Questions to ask when shipping freight

#2: What do your Skids look like?

The next important thing to know is what your skids look like. This is applicable if you’re shipping freight on a skid. Skids make the shipping process a whole lot easier but not all skids are the same size. The shipper needs to communicate the number of skids, size of the skid, and any other information they know about the skid type. The transportation industry runs off of the assumption that a skid will be 48*40, height will vary but carriers will load their trucks using this measurement for skid spots. Communicating the correct size and weight of your shipment will allow the for the most accurate price for your shipment.

#3: Is your Shipment Hazardous?

Many shipments that move throughout the roads of North America every day consist of hazardous freight. These can be easily seen by the placards on the trailer. Placards are shown because that in the event of an accident, emergency responders will be aware of the goods on board the trailer in order of react correctly. Hazardous shipments are separated into difference classes and divisions in order to make it easier to identify. The list below outlines these:

• Class 1 — Explosives 
  • 1.1: Products with the potential to create a mass explosion 
  • 1.2: Products with the potential to create a projectile hazard  
  • 1.3: Products with the potential to create a fire or minor blast 
  • 1.4: Products with no significant risk of creating a blast 
  • 1.5: Products considered very insensitive that are used as blasting agents 
  • 1.6: Products considered extremely insensitive with no risk to create a mass explosion 
• Class 2 — Gases 
  • 2.1: Flammable gases 
  • 2.2: Nonflammable gases 
  • 2.3: Poison gases
  • 2.4: Corrosive gases 
• Class 3 — Flammable and combustible liquids
  
  • 2.1: Flammable gases 
  • 2.2: Nonflammable gases 
  • 2.3: Poison gases
  • 2.4: Corrosive gases 
• Class 4 — Flammable materials 
  • 4.1: Flammable solids 
  • 4.2: Spontaneously combustible 
  • 4.3: Materials that dangerous when wet 
• Class 5 — Oxidizer and organic peroxide 
  • 5.1: Oxidizers
  • 5.2: Organic peroxides 
• Class 6 — Poisons
  • 6.1: Poisonous materials  
  • 6.2: Etiologic (infectious) materials 
• Class 7 — Radioactive  
• Class 8 — Corrosive 
• Class 9 — Miscellaneous 

#4: Are there any Temperature Requirements?

The next thing to think about is whether there are any temperature requirements involved with your shipment, both warm and cold. A major industry that asks this question all the time is the food industry. Many shipments need to put in trailers known as reefer trailers. These are specialized trailers that can be set at a desired temperature to ensure that the commodity stays safe and undamaged throughout transit. The next component of temperature control comes on the other side of the thermometer. In Canada and many of the colder climate states, temperatures get below freezing which can impact the freight in the trailer. For many shipments, this is not an issue. They will arrive without issue as the commodity is not impacted by temperature. For other shipments, this is an issue. The commodity can not be in an environment that will be cold enough to freeze it. The solution to this was heated dry vans. Heated dry vans ensure that shipments will stay at an acceptable temperature through transit. 

Conclusion

Shipping freight is simple with the right information. The more you know, the better. Passing on all of the vital information for your shipment will ensure that the most efficient option is chosen. Following these tips and answering the above questions can help make sure you have all the right information for your shipment. 

We thank you for your time. We are always open to answering any questions. Reach out to us today through operations@wood-hall.com or give us a call at 519-213-1000!

-The Team at Wood-Hall Logistics