Question 1

How much does freight shipping cost?

Accepted Answer

Freight cost depends on the mode. LTL (less-than-truckload) palletized shipments run about $185–$900; full truckload (FTL) dry van is priced per mile at roughly $1.80–$2.50 all-in with a $650 minimum; flatbed runs $2.45–$3.00/mi; and RGN heavy-haul $3.75–$5.00+/mi. Intermodal is cheaper than FTL on long hauls, and drayage is a flat local rate. Get an instant quote in 60 seconds.

Question 2

What's the difference between LTL and FTL freight?

Accepted Answer

LTL (less-than-truckload) shares trailer space with other shipments and is priced by weight, NMFC freight class, and distance — best for 1–6 palletized shipments under ~15,000 lbs. FTL (full truckload) dedicates an entire trailer to your freight, priced per mile — faster, lower damage risk, and more economical once you reach 10+ pallets.

Question 3

What freight equipment types do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We rate 13 freight modes: LTL, FTL dry van, reefer (temperature-controlled), flatbed, step deck, RGN/lowboy heavy-haul, power only, hotshot, sprinter/cargo van, 26 ft box truck, intermodal, drayage, and oversized/specialized. Each is matched to vetted, FMCSA-licensed carriers with the right equipment.

Question 4

What is NMFC freight class and how do I find mine?

Accepted Answer

NMFC freight class (50–500) rates LTL freight by density, stowability, handling, and liability. Lower classes cost less. If you don't know your class, our freight-class calculator estimates it from weight and dimensions using density, and our team verifies it before dispatch so there are no reclassification surprises.

Question 5

How fast can freight be picked up?

Accepted Answer

Standard LTL and truckload pickups are typically available within 1–3 business days. Hotshot and sprinter/cargo van freight can often be picked up same-day or next-day for urgent, dedicated loads. Drayage container moves are usually same-day at the terminal.

Question 6

Is my freight insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every shipment moves with FMCSA-licensed carriers carrying liability and cargo coverage, includes a Bill of Lading, and can add declared-value coverage for high-value freight over $100,000. Pricing is reviewed and confirmed by our freight team before dispatch.

Question 7

Can you ship hazmat or temperature-controlled freight?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hazmat freight is matched to compliant, certified carriers — just flag it (and your hazmat class/UN number) at quote time. Temperature-sensitive freight ships on monitored reefer trailers at your selected setpoint, from frozen (-10°F) to cool (60°F).

Question 8

Do you handle oversized or heavy-haul loads?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Loads exceeding legal width, height, length, or weight ship on RGN/lowboy or specialized multi-axle trailers with state oversize/overweight permits, pilot cars, and route surveys coordinated by our freight team. Oversized loads are custom-quoted individually.

Question 9

Do you offer freight solutions by industry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have dedicated guidance for manufacturing, retail & e-commerce, automotive, construction, agriculture, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, machinery, building materials, furniture, electronics, and oil & gas freight — each with the recommended modes and accessorials for that industry.

Question 10

How do I know what freight mode to choose for my commodity?

Accepted Answer

Browse by what you're shipping — pallets, machinery, steel, lumber, furniture, electronics, perishables, and more each have a recommended mode and typical equipment. Not sure? Our freight team confirms the right mode at quote time.

Question 11

Are you a freight broker or a carrier?

Accepted Answer

KeepShippin operates as a licensed freight broker, matching your shipment to vetted, FMCSA-licensed carriers with the right equipment for your lane and load type — the same way major 3PLs operate, but with instant online pricing instead of waiting on a rep.

Question 12

What's a headhaul vs a backhaul lane?

Accepted Answer

A headhaul lane carries more freight in the primary direction (e.g., out of a port toward an inland hub); a backhaul lane runs the opposite, lower-volume direction, which can price more competitively since carriers are repositioning anyway. Our lane pages flag which applies.

Question 13

Can you move freight through a port or across the border?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Intermodal and drayage cover port and rail container moves with TWIC-credentialed drivers, and we regularly move freight across the US-Mexico border via Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville, and El Paso on the I-35/NAFTA corridor.

Question 14

Do you support recurring business shipments, not just one-time loads?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many commercial shippers use KeepShippin for standing lanes rather than re-quoting every shipment — talk to our freight team about setting up recurring pickup schedules for your business.

Question 15

How do I book a freight shipment?

