BASIC GUIDE TO SHIPPING
First time shipper? Get your all answers here.
WELCOME!
This shipping guide will help first-time shippers or those that need a refresher on how to ship freight. Click through the shipping guides for a quick look at the LTL freight-shipping process with a special focus on the questions first-time shippers ask most often about how to ship freight.
ELITE-SHIPPING STEPS
1. REQUEST A FREIGHT RATE FOR THE SHIPMENT OR SHIPMENTS YOU WANT TO SHIP.
Proper packaging prevents damage. All freight should be protected with proper packaging in compliance with the NMFC.
PROPER STACKING
Stack cartons squarely on a skid with no overhang. Box flaps and corrugations should face up. Make the top surface as flat as possible. Secure cartons to the skid with banding, stretch-wrap or breakaway adhesive.
Improper stacking may lead to damage.
Different-size containers may not be uniform enough to have unit strength.
Damage can occur if cartons overhang a pallet because there is no support for the freight in transit.
Damage can occur when a pallet doesn't have a flat top surface. Place single containers on an outside corner or ship them loose.
How stacking strength is lost
Pallet overhang loses up to 32 percent of carton strength.
Interlocked pattern loses up to 50 percent of carton strength.
Misalignment loses up to 30 percent of carton strength.
2. REQUEST A PICK UP AND RECEIVE CONFIRMATION AND YOUR ELITE EXPRESS PRO NUMBER FOR EACH SHIPMENT.
Complete names and addresses must be visible on each piece to ensure your entire shipment arrives intact. The shipper and consignee information must match the Bill of Lading information exactly, and your labels must be legible and complete.
LABEL PLACEMENT
Ideally, you should place labels securely on the long and short sides of each piece. DOT hazardous material labels are required when shipping DOT hazardous materials.
Unless specifically provided for elsewhere in the NMFC, address markings must be affixed approximately as shown in the following examples. The location shown indicates the top, side or end. If more than one location is shown, you may choose which one to use.
3. CREATE A BILL OF LADING FOR EACH SHIPMENT AND APPLY ELITE EXPRESS PRO NUMBER TO EACH BILL OF LADING.
The Bill of Lading is a legal contract between the shipper (you) and the carrier (Elite Express). The Bill of Lading states exactly what is being shipped, from where it's coming and where it's going.
The Bill of Lading is a receipt for goods, a contract of carriage and a document of title. It is important to correctly fill out a Bill of Lading.
You can buy Bills of Lading from office supply stores. The Elite Express Bill of Lading is available at no charge from your Elite Express Customer Terminal. Another option is to fill out the Elite Express Bill of Lading online and print a copy.
Need to ensure your PRO number is correct? Perform a check-digit calculation.
4. PALLETIZE AND SHRINK WRAP(PREFERABLY)YOUR FREIGHT SHIPMENT.
Call your Elite Express Customer Terminal to request shipment pickup. Or request your pickup online at our Pickup Request page. When your Elite Express driver arrives to pick up the shipment, give him or her the Bill of Lading.
5. LABEL EACH PALLET OF YOUR FREIGHT SHIPMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.
After pickup, use our online tracking tools to follow your freight as it moves through our system to final delivery. Your entire shipment moves through our system with only one tracking (PRO) number to follow. If shipped on a pallet, your shipment remains on the pallet. Individual boxes are not separated from the rest of your shipment.
6. LOAD YOUR SHIPMENT CAREFULLY ON AN ELITE EXPRESS TRAILER AT THE TIME OF PICK UP.
7. TRACK YOUR PACKAGE WHILE IT IS IN TRANSIT.
THOSE ARE THE BASICS—YOU’RE READY TO SHIP!
IF YOU WANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHIPPING WITH YRC FREIGHT, READ THROUGH THE DETAILS BELOW.
Call Customer Service at 1-866-676-0757.
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Provide this information to the representative:
Physical address
Telephone number
Fax number
Email address
How often and where you ship
Shipment type and estimated weight
Request quick registration to use our website's secure tools. Customization and personalization allow you to work more efficiently and productively.
