packaging of your item affect the transport class. The easier it is to get around, the lower the costs.

4. Responsibility

Are you shipping perishable goods, flat screen TVs, or an antique piano? The load class takes into account:

The value of the shipment

The possibility of someone stealing it

The inherent risk of harm

The potential to damage other cargo in transit

As you can imagine, the higher the liability, the higher the freight class number and the higher the cost.

Calculating the freight class for your product based on these four factors is very important and should pave the way for developing a shipping strategy. By adjusting the weight, dimensions and packaging, you can enter a more economical class of transport. Using pallets is a great way to improve storage capacity, handling, and even liability ratings. Research common pallet and box sizes and try to use the smallest size possible.

Not understanding your cargo class is a missed opportunity to save costs. Using the wrong freight class can lead to a host of problems, including additional charges, chargeable billing, shipping delays, invoice discrepancies, claim complications, and more.

Pallet prices

Many carriers offer a standardized price for pallets of merchandise, regardless of merchandise, making it easy to calculate shipping costs. Shippers base pallet prices on the dimensions and weight of the entire shipment on pallets, 48 ​​"long x 40" wide x 48 "long and less than 1,650 lbs. If your shipment exceeds this standard size, its price will be adjusted accordingly.

The price per pallet rate is beneficial to your business as it saves money along with other benefits for everyone involved in the transportation process. First, 'pallet' is a common and simple term that everyone in the industry understands. By using common terms like these, you can ensure that shippers easily understand what they are getting and conceptualize the cargo so they can make the right adjustments quickly and accurately.

Additionally, using the simplified rate helps ensure more accurate freight invoices from your carrier, reducing confusion about the size and weight of individual items that the shipper reviews. Pallets make it easier for the carrier to calculate the total cubic space of their shipment, rather than using different load classes based on the NMFC model, which can be confusing and time-consuming.

Because the exact weight is a minor factor, a small increase in size will generally not result in an increase in cost. The pallet price easily includes weight adjustments because most LTL carriers simply evaluate each pallet within a certain range.

This method, when available, is a useful way to compare rates between carriers, giving you a clear picture of the cost per pallet.