It's important to package your freight well to help protect it from damages.

General LTL Packaging guidelines:

• Properly stack your items onto a pallet. If you are shipping multiple units, make sure all units are placed closely together on the pallet so they cannot shift in transit. We highly recommend using shrink wrap to secure the units to the pallet itself.
• Avoid having your items overhang from the pallet when packaging your shipment. 
• If your freight is susceptible to being nicked, scratched, or damaged by being in contact with other freight, then you must package it with a minimum of cardboard followed by shrink wrap but fully crating is encouraged.
• Strapping or securing your items onto the pallet will help your shipment stay intact. Consider straps, a metal band or plastic wrap. 
• Engines or propulsion machinery including vehicle and boat engines should be drained of all liquids, strapped or banded to a pallet and crated to avoid rejection at pickup. Crating requirements vary per carrier. Many LTL carriers won't pick up items such as transmissions or motors if they aren't crated.
• Make sure your packaged shipment has a clear shipping label on it, see uShip BOL provided upon booking as well as imagine below for further reference.
• Remember, your shipment is going to be cross docked at various terminals during transit. Meaning, it will be loaded and unloaded several times during transit with forklifts and lift gates. Items could be exposed to the elements during transit, so please package your shipment accordingly in order to minimize any issues during transit. 

• For crates, note the following:
  • Pack crates as full as possible to prevent additional movement during transport.
  • Pack heavier items on the bottom of the crate and place lighter items at the top.
  • Use packing material to fill excess space inside the crate. Especially if fragile.
  • Individually wrap items before crating and consider strapping them onto the base. This adds an extra layer of protection.

For a more detailed explanation of how to prepare your freight for transport, please read this article. If you have additional questions, please contact our LTL Operations team by clicking here.