Even if this is your first shipment with Elite Express, you may qualify for discount pricing depending on your shipment type.
DIMENSIONAL FREIGHT RATE QUOTE TIPS
Rates are real-time and market-priced
Quotes are based on dimensions. No need to specify freight class or commodity
Choose standard, guaranteed or expedited service
No account or initial set-up needed
Instantly lock-in your rates for your shipment by paying with a credit card
Print or email your Bill of Lading containing a PRO number, Quote ID and selected service
Automatically schedules your pickup
Ready to rate your shipment?
To obtain an estimated delivery date for your standard service shipment, please use our Transit Times tool.
SERVICE DAY CALCULATION
Our Service Day Calculation tool provides service days based on an origin and destination ZIP code. Additionally, where expedited service is available, you will see service days for our Time-Critical service.
Along with expedited and guaranteed service, we can schedule delivery for a time window as tight as one hour. Register today to use our secure Service Day Calculation tool to get help determining the date your shipment would need to be ready for pickup to make your customer's required delivery date or window. When you register, you also get access to our secure and personalized online tools to quote, book and track your shipment.
Get details on our expedited, guaranteed and window delivery services.
Elite Express Customer Service is also available 24/7 to provide personal assistance. Call 1-866-676-0757.
If this is the first time you've used Elite Express and you don't want to set up an account, call your Customer Service Center or fill out our online pickup request form.
QUESTIONS, PICKUPS
Complete an online pickup request or call Customer Service (1-866-676-0757) to arrange a pickup or to obtain answers to your questions.
For shipment-specific pricing, help with online rating or a list of our enhanced services, use our online Rate Quote tool.
Need to expedite or guarantee delivery of your shipment? Need to schedule delivery within a specific hour, on a certain day, or across a span of days? Freight Time-Critical is your solution. For personal assistance, call 1-866-676-0757.
Before your shipment is picked up, you'll need to complete a Bill of Lading and pack and label your shipment. Once your shipment is in our system, you may want to track it to its destination.
If you are to receive a shipment, ask your supplier when it was shipped and the expected delivery date and inspect and review documentation that arrives with the shipment.
WHEN THE SHIPMENT IS DELIVERED
Inspect it immediately for obvious signs of damage.
Compare the number of shipping units received to the number listed on the delivery receipt.
Sign the delivery receipt.
If you have questions, ask the Elite Express driver making the delivery.
While the driver is there, compare the pieces you are receiving to the delivery receipt. If the condition and quantity of your shipment is acceptable, the driver will ask you to sign the delivery receipt. The driver will give you a copy and take the original signed copy with him/her (as proof of delivery).
A signed delivery receipt with no exceptions is called a "clear delivery". Clear deliveries mean there were no shortages or visible damage at the time of delivery.
A shipment invoice will be sent to the paying party soon after pickup or delivery, depending on whether the shipment is prepaid or collect.
If a shipment is short or damaged, you should still accept the delivery. It's the duty of the shipper and the consignee to mitigate the loss. After you accept the shipment, take steps to protect it from further loss and promptly file a claim for the actual shortages or damages involved.
Our goal is to deliver every shipment intact and undamaged. When we fall short of our service promise, we strive to make it right for you.
All claims for damage and shortage must be filed within nine months of delivery. If an entire shipment is lost and never delivered, the claim must be filed within nine months after the shipment should have been reasonably delivered.
A signed delivery receipt with no exceptions is called a "clear delivery". Clear deliveries mean there were no shortages or visible damage at the time of delivery.
To file a cargo claim, contact your Elite Express Customer Service Center or download and complete our cargo loss and damage claim form. Your Elite Express Customer Service Center can step you through the process or you can refer to our online claims resources for answers. Once filed, you can check the status of a cargo claim any time.
If you think you were overcharged for shipping services, file an overcharge claim online or download and complete our overcharge claims form. Once filed, you can check the status of an overcharge claim any time.
