Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The world is very interconnected. There are people in Idaho who get their kid’s toys from Japan and people in Canada who eat fruits from Mexico. While we might not think about it on a daily basis, many of the things we use daily embark on a big journey to reach us.
The process of getting all these things where they need to go around the world is called freight shipping.
Freight shipping refers to the process of transporting large hauls of products, goods, or other types of cargo. There are many different ways to get these items from point A to point B.
Like using trucks and trains to carry things by land, boats to go across the sea, and planes to fly goods through the air. Each type of freight shipping has varying requirements, processes, and benefits.
People often associate freight shipping with the giant tractor-trailers that carry things from one side of the country to the other. But really, freight is just about any type of bulk shipping domestically or internationally, whether it’s by land, ocean, and air.
Each type of freight shipping has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. For instance, the main benefits of ocean freight shipping include:
It’s more affordable than other freight shipping methods
It’s great for carrying big shipments
It’s better for the environment than other freight shipping methods
It’s a safe way to carry far cargo distances
Alternatively, the downsides of ocean freight shipping are:
It’s much slower than other freight shipping methods
The ocean comes with its own set of dangers
Shipping delays are very common with ocean freight shipping
Using ocean freight shipping is an excellent option for large companies that need to move a lot of products across very far distances. However, this method is much less feasible for small businesses. LTL shipping, or less than truckload shipping, is a much better option for small businesses.
The benefits of LTL shipping include:
You don’t need to pay for unused cargo space if you’re shipping a smaller haul
Allows the shipper to gain more logistical experience
Faster delivery times and lower shipping rates
Allows the shipper to always know the location of their freight shipment
On the flip side, the cons of LTL shipping include:
It’s less secure than other freight shipping methods
It’s less predictable than other methods
There’s a higher chance of damage to your freight shipment
Finding the best freight shipping method depends on the details of your industry and business.
The best way to calculate freight shipping costs is by using a freight shipping calculator or getting a quote. This is the easiest way to know exactly how much you’ll be paying without any confusion. However, you still need to know some important details about your shipment.
To calculate your freight shipping costs, you’ll need to know:
The dimensions and weight, including packaging
The freight classification (what you’re shipping, how dense it is, the value of the item, etc.)
The shipping service you plan on using
The cost of freight shipping is impacted by a number of factors, like:
The destination and origin of the shipment
The surcharges
Any discounts that are available
Once you have all this information down, you can use a trusted calculator or service to find out how much you’ll be paying for your freight shipment.
The main kinds of freight services available are ground, rail, ship, and air. Within ground shipping, freight can either be LTL or a full truckload depending on how much studs are being transported. There are a bunch of different companies that handle freight shipping, like FedEx Freight and Old Dominion Freight Line.
What is considered freight shipping?
Any shipment that weighs more than 150 pounds being transported by land, ocean, or air is considered freight. Freight means that products are being transported in bulk in a truck, train, plane, or boat. Freight can either be transported domestically or internationally.
What is the difference between freight and shipping?
The main difference between freight and shipping is the size and details of the shipment itself.
While the terms freight and shipping are often used in similar content, freight refers specifically to a large haul of goods being transported. Simple shipments can be products sent in bulk, but they can also entail less volume.
Additionally, freight always refers to the commercial transport of goods and products. While shipping doesn’t necessarily mean that goods are being transported for a commercial purpose.
Is freight shipping fast?
Freight shipping is pretty fast depending on the details of the shipment as long as everything goes as planned.
Expedited freight by ground or air (domestically or internationally) takes between one and three days. Alternatively, standard freight can take a little bit longer. Domestic standard freight takes about five to eight days.
International standard freight by air takes about five to ten days. But, domestic standard freight by the ocean can take up to 45 days.
These timelines can change dramatically if the freight shipment runs into issues. For example, if an ocean freight shipment encounters a storm, it could extend the travel time by days or even weeks.
Air freight tends to have the most reliably fast shipping speed, whether you’re shipping internationally or domestically.