FAQ's

We take the approach that every shipment is unique. Every shipment needs special attention and pricing that you will not get anywhere else. We earn your business with every shipment.

We could have followed lesser automated systems but their pricing is fixed and if they cannot make their margin they often cancel your shipment. We take a more hands on approach. Our staff ensures that your specialized shipment is priced accordingly, there is no automation. You can rest assured that the pricing is fair, most times better than any freight quote you have received and your shipment will be covered. We manually call to find the best price and we do it quickly and efficiently. Think of us as a shipping manager for your company.

If your item weighs more than 150 lbs., a common carrier (One that is in the business of transporting the public, goods, or messages for a fee) is more economical than using a small package service. Common carriers transport your shipment with many others so that the costs for the transportation are shared. Typically, anything shipping that weighs over 20,000 lbs., or takes up more than 20 linear feet of a trailer, ships as a truckload. You also have the option of a dedicated trailer (exclusive use).

The best example is from Exhibitor Services website "A school bus versus a limousine". Picture yourself riding in the back of a school bus. Remember the bumps it took and how it felt going down the road? Well, common carrier trailers have that same type of suspension as a school bus. A limousine has a very soft and smooth ride. This is because it has air shocks that give it that soft comfortable ride. That would be comparable to shipping on an air ride trailer."

We offer the largest variety of shipping options: Our most popular, based on ease of use, is LTL Freight. We also can provide Truckload, Air ride (dry van, padded van), Flatbeds (single, double, lowboy, curtain side), Rail shipping, Trade Show Freight, Container loads (Import or Export), Ocean Freight and Air Freight.

The easy answer? YES. Transit times are guaranteed only if marked so on your quote page. Any other transit times noted are typically reliable, but not guaranteed. Guaranteed service costs more. Posted transit times do not include the day of pickup, only transit to destination. If you need Guaranteed Service, we can quote it.

Even if you schedule your shipment several months out, we guarantee rates except the fuel surcharge can change the final rate. To ensure that you receive the quoted rate, you must provide the driver with a copy of the Freight88.com BOL (Bill of Lading). This lets the carrier know to bill the shipment to Freight88.com at the pricing we have negotiated.

The quote for specialty freight (Truckload, International, etc.), is handled personally by our staff. We contact our core group of carriers and negotiate pricing that always comes in lower than the cookie cutter approach that other freight quote companies use.

Local carriers are great for shipping locally. The problem is when they try to handle shipments out of their local delivery area, prices tend to either go up sharply or they have to hand it off to another shipping company. Either way, the customer ends up spending too much money.

Freight88.com can handle most any type of freight shipment, to most anywhere in the world.

At Freight88.com we accept VISA, M/C, Discover, and upon approval, 15-day invoicing.

Yes, many of our clients do have multiple shows that they ship to. We can also schedule warehousing between shows if needed. When filling out the quote request you will be asked if it is to return back to origin or to another show.

If you inaccurate weight or class your shipment and it is reweighed or re-classed by the carrier, those costs will be passed on to you. You will be notified and billed accordingly. Reweighing usually delays your delivery.

Dimensional weight, also called "dim" weight, is used because the space a package takes may cost more than the package's actual weight. Transportation charges are based on the gross weight of the shipment or the dimensional weight of the shipment, whichever is greater. Dimensional weight is when the weight of a package is inappropriately less than the actual size of the package. For example, a cardboard box filled with inflated whoopie cushions.

When the actual weight of a shipment is less than the calculated dimensional weight, carriers will charge by the dimensional weight.

PLEASE do not call the freight carrier or terminal - this could result in a duplicate pickup. When you book the shipment, our system contacts the carrier for you, electronically. It will also send out the Bill of Lading to all parties for their records. If there is a duplicate pickup due to you calling the carrier, you can be billed for the inconvenience. Our system was developed to make your shipping simple. Sit back and enjoy it.

Our automated system sends out a copy of the Bill of Lading to all parties (buyer, seller and carrier). You must supply the carrier with Freight88.com’s Bill of Lading (BOL) Failure to do so will create a major headache for all parties involved. You may be billed by the carrier at full cost (much higher than Freight88.com), or your shipment may be sent COD (Cash on Delivery). This could create a bad relationship between you and your customer. Always keep one copy for your records.

Any claims for loss or damage are handled directly between the shipper, consignee and the carrier. If Freight88.com has issued you a certificate of insurance, then it is easy, it can be done very quickly, online. If you got standard carrier coverage, claims with the carrier must be filed as soon as possible. The claim is only to file for loss or damage on the product which was shipped. Best practice is to inspect the shipment prior to signing off on it. It is nearly impossible to get reimbursed unless it has been noted on the Bill of Lading. Do not let the driver leave until you have inspected the freight. Claim process will not start with the carrier IF the shipment has not been paid for in full first.

When you package, crate or stack on pallets remember to secure it, to prevent damage. Secure your product to the pallet with any of the following - banding, shrink-wrap or stretch-wrap. You can purchase those products on our buy supplies page. Improper packaging can void a carrier's liability for a damage claim. Labels must be placed on every piece or package. Learn more shipping tricks

Yes, but it cannot be guaranteed. Allow at least a 4 hour window to allow the carrier to be dispatched to the desired location. A carrier will normally deliver in the morning and make pickups after the trailer has been emptied. There is no way that a carrier can specify a pickup time. Please be flexible within your normal business hours.

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) is a standard that provides a comparison of commodities moving in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce. It is similar in concept to the groupings or grading systems that serve many other industries. Commodities are grouped into one of 18 classes—from a low of class 50 to a high of class 500—based on an evaluation of four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability. Together, these characteristics establish a commodities “transportability.”

We always advise our customers to list the exact description along with the NMFC item number, and class. This eliminates any errors on the part of the carrier in rating the shipment. For example, if you ship chairs and just list chairs as the description, the carrier can apply a variety of classes. But if you list the actual description, item number, and class, then the carrier will not be in the position to re-rate the shipment.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association sets the classifications. If you do not know your NMFC number, contact us at 866-944-8819 ext 709. We’d be happy to supply you with the information.

Typical shipping involves the trailer backing up to a loading dock and the shipper (consignor) loads it into the trailer. The cargo is then delivered to the receiving destination loading dock, to be unloaded by the customer (consignee). Any shipment that does not fall into these parameters may require additional fees (assessorial charges). The carrier will charge for special freight requirements. Some of these charges are:

Tradeshow delivery or pick up.
Lift gate (Ground delivery)
Residential
Inside Delivery
Appointment
Re-delivery
Notification
Hazardous materials
COD Fee (we do not ship COD)

Mistakes can happen. Please call our customer service department (866-944-8819 ext 709), and we will request a copy of the bill you received. Our customer service staff will take care of it immediately and have the charges properly credited. This usually occurs when the Freight88.com BOL was not supplied to the driver upon pick up, but it can also be an honest mistake by the carrier.