What Information Do You Need for a Freight Quote?

The fastest way to an accurate truckload quote is to give accurate details up front. Missing or estimated information is the most common reason a price changes after booking — a load turns out heavier, taller or harder to unload than expected, and the equipment or the rate has to change. Here is what to have ready.

The essentials — every shipment

• Pickup location — city, state and ZIP code (the full address once booked)
• Delivery location — city, state and ZIP code
• Ready date — when the freight can be picked up, and any delivery deadline
• Commodity — what the freight is, in plain terms
• Weight — total weight of the shipment
• Equipment — dry van, flatbed, step deck, RGN, or “not sure”

For palletized or boxed freight

• Number of pallets or pieces, and pallet size if it is not standard
• Whether freight can be stacked
• Whether each location has a loading dock
• Appointment requirements and facility hours

For open-deck freight

• Dimensions of the largest piece — length, width and height
• Number of pieces and the weight of the heaviest piece
• How the freight is loaded and unloaded: forklift, crane or drive-on
• Tarping or special securement requirements

For oversize and heavy-haul freight

• Exact dimensions and weight — measured, not estimated
• Photos, drawings or spec sheets if available
• Site access at pickup and delivery
• Any required delivery window

Oversize moves depend on permits and routing, which depend on precise dimensions. A few inches of height or a few thousand pounds can change which trailer is needed and which permits apply. See Understanding Oversize Freight Shipping.

Details that are easy to forget

• Whether the freight is regulated as hazardous material
• Liftgate or inside-delivery needs at locations without a dock
• Limited-access locations such as construction sites or residential areas
• Whether a delivery appointment must be scheduled in advance