Have your shipment details ready
Origin and destination postal codes, piece count, exact dimensions, actual weight, commodity description, and pickup and delivery hours. Every one of these affects your rate, and every guess is a future billing adjustment.
Declare accessorials at booking
Liftgate, residential access, limited-access sites, appointment requirements and inside delivery must be disclosed upfront. Discovered at the dock, they cost more and can delay your shipment by a day.
Understand who pays
Prepaid means the shipper pays; collect means the consignee does. Confirm the term before dispatch, especially on drop-ship orders where your customer expects to be billed.
Know your coverage
Standard carrier liability is limited by weight, not by the value of your goods. For high-value freight, arrange declared value coverage or your own cargo insurance.
Confirm transit in business days
Transit is quoted in business days and excludes the pickup day. A four-day westbound transit picked up Thursday delivers the following Wednesday — plan the customer conversation accordingly.
Check the invoice against the quote
Match piece count, weight, accessorials and fuel percentage. Discrepancies are far easier to resolve within the first week than at quarter end.