Guessing at freight costs and dimensional weight can be detrimental to business growth. For shippers that think they’re doing everything right, not doing the research can come at a huge cost - potentially even risking the entire business. 

The rapid increase in e-commerce shipments is putting a strain on carriers’ networks and is quickly affecting freight charges. Freight fees, which add up to significant costs for shippers, must either be absorbed by the shipper or passed on to consumers. To control their freight fate, companies need to know the most common ways additional freight costs can incur.

One of the funnier (and more truthful) bumper stickers I’ve seen lately has been on the backs of tractor trailers traveling the highways. It reads: Don’t like trucks? Stop buying stuff. Problem solved.

This consumer joke hits home to those of us who spend a lot of time in fulfillment centers, especially during holiday peak season, which heats up mid-November and lasts through early January. As more purchases are made online, there’s more trouble brewing inside fulfillment centers that still aren’t prepared for the onslaught of e-commerce holiday orders each year.

Designing for delivery ensures that products are packaged properly at the onset, such as at the manufacturer site.