Are you hoping to expand your business to other parts of the country and are trying to find a way to get your large, heavy items transported? Here are three things to remember when getting your freight shipped by truck.

Using Full Truckload

If your freight or commercial cargo weighs over 10,000 pounds, the best option is to use full truckload (FTL). This type of freight generally takes up the entire shipping container or an entire semi-trailer. If you have only one origin and only one destination point, full truckload is your best option. 

Truckload freight is unlike less-than-truckload (LTL) freight which gets transported from truck to truck, disrupting the shipping process. When the shipping process is disrupted, there is more room for error. Other advantages to using truckload freight is that it is faster, there is less damage to cargo and you pay per mile, which can be less expensive than paying per pound.

Get Additional Insurance

Freight carriers are required to have insurance but you should always look into getting additional insurance. The required insurance, called carrier liability, is limited to 10 cents per pound on the shipped item. It is in your best interest to get additional insurance, not only to cover the cost of any damaged freight but also to cover freight that gets lost or stolen.

To further protect yourself, make it a policy to always check your freight as soon as it arrives. If your freight is damaged, it is imperative to contact the insurance company you purchased your additional insurance through within 24 hours. It's also important to note you will not be compensated for lost time, labor or shipping costs.

Factors Affecting Rates

It is nearly impossible to give a quote on how much it is going to cost to transport your freight by truck. Some of the factors affecting the rates include:

• Weight
• Density
• Distance
• Rate tarriffs
• Negotiated Discounts
• Absolute Minimum Charge (AMC)
• Base rates

One more factor that determines the shipping rate for commercial cargo is the classification of the freight. Every type of freight has a different class that it falls under. These classes are regulated by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. In order to establish a commodity's transportability, they group freight into 18 different classes based on four characteristics: density, handling, stowability and liability.

When it comes to shipping your freight, keeping these three things in mind will help you find the best freight carrier for all your commercial cargo needs.