Freight Shipping by Carrier – affordable online booking

What makes shipping differ by category of goods

Two consignments of identical weight can require completely different transports. What matters is not the kilogram but the ratio of weight to volume and how delicate the goods are. An engine puts 150 kg onto half a square metre and overwhelms an ordinary pallet through point loading. A bumper weighs five kilograms but claims the same loading area as 300 kg of groupage freight. This is why the price calculator always asks for all three dimensions and not only the weight.

The second distinction lies in packaging. With body panels and painted surfaces, damage almost never comes from impact but from pressure marks and adhesive tape on the paint. With electronics the problem is not a single knock but sustained vibration across the whole journey. Glass and natural stone must travel standing, whereas tyres and rims are stacked flat. Forming the right loading unit reduces the risk of damage more than any additional insurance.

Third, some categories carry their own rules. Batteries and lithium-ion packs are dangerous goods and need a UN number, approved packaging and labelling — an undeclared consignment is stopped during handling. Big bags and IBC containers require a forklift at both ends. Long goods from six metres restrict the vehicles available. These points belong in the booking, not in a later phone call.

If you are unsure which category applies, work from the packed consignment rather than the product name. Enter the outer dimensions and the weight as it will be handed over — including the pallet, the carton and any padding. The calculator derives the loading metres from that and shows the products actually available for those dimensions. Where a consignment falls between categories, a short call settles it faster than trying several combinations in the form.