The 9 details to have ready
- Pickup and delivery locations: city and ZIP at minimum, full address if you have it. Note whether each stop is a business with a dock, a construction site, or a residence.
- Dates: the earliest pickup date, and the latest acceptable delivery date. Flexible dates often price better than a fixed one.
- Equipment: dry van, reefer (temperature-controlled), flatbed, step deck, or something specialized. Not sure? Describe the freight and how it is loaded. See our equipment guides.
- What you are shipping: the commodity in plain words (for example, "palletized canned food" or "steel I-beams").
- Weight: total weight, and the heaviest single piece.
- Size and count: number of pallets or pieces and their dimensions. For oversized freight, the exact length, width and height.
- Temperature, for reefer loads: the set point, and whether it is continuous or cycle.
- Loading and unloading: dock, forklift, crane, or none. Who loads and unloads, and how long it usually takes.
- Extras, often called accessorials: liftgate, inside delivery, appointments, tarps, straps, team drivers, or hazardous materials.
Full truckload or partial?
A full truckload (FTL) means the whole trailer is yours: one pickup, one delivery, and no stops for other freight. It usually makes sense for heavy loads, many pallets, or time-sensitive freight. Smaller shipments can travel as less-than-truckload (LTL) or partial loads that share the trailer.
Ready to ship?
Get an instant truckload quote from our booking partner: any lane across the 48 states, every major equipment type.
Get A Freight Quote
Quotes are provided by our partner, Freight Sidekick. We may earn a commission when you book.
Read the quote before you book
- Check that the equipment, dates and stops match what you asked for.
- Look for what is included (fuel, tarps, appointments) and what would be charged extra (detention, layover, truck-ordered-not-used).
- Confirm the broker's or carrier's operating authority. You can look up any company's USDOT or MC number on FMCSA SAFER. Our guide How to check a freight broker explains what to look for.
Questions
How fast can I get a quote?
Online quote tools are usually the fastest route. Have the 9 details above ready so the quote you get matches the load you have.
Why did my final price change?
The most common reasons are details that weren't in the original request: extra stops, wait time at the dock, a liftgate, or a heavier or larger load than quoted.
Sources
- FMCSA SAFER company snapshot
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-13.
More shipper guides