Accepted Answer

Get an instant quote online in under 60 seconds, confirm pricing with our freight team, and we dispatch an FMCSA-licensed carrier — no phone call required unless your load needs a custom quote (oversized, specialty permits, etc.).

	LTL	FTL Dry Van
Best for	1–6 pallets, under ~15,000 lbs	Full/near-full trailer loads
Priced by	Weight + NMFC class (CWT)	Per mile, tapered by distance
Typical cost	$185 – $900	$650 min, ~$1.80–$2.50/mi
Transit	2–3 days regional, 5–7 cross-country	1–2 days regional, 4–6 cross-country
Handling	Terminal transfers (higher damage risk)	One load, no transfers

Mode	Typical Cost	Typical Weight	Transit
LTL	$185 – $900 per shipment	150 – 15,000 lbs (1–6 pallets)	2–3 days regional, 5–7 days cross-country
FTL Dry Van	$650 minimum, ~$1.80–$2.50/mi all-in	Up to 45,000 lbs	1–2 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country
Reefer	$850 minimum, ~$2.30–$2.90/mi all-in	Up to 43,000 lbs (reefer unit reduces payload)	1–2 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country (continuous cold chain)
Flatbed	$750 minimum, ~$2.45–$3.00/mi all-in	Up to 48,000 lbs	1–2 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country
Step Deck	$900 minimum, ~$2.70–$3.30/mi all-in	Up to 48,000 lbs	2–3 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country
RGN / Lowboy	$1,400 minimum, ~$3.75–$5.00+/mi all-in	40,000 – 80,000+ lbs	1–2 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country (permit-dependent)
Power Only	$500 minimum, ~$1.45–$1.90/mi all-in	Up to ~45,000 lbs (your trailer's rating)	1–2 days regional, 4–6 days cross-country
Hotshot	$550 minimum, ~$1.70–$2.10/mi all-in	Up to ~16,000 lbs	Same day – 2 days (expedited, single-load priority)
Sprinter Van	$275 minimum, ~$1.30–$1.75/mi all-in	Up to ~3,000 lbs (1–3 pallets)	Same day – 1 day (direct, no transfers)
Box Truck	$450 minimum, ~$1.75–$2.10/mi all-in	Up to ~12,000 lbs (6–12 pallets)	Same day – 2 days regional
Intermodal	$650–$950 minimum + mileage, 20/40/45 ft containers	Up to 44,000 lbs gross per container	3–12 days depending on distance (rail-schedule dependent)
Drayage	$375–$725 typical local move + chassis fee	Up to 44,000 lbs gross per container	Same day – 1 day (local)
Oversized	Custom quote — reviewed individually	80,000+ lbs / beyond legal dimensions	Varies — permit and escort dependent

Freight Shipping Done Right — LTL, Truckload & Everything In Between

How Freight Pricing Works

Freight Services & Equipment Types

Van & Temperature-Controlled

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Freight Shipping

FTL Dry Van Freight Shipping

Reefer (Temperature-Controlled) Freight Shipping

Flatbed & Specialized

Flatbed Freight Shipping

Step Deck (Drop Deck) Freight Shipping

RGN / Lowboy Heavy-Haul Freight Shipping

Power Only Trucking

Hotshot Trucking

Oversized / Specialized Freight Transport

Small & Local

Sprinter / Cargo Van Freight Shipping

26 ft Box Truck Freight Shipping

Container & Port

Intermodal Container Freight Shipping

Drayage (Port / Rail) Freight Shipping

Compare All 13 Freight Modes

Don't know your freight class?

Freight Shipping by Industry

Manufacturing

Retail & E-commerce

Automotive

Construction

Agriculture

Food & Beverage

Pharmaceutical & Medical

Machinery & Industrial Equipment

Building Materials

What Are You Shipping?

Pallets & Packaged Goods

Machinery & Industrial Equipment

Steel & Metal Products

Lumber & Building Materials

Automotive Parts

Furniture

Electronics

Appliances

Perishable & Food Products

Freight Lanes by Corridor

I-35 / NAFTA Corridor

I-10 / West Coast Corridor

I-80 / I-90 Midwest Corridor

I-95 Northeast Corridor

I-10 / Inland Empire Corridor

I-85 Carolinas Corridor

I-70 Corridor

I-75 / I-85 Southeast Corridor

I-95 Southeast Corridor

More popular lanes

Freight Shipping by State

Also Ship With KeepShippin

Freight Shipping FAQ

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