# Shipping by truck freight **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632 "2018-06-23T18:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/1 "2018-06-23T18:29:06Z")
It’s just about time for me to sell my A-7E Corsair II ejection seat. It _might_ fit into a box, and it _might_ be under 70 pounds (it’s close), so I _might_ be able to ship it by UPS. But when I bought it back in the '80s it was delivered by truck freight. Assuming that’s the way it has to be shipped… [ul][li]How do I go about it?[/li]How much would it cost?[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/2 "2018-06-23T19:16:58Z")
UPS does LTL. I don’t know what it costs, but you could call them up to at least get a baseline. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/3 "2018-06-23T19:31:11Z")
Putting some, admittedly, made up numbers into UPS freight, I’m coming up with about 500 to send it halfway across the country (WI to CA). Sending it with two CA zip codes I guess at, makes it about half that. To and/or from residential address added over two hundred dollars. Needing a lift gate truck added $125. So, if you can ship it to and from a business and don’t need a gate at either end, it shouldn’t be overly expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/4 "2018-06-23T20:03:13Z")
500 simoleons is a lot of dough for a thousand-dollar ejection seat, especially since (if it doesn’t quite meet the limitations) it is so close to meeting the limitations. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/5 "2018-06-23T20:12:17Z")
The ejection charge might get into regulations that didn’t exist in the '80s. Barring that, I’ve heard of folks doing cheap shipping by bus. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/6 "2018-06-23T20:20:37Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > The ejection charge might get into regulations that didn’t exist in the '80s. Barring that, I’ve heard of folks doing cheap shipping by bus. Sadly, the rocket was removed before I got it. Pull on any of the yellow-and-black things, and the only thing it does is activate the canopy penetrators (which are a PITA to reset, BTW). Except for the yellow-and-black lever in the headrest. That ‘safeties’ the other yellow-and-black things. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/7 "2018-06-23T20:52:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 500 simoleons is a lot of dough for a thousand-dollar ejection seat, especially since (if it doesn’t quite meet the limitations) it is so close to meeting the limitations. That was just UPS though. You could certainly call up a freight company and see what they would charge. Are you just trying to get an general idea or do you actually have a location in mind? If you already know where it’s going, you could put something out on Craigslist or taskrabbit and see if someone with a pickup or van will do it. If it’s going less than a few hours away, someone might be happy to do it for considerably less. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/8 "2018-06-23T20:54:58Z")
Just trying to get a general idea. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/9 "2018-06-23T21:03:06Z")
Well if it is close to 70 pounds it is well within either UPS or Fedex 150 pound limit. The big question is then the size: > [@](#): > > ``` > Packages can be up to 150 lbs. > Packages can be up to 165 inches in length and girth combined. > Packages can be up to 108 inches in length. > Packages with a large size-to-weight ratio require special pricing and dimensional weight calculations. > > ``` [https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/sze2.page](https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/sze2.page) If this won’t work get a quote from Uship (multiple carriers) when you find out where it is going: > **[The Online Shipping Marketplace](https://www.uship.com/)** > > uShip makes shipping motorcycles, boats, and other large items fast and affordable by connecting you to our network of carriers who compete for your shipment. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/10 "2018-06-23T21:09:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Packages can be up to 150 lbs. That shows how long it’s been since I’ve shipped anything by UPS. Last time I checked, the weight limit was 70 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/11 "2018-06-23T23:30:39Z")
Land freight may require a commercial address for pick up and delivery. They want to load from and unload to loading docks. They may also charge you a hefty additional fee for residential address. Check for local freight companies and call them. It is usually far less than consumer oriented shippers like FexEx and UPS will charge, but it may take a longer to make the delivery while a truck makes a number of other stops first. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/12 "2018-06-24T22:54:36Z")
As far as shipping LTL (less then truckload) goes, I’d suggest checking with a broker like [Unishippers\*](https://www.unishippers.com). They work with multiple freight companies and can get you a better rate than you can get on your own. \*not affiliated with this company, but I have used them in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/13 "2018-06-25T13:14:07Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > If this won’t work get a quote from Uship (multiple carriers) when you find out where it is going: > [https://www.uship.com/](https://www.uship.com/) This. Had a good experience with U-Ship. Shippers bid on the job, and you need not take the lowest bidder. You can chat with them to determine whether they’ve got the equipment to meet your needs (e.g. covered vs. uncovered trailer). Sometimes the bidders are just guys with a pickup truck and trailer who happen to be traveling in the general vicinity of your start/end points, and they’re just looking for a little extra gas money, so you can get a price that easily beats a professional hauler. The flip side is that they may not be insured, so make you you know what deal you’re making before you hand your goods off to the shipper. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/14 "2018-06-25T15:54:58Z")
Randomly looking on ebay without really knowing what I’m looking for and just randomly looking around ebay. I’m seeing ejection seats ranging from $1500-$10000 and shipping from $100 to $500. You could consider mentioning a shipping price of $xxx.xx (and building in some leeway to the cost in case it goes over) or just adding $500 to the price you want. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/15 "2018-06-25T16:16:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Randomly looking on ebay without really knowing what I’m looking for and just randomly looking around ebay. I’m seeing ejection seats ranging from $1500-$10000 and shipping from $100 to $500. Your search parameters are better than mine. I get a bunch of models, and few actual ejection seats. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-by-truck-freight/816632/16 "2018-06-25T17:08:13Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You could consider mentioning a shipping price of $xxx.xx (and building in some leeway to the cost in case it goes over) or just adding $500 to the price you want. What you would do is use calculated shipping if Fedex would work.