Independent freight information
Practical guides for shippers and anyone new to moving goods by truck: choosing a service, understanding the cost, getting the paperwork right and knowing what to do when something goes wrong.
What you'll learn
Choose the right service and equipment, and get the freight ready to load.
How classes, density, fuel and extra services shape what a shipment costs.
Check who you hand freight to, get the paperwork right and know what to do if it goes wrong.
Freight guides
Each guide is checked against official sources, such as federal regulations and agency guidance, and lists them at the end.
Full truckload and less-than-truckload are the two main ways to ship freight that is too big for a parcel service. This guide explains how each one works and how to decide between them.
The trailer a shipment travels in shapes how it is loaded, protected and priced. This guide covers the main trailer types and the federal size and weight rules behind them.
Freight class drives the price of most less-than-truckload shipments, and the rules behind it changed in July 2025. Here is how the system works now and what shippers should do about it.
Most truck freight bills are built from the same few parts. Knowing how each one is calculated makes quotes easier to compare and invoices easier to check.
Freight that is stacked square, wrapped tight, labeled clearly and measured accurately is less likely to be damaged, delayed or rebilled. Here is how to get a shipment ready for the truck.
The bill of lading is a receipt, a contract and sometimes a document of title. Getting it right at pickup, and checking the paperwork at delivery, protects shippers when something goes wrong.
A few minutes with FMCSA's free public records can confirm that a trucking company or broker is registered, insured and who it says it is. Here is what to look up, and what should make you stop.
Federal hours-of-service rules cap how long a truck driver can drive and work. Here is how the main limits work, and how time spent at your dock affects when your freight arrives.
When a truck shipment arrives damaged, short or not at all, federal law sets the basic rules for who is liable and how a claim is handled. Here is the process, from the delivery receipt to the carrier's answer.
Shipping checklist
Seven stops on the way from your dock to the consignee, with the guide that covers each one.
Full truckload or less-than-truckload, based on size, weight and timing. Read the guide: FTL vs. LTL
Dry van, reefer or flatbed, depending on what you ship. Read the guide: Dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck and more
Accurate dimensions, weight and freight class avoid surprise charges. Read the guide: Freight classes explained
Palletize, wrap and label so it survives handling. Read the guide: How to package and palletize freight for a truck shipment
Confirm operating authority, insurance and safety records. Read the guide: How to check a trucking company or freight broker before you ship
The bill of lading is your receipt and your contract. Read the guide: The bill of lading and other freight shipping documents
Note damage before signing, and know how claims work. Read the guide: Damaged or lost freight
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