The flatbed shipping process can seem complex to some, especially to first timers. While we all wish shipping by flatbed could be as simple as sending a letter, the truth is, there are many regulations and rules to ensure freight is safely delivered to its location without damage. At FBHQ we make the carriers transportation logistics from pick up to delivery, including documentation as simple as possible. We have outlined many of the most common flatbed trucking questions asked.
Answer: 3PL means third-party logistics. 3PL companies, try to take on every aspect of the freight shipping duties. As soon as a flatbed shipment quote is accepted, all the way through from pick up to delivery, these 3PL companies try to provide the necessary services and expert help, but buyer beware and always try to use a very reputable company like Flatbed Hauling quotes.com.
Answer: Regardless of the of freight or its destination, flatbed shipping companies typically offer the services to handle it all. Common flatbed freight shipping options include full truckload (FTL), less than truckload (LTL), heavy haul, and over dimensional loads. If you have questions regarding which flatbed shipping option best fits your flatbed hauling needs, look at our flatbeds section on our website.
https://heavyhaultransporting.com/flatbeds/
Answer: Flatbed freight rates are dependent on a variety of factors, including the type of flatbed being used including, weight, distance and more. Here’s a quick look of how these rates are determined based on the selected shipping option:
LTL: Less Than Truckload rates are largely dependent on the freights weight and anything over 20,000 is considered a full load. Other fees are typically applied for additional services and actions like delivery appointments and crane appointments.
FTL: Full Truckload: For truckload rates, the common practice is an amount per-mile which may or may not be inclusive of the fuel surcharge. Further charges may be added for things like detention and driver assistance. Standard flatbed freight rates are averaging about $2.80 per mile and over $3.00 for specialized flatbed hauling. The average driver can drive 600 miles per day.
Answer: The system for freight transportation classes was developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). A standard for a pricing structure including all types of shippable commodities is grouped into 18 classes using numbers between 50 and 500. Your freight shipment is classified primarily by all the following criteria; weight, size, handling, liability and value. Pricing progression associated with higher numbers will cost more to ship.
Question: What are NMFC numbers?
Answer: The National Motor Freight Traffic Association assigns a unique number to each shipping product. Finished wooden tiles are classified as 182355. The use of these NMFC numbers accurately to correlate and identify a product to a freight class are essential.
Answer: Flatbed Freight dimensions and freight weight should never be estimated. It’s important to measure all dimensions to the nearest inch especially for LTL shipping. Drivers rely on exact height, length, and width to determine how much flatbed freight they can fit on their truck. Incorrect measurements can result in a very costly price adjustment and when shipping oversized and heavy haul items be sure to have the correct make and model number for proper permitting.
Much like freight dimensions, weight needs to be accurate as well, to avoid overages.
Answer: BOL in the flatbed shipping industry stands for bill of lading. The document works as a receipt for the flatbed freight services, or a contract between the carrier and the flatbed shipper and provides all the necessary details and documents to process and invoice the shipment correctly. The date of shipment, number of units, and, weight, etc. The BOL is created and then presented to the carrier at pickup. The shipper retains a copy of the BOL for their own records and the carrier holds a copy to prove that the load was delivered in good faith without damage.
Answer: When flatbed hauling fragile items, it’s important to load them with special care to avoid damage and during the flatbed shipping process use proper tarps and strapping. These precautions are necessary to protect you load from weather and damage from transport.
Answer: The Department of Transportation considers all payloads that possess an unreasonable risk as hazardous and has put classes in place to differentiate the types. Here listed below are some types or regulated classes to protect the health, safety or property of all.
Department of Transportation Hazardous Classes
ORM-D: Other regulated materials.
The class must always be identified, and the shipper must find a carrier before shipping these materials, that meets all the DOT safety and transportation requirements.
Answer: No not always, while Flatbed Hauling Quotes is very reliable, flatbed shipments do not always come with a guaranteed transit times unless it is requested. Generally, these types of flatbed shipments are very expensive and when it’s an oversized heavy haul, permitting is required and the times of travel are usually restricted.
