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Slide 1: Six Ways to Lower Your Freight Shipping Costs In these tight economic times, every dollar counts and freight shipping costs are no exception. There are a number of ways to keep your freight costs lower, especially for smaller volume shippers. Below are 6 easy things to consider: Smaller is better. The more space your shipment takes up, the higher the cost. Eliminate bulky packaging without jeopardizing your shipment from getting damaged. Freight carriers not only consider the weight of your shipment, but also how much space it takes up on the truck, or airplane. A hundred pound shipment of foam will cost more than 100 pound shipment of steel. Shipment to / from a business. Business to business shipments are always cheaper than residential shipments. Freight carriers charge a premium on residential pickups / deliveries, so if you can find a friend's business to use, you'll save yourself some money. Take a Look at freight shipping Avoid extended services. This is where the fees can add up. If your shipment is less than 175 lbs, get a friend to help you lift it off the truck and avoid the costly lift gate fee. Also, avoid the inside pickup / delivery fees. Most freight is picked up and delivered curbside. If you request inside pickup / delivery, the carrier will only deliver it past the opening threshold of the building. This may mean the front door of your house. Don't expect them to climb or descend stairs. In most cases, it makes sense to avoid the inside pickup / delivery and do it yourself. Crate it. While crates are more expensive to build than pallets, they'll protect your shipment more during transit. They'll often save you money too, especially when shipping LTL (less than truckload). For example, a palletized car engine is a freight class 85, yet a crated engine is a cheaper class 70. Avoid freight carrier insurance. Freight carriers are in the business of moving your freight, not insuring it. Consider using a 3rdparty insurance agent like InsureCargo.com or Shipsurance.com. They'll often provide cheaper prices and better coverage for insuring your shipment. Compare freight rates. Be an informed consumer and get freight quotes from multiple providers---and consider online sources. Freight rates vary considerably, even with the same carrier, and getting competing quotes will ensure your getting the lowest freight quote for your shipment.