How To Ship Large Items Across the Country

So big, so heavy, and so difficult to ship right? Wrong!

Nowadays, shipping large items is easy and painless. So in this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about oversized shipments. We’re going over the best way to ship large items, how other eCommerce shops are doing it, and of course, things to consider before shipping.

So, let’s begin with the most important - how to ship heavy items!

How Can You Ship Large Items?

Shipping large items across the country could be costly, especially if your package is heavy. So, the first step is selecting a shipping service that can handle your package and guarantee that the shipment will arrive in one piece.

Find the Right Shipping Service:

So, the first step in large package shipping is to find a freight shipping service that suits your requirements and has acceptable shipping costs. In that regard you’ve got three options that you need to explore:

• Freight Shipping - Ideal for large package transportation, including LTL (less than truckload) and FTL (full truckload) with varying prices.

• Courier Services - Some courier services offer specialized freight shipping services for large items, but you should expect an extra charge for packages over 70 lbs.

• Specialized Movers - You can search for shipping companies that provide large item shipping services, ideal for oversized and expensive shipments.

If the items are large and heavy, and extremely expensive such as pianos, artwork, or others, then freight shipments will get the job done.

However, you need to be picky and selective when choosing the provider whom you would work with, to discover the best way to ship heavy items.

Weight Measuring & Packaging

If you want to find shipping for large items quickly you need to be prepared!

One of the first questions that you’ll be asked upon submitting a quote is the accurate size and dimensional weight of your pallets. Hence, grab the tape measure and ensure that you’ve got the exact dimensions and approximate weight of your cargo.

How to Measure Dimensional Weight?

1. Measure the height, width, and length of your package.
2. Get the cubic size by multiplying width x length x height.
3. Divide by the dim divisor, which is commonly 139 or 166.
4. Round up, and you have got your dimensional weight.

On the other hand, the packaging will be determined, based on the nature of your shipment and the level of security that it requires. You can count on support with the packaging from the provider.

Labeling and Shipping Quotes

One of the final steps to ship large items would be the labeling. You must be prepared to share the exact destination of the heavy package.

As far as the quote, you’ve got two options:

• Online Freight Quote - You can submit a request for a quote online, which is typically possible through the official webpage of the provider.

• Calling/Direct Contact - Another way to receive a quote would be by calling the provider, which again is possible through their official website.

Also, in many cases, you’ll see agents waiting on live chat to discuss your request and shipping rate with you, so if you want a quick response, live chat is a good way to do so.

Pickup Schedule & Transportation

The last step in shipping large heavy items is to schedule a pickup. In many cases, this would be ground shipping, so you should be expecting a truck. You shouldn’t worry about the pickup, as freight couriers typically offer lift gate trucks, which can load your package from the ground.

As far as the transportation, you’ll get the arrival date and updates regarding the delivery. So, once the package has been loaded into the truck, it’s no longer your concern. The job is done!

That was how to ship oversized items in quick steps, so let’s get into some industry insights!

How Do eCommerce Shops Ship Heavy Items?

If you’re an eCommerce business owner and wondering how to ship large items, we’re going to provide you with a few courier services that you can use.

Large Item Shipping with USPS:

• Dim Divisor: 166
• Dimensional Weight: Not Specified

Perhaps the most common and preferred courier for shipping big items is USPS where any package exceeding 108 inches, but less than 130 inches in width must be transported via Parcel Select. If your package is longer than 108 inches and wider than 130 inches you must contact USPS directly for a specific shipping rate.

Large Item Shipping with DHL:

• Dim Divisor: 166
• Dimensional Weight: Over 150 lbs

DHL specializes in international large box shipping, for packages over 47″ x 31″ x 31″. The best way to get a quote with DHL would be by contacting them directly and sharing the dimensions of your shipment.

Large Item Shipping with FedEx:

• Dim Divisor: 139
• Dimensional Weight: Over 90 pounds

Well, even though it’s smaller than USPS, FedEx can provide you with shipping options for large items, but know that you should expect extra charges for shipping during holidays. They mainly use ground shipping, so if the box’s size does not meet the extremes, feel free to leave a quote.

That’s the most important thing about how to ship large objects. Let’s move to other things to know!

What To Consider When Shipping Heavy Items?

Now that you’ve got a rough idea of how to ship large boxes, it’s time to learn some essentials!

Item Specifications:

When shipping heavy items, one of the most important factors to consider is the specifications of your shipment. Is it fragile? Does it require special treatment? Any transportation conditions?

In short, you must note down everything you want to share with the courier before you ship a large box or other heavy package.

Cargo Packaging:

The packaging is another very important factor to consider when shipping heavy-duty boxes, especially if they are fragile and require reinforcement. For example, does it require padding, additional protection, bubble wrap, packaging materials, vibration allowances, and more…

Shipping Method:

Since we’ve already discussed how to ship bulky items, we’re only going to mention some other important factors such as the quantity of your shipment. Will it fill an entire truck? If not, then the cost for the shipment would be spread between all participants.

Also, does your cargo require special handling? If yes, don’t forget to mention this beforehand!

Cost Effectiveness:

The final important factor to consider when transporting large items is of course the cost. You need to be aware that in order to ship items with enormous sizes, you’re going to pay for them. How much depends mainly on the weight, size, and of course the shipping policy of the freight courier of your choice.

So, it’s always better to explore multiple opportunities by leaving several quotes to find the least expensive shipping for heavy items.

Calculate the Costs of Shipping Large or Heavy Items!

Now that you know how to ship big items, it’s time to calculate the cost. This is very easy as you only need to use a freight calculator. You would need to input several details, such as “Ship From” and “Ship To” as well as “Quantity” and “Weight” to get the cost of shipping large items.

Well, most of the large item shipping companies provide their own calculator, which can help you estimate the shipping cost of your heavy items. You can typically discover it on their site.

Choose the Least Expensive Shipping for Heavy Items

If you want to find the least expensive shipping for heavy items, here at FreightRun, we provide LTL, FTL, Parcel, and Vehicle shipping options at your disposal. Feel free to request a quote, and get the best prices for shipping heavy items.

Useful Tips When Shipping Large Items:

Now you know how to ship big boxes and the cheapest way to ship them across the country, but what’s left is to acquire some useful tips!

Choose the Right Packaging

To verify that your package shipping will be safe and secure you need to consider using sturdy boxes/crates, reinforce weak points, or incorporate custom packaging. This guarantees that your shipment won’t get damaged during transportation.

Implement the Proper Padding

So, if your large package is fragile, it’s necessary to implement proper padding such as bubble wrap, foam, inflatable air cushions, or packing peanuts. This will guarantee that your freight will be protected against vibration and physical impact.

Use Clear and Accurate Label

To prevent confusion, it’s recommended to use clear, concise, and accurate marks with the box’s dimensions. You should also include handling instructions and shipping labels, which will be extremely helpful when shipping big items.

Get to Know the Cost & Fees

Even if you’ve discovered the cheapest way to ship heavy items, it’s recommended to ask and find out whether any additional fees will be applied. You can also consider purchasing freight insurance to guarantee that even if your cargo is damaged or lost, everything will be covered.

Conclusion - How Can I Ship Large Items?

In conclusion, we can say that the most important part is the calculation of the dimensional weight and finding the right freight carrier that will get the job done at the right price. So, feel free to leave a quote request and get your heavy objects shipped.

So, now you know everything about how to ship large heavy items. Best of luck!