If you need to transport items for your business or you’re considering getting into the transportation business, you need to know about transporting goods domestically. Domestic freight involves shipping goods by air or ground throughout the U.S. As a business, it’s up to you to find the most affordable and dependable ways to ensure customers get their items in a timely manner.
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How Do You Transport Goods Domestically?
When you want to ship your goods domestically, there are several factors to consider. You’ll have to think about the delivery time. The faster customers want their items, the more expensive it will be to ship the goods. The higher the frieght class, the more money you’ll have to spend to ship the item.
It’s also important to consider the value of the shipment, since the shipment will cost more if you purchase insurance. Think about the pickup and delivery location as well. There are more fuel costs involved when your freight has to travel farther to deliver items to customers. Don’t forget about oversized items as well if this applies to your business. Largers items require a dedicated truckload so you’ll have to pay more for a vehicle that can carry your items. To address these, you can outsource your logistics operations to a 3pl company like Red Stag Fulfillment. 3pl companies like?is one of the top third-party logistics providers for heavy, bulky, and high-value products.
If you’re shipping goods to other businesses or buildings that have a loading dock, your delivery costs can be reduced. For residential freight shipments, you’ll likely need a truck that has a lift gate. It’s also important to note that when you ship to high-security areas, the item will cost more to ship. If you can’t ship your items in a crate or pallet, you may need white glove services, and this will add to your shipping costs.?
According to the experts at Hale Trailer, ?However, there are federal regulations for size and weight that need to be checked prior to hauling to ensure that further accommodations or changes to the load aren?t needed.? In other words, If you?re planning to hual oversized loads, it?s important to check the laws on the states, cities, or counties that you?ll be traveling to to know if there are any regulations you need to abide by.?
What Are Semi-Trailers?
Semi-trailers are trailers that don’t have a front axle. Most of the weight is supported by a detachable front axle called a dolly or a road tractor. Semi-trailers have adjustable legs that can be lowered for support when unhooked from the tractor. The trailer and tractor combination is commonly referred to as a semi, but is also known as a big rig, 18-wheeler, or articulated lorry.
Semi-trailers are used to carry freight, and there are several types. They include dry freight vans, flatbeds, or refrigerated vans. Semi-trailers come in several sizes but are most commonly found in 53 or 48 feet in length and between 96 and 102 inches wide.
If you’re in the Allentown area, you can rent quality semi-trailers to improve business productivity. Finding the ideal semi trailers for rent in Allentown PA involves selecting the right size and features for the trailer, so be sure to ask a professional for assistance if you’re not sure which trailer will work best for you.
How Much Weight Can Semi Trailers Haul?
Localities and states vary, but a trailer and tractor combination in the U.S. is often limited to maximum width which is 8 feet six inches, maximum height which is 13 feet six inches, maximum overall length which is about 80 feet, and a maximum total weight of 80,000 pounds including the weight of the load and additional equipment. If your shipment exceeds these limits, you may need to acquire special permits for transport.
Knowing the basics of domestic shipping can improve your business by allowing you to transport your quality items to customers while keeping the items intact and adhering to scheduled delivery times.