Before you quote
| Outside dimensions | L x W x H of the finished crate |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | Load plus crate tare |
| Mode | Truckload, LTL, ocean, air |
| Pickup and delivery | Dock, liftgate, inside, residential |
| Export extras | Treatment, stamp, documents |
| Quote input | Inside dimensions, weight, country |
Three things set the bill
Carriers price a shipment from weight, volume and service. Weight is the gross weight of the load and the crate together. Volume is the cube of the crate's outside dimensions, which the carrier measures or reads from the bill of lading. Service is everything the shipment needs besides line-haul: a liftgate, a limited-access delivery, an inside delivery, a customs filing.
A buyer who only watches weight is watching one of three. The cheapest crate is the one that fits the load, protects it, and does not take up more truck, container or aircraft than it needs. Savings are usually in the outside dimensions, not in the lumber.
Dimensional weight for air freight
Air carriers bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight. Dimensional weight is the crate's volume, divided by a factor the carrier publishes, converted to a weight. A bulky, light crate is charged as if it were heavier, because aircraft space runs out before weight limits do.
For air, every inch of outside height and width matters. An extra three inches of clearance around a load can increase the volume enough to change the chargeable weight. Ask the builder to hold the clearance to what the load actually needs, and ask the carrier for its divisor before you finalise the design.
Cube for ocean and LTL
Ocean freight is quoted on volume for less-than-container loads and on the container for full loads. A crate that wastes space can push a shipment into a larger container or a second container. LTL trucking is priced from class and weight, and class depends partly on density, which falls as the crate gets bigger relative to its weight.
That is why the freight class guide and this one go together. Put the crated dimensions and gross weight on the bill of lading. The carrier will check them on the dock, and an inspection that finds a larger crate than the paperwork says can reclassify the shipment and add a charge.
Accessorials and where they come from
Accessorials are the charges for anything beyond the dock-to-dock move. A delivery to a site without a dock needs a liftgate, and a crate that is too heavy or too tall for a liftgate needs a different truck. An inside delivery, a scheduled appointment, a residential address and a long wait to unload all carry their own charges.
Most accessorials can be avoided by telling the carrier early. Specify the pickup and delivery points, whether there is a dock, a forklift and an operator at each end. If the receiving site has no forklift, say so, so that the crate is built and marked with that in mind.
| Cost driver | What changes it | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional weight | Outside L x W x H of the crate | Builder and shipper |
| Cube | Clearance, orientation of the load | Builder |
| Tare | Wood, sheathing, skid size | Builder |
| Freight class | Density, commodity, packaging | Carrier and NMFC |
| Accessorials | Dock, liftgate, access, timing | Shipper and consignee |
| Export documents | Treatment, stamp, country | Shipper and forwarder |
Crate design and tare
Tare is the weight of the crate itself. A slatted crate carries less lumber than a sheathed one, and a knockdown crate ships flat when empty. Solid sheathing, heavy cleats and a deep skid raise tare and cube. The builder should justify each member by the load, since a crate that is stronger than the route requires adds weight you pay for on every mile.
The reverse also holds. A crate that is too light for the load costs the most when it fails. The aim is a crate whose strength matches the weight, lifting method and route. We write the spec down on the quote so the next order is built the same way and can be compared fairly.
A worked comparison
Take two crates for the same machine, which measures 60 x 40 x 48 in. Crate A is built with tight blocking and a low skid. Crate B has generous clearance on every face and a deeper skid. These are example crates, without prices attached. B has larger outside dimensions, so its cube is larger, its tare is higher, and its dimensional weight in air will be higher.
If both ship LTL, B is less dense, which pushes it toward a higher class for many commodities. If both ship ocean, B may take more floor space in the container. B may still be the right crate if the load is delicate. The point is to choose clearance on purpose, with the freight bill in view.
Questions to put to the carrier
Before you book, ask the carrier or forwarder how they measure a crate: to the widest protruding board or to the nominal panel, rounded to the whole inch or to the next foot. Ask whether their quote includes fuel surcharges, terminal handling, documentation and customs brokerage, and which of those are billed at origin or at destination. A single line on a quote can hide a handful of separate fees.
Also ask what happens if the crate arrives larger than quoted. Most carriers re-rate on inspection, and the corrected invoice lands weeks later. Sending the crate spec and a finished-crate photograph with a tape beside it often avoids the dispute. Keep every quoted figure in writing with the date it was given.
Questions buyers ask
Can you tell me what my crate will cost to ship?
We build the crate and quote that. Freight is priced by the carrier or forwarder from your crate's outside dimensions, gross weight, mode and lane, and we give you those figures to put in front of them.
Does a heavier crate always cost more to ship?
It adds weight, but cube often matters as much or more. A smaller, heavier crate can cost less than a bigger, lighter one when the carrier prices by volume.
What is dimensional weight?
It is a weight the carrier calculates from the crate's volume, using a divisor the carrier publishes. The shipment is billed on whichever is greater, actual or dimensional weight.
How can I avoid accessorial charges?
Tell the carrier about docks, liftgates and appointment needs at both ends before pickup. Charges that show up after delivery are usually for facts nobody told the carrier.