Pickup & Delivery Location Types

Learn about the different types of pickup and delivery locations and how they impact the shipping process, costs, and equipment needed.

When you create a shipping request, you must specify the type of location for both pickup and delivery. The type of location affects the type of truck required, loading equipment, and any additional handling costs. Here are the common location types available through our platform.

1. Business with Loading Dock

Business with Loading Dock

Definition: A commercial or industrial location that has a dedicated loading dock where trucks can back in and load or unload freight using forklifts, pallet jacks, or conveyor belts.

When to Choose This Option?

  • Shipping from a warehouse, distribution center, or manufacturing facility with an accessible loading dock.
  • Shipment can be loaded directly from the dock into the truck.
  • No liftgate required as the dock aligns with the truck's height.

Key Considerations

  • Cost-effective option as no additional handling equipment is required.
  • Fast and efficient loading/unloading process.
  • Limited to businesses with a dock available.

Example: A warehouse in New York ships 15 pallets of clothing to a retailer in Texas. The warehouse has a dedicated loading dock where trucks can back in and load the pallets directly, saving costs and time.

2. Business without Dock but with Forklift

Business without Loading Dock but with forklift

Definition: A business location that does not have a loading dock, but a forklift is available to load and unload freight from the truck.

When to Choose This Option?

  • You’re shipping from a business or facility with a forklift on-site but no loading dock.
  • Your goods are large, bulky, or palletized and require a forklift to load them into the truck.

Key Considerations

  • Loading takes slightly longer compared to loading docks but is still cost-effective.
  • Requires coordination with the forklift operator to ensure the proper handling of goods.
  • No liftgate is required, but forklift access must be confirmed in advance.

Example: A furniture manufacturer located in a remote industrial area needs to ship 10 pallets of furniture to a retailer. The facility does not have a loading dock but has a forklift on-site. The carrier coordinates with the forklift operator to load the pallets onto the truck.

3. Commercial Unit without Dock or Forklift

Commercial Unit without Dock or Forklift

Definition: A commercial property, such as a storefront, office, or non-industrial facility, that does not have a dock or forklift to assist with loading.

When to Choose This Option?

  • You’re shipping from a retail store, small warehouse, or office building without a dock or forklift.
  • Your shipment is light enough to be manually loaded or requires liftgate support.
  • You need extra assistance to load large or heavy items into the truck.

Key Considerations

  • Liftgate Required: Since there is no dock, a liftgate may be required to lower heavy items to the ground.
  • Extra Handling Costs: Additional fees may apply for manual loading assistance or liftgate use.
  • Delays may occur if extra handling services aren’t prearranged with the carrier.

Example: A small electronics store needs to ship five large boxes of equipment to a new store location. Since the store has no dock or forklift, the truck arrives with a liftgate to lower the boxes to ground level, and the store's employees help load them into the truck.

4. Storage Facility

Storage Facility

Definition: A self-storage or warehouse facility where goods are stored temporarily before shipping.

When to Choose This Option?

  • Shipping from a storage unit or self-storage facility.
  • Personal or commercial inventory is stored at a third-party location.
  • Pickup must be scheduled in advance to ensure access to the storage unit.

Key Considerations

  • Limited access hours, so scheduling is essential.
  • Liftgate support may be required for large or heavy items.
  • Storage facility rules may require entry procedures or gate codes.

Example: A business stores 20 boxes of inventory at a self-storage facility and ships them to a warehouse. Since there is no dock, the truck uses a liftgate to lower the boxes to the ground for loading.

5. Residential Pickup/Delivery

Residential Pickup/Delivery

Definition: Residential pickups or deliveries occur at a home, apartment, or residential property.

When to Choose This Option?

  • Shipping from a personal residence or home office.
  • Items are at the ground level and must be picked up from your home.
  • Heavy, bulky, or large items need to be picked up from your doorstep.

Key Considerations

  • Liftgate support is usually required.
  • Extra fees may apply for residential pickup/delivery services.
  • Drivers may require delivery instructions (like gate codes).

Example: A homeowner sells a large sofa online. The carrier arranges a liftgate-equipped truck to pick up the sofa from the driveway.

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