| The concept of Domestic Heavyweight shipping is far | | | | Let's take an example to show how dimensional |
| from being a "no brainer" in today's Supply Chain. A | | | | weight is assessed vs. actual weight on a ground |
| customer really needs to be on their P's and Q's to | | | | shipment: |
| maximize their business when shipping via the ground. | | | | Customer is shipping a pallet of computers headed to |
| Other than price there are several key factors that | | | | Denver, Colorado. The pallet dims are 48x50x50 with |
| must be considered to get the most out of your | | | | a weight of 300 pounds. After multiplying the pallet |
| carriers- transit time, region expertise, to name a | | | | dimensions together and dividing by 250 your |
| couple. Something that I had a particularly difficult | | | | dimensional weight would be 480 lbs. So the carrier |
| time getting used to when I started working in the | | | | would use 480 lbs. to determine the rate. On the |
| Freight industry was the concept of Dimensional | | | | contrary, let's take the same product with the dims |
| Weight vs. the Class system for Motor Carriers. | | | | of 30x30x30 with a weight of 300 lbs... Using the |
| Freight Forwarders use dimensional weight vs. actual | | | | same DIM FACTOR of 250 you now get the |
| weight; Motor carriers use the Classification systems | | | | dimensional weight of 108 lbs. so in this case you |
| to determine liability, costs of shipment, susceptibility | | | | would take the actual weight of 300 lbs. |
| to damage, and value. In laymen terms, the class | | | | What I have used as a general rule to understand |
| system rewards a shipper whose shipment is dense | | | | the best time to use a Freight Forwarder vs. a Motor |
| with "0" or little value. So a customer shipping 500 | | | | Carrier to ship out freight are: |
| pounds of screws would get more benefits of a | | | | - 1) When time is of the essence |
| good rate than a customer shipping 500 lbs. of | | | | - 2) If you are shipping via a motor carrier and your |
| feathers. | | | | Class is at a 92.5 or above there's a good chance the |
| A few years back, the thought process was when | | | | F.F. will be more cost effective. |
| shipping LTL type shipments to always use a Motor | | | | - 3) If a shipment is high importance and damage is |
| Carrier such as Conway or UPS Freight because you | | | | NOT an option- less handling. |
| are going to get better rates and service. But times | | | | - 4) If there other variables such as "blind shipments" |
| have changed in that Freight Forwarders have | | | | and "COD's" involved. |
| become more competitive in certain situations, and | | | | - 5) If you have been experiencing theft or |
| more often than not they will offer a faster transit | | | | vandalism. In conclusion, there are many benefits in |
| time. Forwarders use dimensional weight to help them | | | | using both a Freight Forwarder and a LTL carrier but |
| assess the weight of shipments. If your shipment is | | | | the real key is for you as the shipper to fully |
| destined to travel on the ground with a Forwarder | | | | understand the capabilities that they offer. Be smart, |
| they will be using a DIM FACTOR of 250; shipments | | | | research and understand the benefits of your carrier |
| traveling in the air within the United States would be | | | | and you can take full advantage of each of their |
| using a DIM FACTOR of 194; and international would | | | | resources. |
| be D.F. 166. | | | | |