Are Freight Dimensions Important for LTL Carriers?

Ordering a custom piece of furniture and realizing it won’t fit through your front door—annoying, right? The same principle applies to LTL shipping. Just like measuring your space before buying furniture, getting your freight dimensions right ensures you have the correct freight class and Bill of Lading (BOL). This helps you avoid unexpected costs and shipping delays.

Are incorrect dimensions that costly?

Let's compare two palletized shipments of a same product (Ceramic Tiles)—one measured accurately using automated freight dimensioner and one with incorrect dimensions—to see how these small mistakes can lead to big costs.

Freight Class Determination

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system determines freight class based on density:

Class 70 typically includes items with a density of 15 to 22.5 lbs per cubic foot.

Class 77.5 includes items with a density of 13.5 to 15 lbs per cubic foot.

Impact on Freight Class and BOL

Freight Class Discrepancy:

The correct pallet has a density of 18 lbs/cubic foot, placing it comfortably in freight class 70.

The incorrect pallet, with a density of 14.27 lbs/cubic foot, falls into a higher freight class 77.5.

Cost Implications:

Higher freight class means higher shipping costs. Freight class 85 can be up to 15-20% more expensive than class 77.5.

For instance, if a shipment that would cost $200 at class 77.5, the cost could increase to $230-$240 due to the reclassification.

Bill of Lading (BOL) Adjustments:

Carriers often remeasure and reclassify shipments. Incorrect dimensions can lead to mismatches on the Bill of Lading (BOL), resulting in additional administrative fees and potential delays. Frequent discrepancies may damage the shipper’s credibility, leading to stricter scrutiny on future shipments.

How to overcome incorrect dimensions?

The NMFTA advises accurately measuring the dimensions and weight of your goods to avoid freight reclassification. So, how to avoid this? Simply by using an automated freight dimensioner.

An automated freight dimensioner accurately measures the length, width, height, and weight of freight. Unlike manual measurements, these systems provide consistent and highly accurate data, eliminating the risk of human error.

Benefits of an Automated Freight Dimensioner

Cost Savings:

Accurate dimensions help in avoiding the costly reclassification fees that occur due to incorrect measurements. By ensuring the correct freight class, you can prevent additional charges from carriers.

Data Integration:

These freight dimensioner can integrate with your existing shipping and logistics software, allowing real-time data transfer and updates. This integration ensures that all relevant shipping information is accurate and up-to-date, streamlining the generation of Bills of Lading (BOL) and other shipping documents.

Enhanced Reporting and Analysis:

Automated freight dimensioning systems often come with robust reporting tools, allowing you to analyze shipping data. This analysis can help identify trends, optimize shipping strategies, and make informed decisions to improve overall logistics efficiency.

Use a reliable freight dimensioner like vMeasure Pallet Ultima to measure accurately and streamline your shipping process and ensure accurate freight classifications, ultimately saving you time and money.

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