How to Ship Large Goods

It’s no surprise that there is no single, convenient size for packages. Along the same line of logic, there is also no single, convenient method of shipping packages of varying sizes.

Of course, when discussing size in shipping, issues most frequently arise when we discuss shipping larger goods. For carriers, space is the ultimate commodity, and the more space taken up by a single package, the less space available for multiple smaller packages.

With that said, shippers need to move goods, regardless of the size, and there are certainly steps you can take to make sure your large parcel shipping woes aren’t as big as the goods you’re trying to transport. Let’s look at some of those steps now.

Be Mindful of Your Dunnage

Naturally, you want your goods to be transported safely, and the more cushion between those goods and the inside of the package they’re being shipped in, the less likelihood of their being damaged in transit.

Bearing that in mind, it’s important to follow best practices when preparing boxes for shipping. For example, being mindful to balance how much packing material, or dunnage, you’re using relative to your goods. Some materials, such as bubble wrap, can provide sufficient protection without taking up as much space as polystyrene inserts, for example, meaning that you can reduce the size of your packaging for that product.

Know the Difference Between True and Dimensional Weight

Dimensional weight, sometimes known as volumetric weight, cubed weight, or DIM weight, is a method that carriers use to calculate their shipping rates based on a pallet or parcel’s dimensions rather than its weight.

As mentioned earlier, space is a precious commodity in both pallet and parcel shipping. Because of this, a carrier may use dimensional weight if a pallet or parcel is disproportionately light in relation to its physical size. Carriers will compare a shipment’s dimensional weight to its actual weight and use the greater of the two to determine their shipping rate.

Utilize Multiple Boxes

In some instances, more can be less. If the item that you’re trying to ship consists of multiple smaller components, or if it can be broken down into multiple pieces without too much trouble, it may be worthwhile to package and ship the item this way.

While doing this can be more time-consuming and may require a bit more planning, it can actually be more cost-effective. This is especially true if the item in question is especially dense relative to its size, as shipping multiple smaller, lighter boxes can help you avoid costly oversize and overweight surcharges.

Use the Right Carrier for the Job

We’ve discussed this on the blog in the past, but it bears repeating that different carriers have different strengths, and as such sticking with one carrier for all your shipping is simply an ineffective strategy.

By diversifying your shipping strategy to utilize multiple carriers, you can ensure that when you book large packages, that you are booking with the best available carrier to transport them.

Ship Your Package on a Pallet

Shipping packages doesn’t always mean using a courier service. Many couriers typically have a weight limit of 100 lbs. for a single package, and so when considering how to ship heavy items, it may simply be easier and more cost-effective to ship your package on a pallet.

In fact, shipping a single pallet will typically fall into the classification of less-than-truckload, or LTL Freight shipping, and could potentially be the most cost-effective option for shipping heavy items.

Further, utilizing an LTL service rather than a courier service may even be a safer option for your goods, depending on the nature of what you are shipping, as a standard heavy freight shipping trailer filled with pallets will leave little room for said pallets to shift in transit. That said, it is important to be well-versed in the best practices for preparing a pallet prior to booking any kind of freight shipment.

Trust Freightcom with All Your Shipping, Big and Small

As you can see, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to shipping large goods, and so it should come as no surprise that there can be plenty to manage when discussing shipping on a whole. Thankfully, you can manage it all easily with Freightcom.

Freightcom is an all-in-one multimode shipping platform that offers discounted rates on LTL and parcel shipping from North America’s leading carriers. Our easy-to-use platform can help streamline your shipping and help you book your shipments with ease, all for zero startup or monthly fees!

Contact one of our shipping experts today, and see how Freightcom can help you ship smarter, no matter how big or small your shipment may be.