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What Is Freight Shipping? Types, Roles and Your Rights if It Goes Wrong
By What is freight shipping? It is moving goods that are too big, too heavy or too many for a parcel network, by truck, rail, air or ocean, usually on pallets. In the US, the line sits where the parcel carriers stop. UPS and FedEx both draw it at 150 pounds as of September 2026: anything heavier goes as freight. Freight comes into play when an order outgrows single shipping boxes and moves on pallets instead.
Freight or Parcel?
Weight is the usual trigger, but size counts too. UPS’s size and weight guide caps a package at 108 inches in length, and at 165 inches for length and girth combined. Girth is twice the width plus twice the height.
That is why one rule of thumb you may see online, that anything over 30 by 30 by 30 inches is freight, does not hold. A 30 inch cube is 150 inches in length plus girth, inside UPS’s limit. Our guide “How to Ship Large Items” covers the parcel limits and surcharges carrier by carrier.
The Main Types of Freight Shipping
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Less than truckload (LTL) | Freight that fills less than a whole trailer; UPS describes it as typically pallet freight over 150 pounds |
| Full truckload (FTL) | A whole trailer for one shipper’s freight |
| Intermodal | Freight that moves by more than one mode, such as truck and rail |
| Air | Freight that flies; BTS says air moves high value items such as electronics and pharmaceuticals |
| Ocean | Freight that moves by ship |
Most US freight does not go far. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ report Moving Goods in the United States puts 2023 at a daily average of about 55.5 million tons, and says 74.1 percent of the weight moved less than 250 miles in 2024. Trucks carried the largest share by value for trips under 2,000 miles, while rail led by weight for trips of 1,000 to 2,000 miles.
How an LTL Shipment Moves
- Quote. You give the carrier or broker the weight, dimensions, freight class and both addresses, and get a price.
- Bill of lading. Federal law requires the carrier to issue a receipt or bill of lading for freight it takes, under 49 U.S.C. 14706. It is the carrier’s record of the freight it took.
- Pickup. The carrier collects the freight, usually on pallets.
- Transfers. LTL freight moves across carrier docks on the way, where NMFTA notes dimensioners now measure it during transfers.
- Delivery. The receiver checks the freight and signs for it.
Freight class, the LTL classification that NMFTA publishes, has been based on density for many more items since a July 2025 update. Our guide “How to Ship Large Items” explains how class works and how to build a pallet that keeps it.
Who’s Who: Shipper, Carrier, Broker, Forwarder
- Shipper. The business sending the freight.
- Carrier. The company that actually moves it.
- Broker. The federal definition in 49 CFR 371.2 is “a person who, for compensation, arranges, or offers to arrange, the transportation of property by an authorized motor carrier.” A broker does not haul the freight. As of September 2026, US rules at 49 CFR 387.307 say a broker “must have a surety bond or trust fund of $75,000 in effect.”
- Freight forwarder. Under 49 U.S.C. 14706, “a freight forwarder is both the receiving and delivering carrier,” so it carries a carrier’s responsibility for the freight.
Before you book, look the company up on FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot. It is free, searches by USDOT number, MC number or name, and shows the company’s identification, any safety rating, and inspection and crash summaries.
If Your Freight Arrives Damaged
US law puts the risk on the carrier, within limits. As of September 2026, 49 U.S.C. 14706 makes the receiving and delivering carriers liable for “the actual loss or injury to the property.” But a motor carrier may offer rates that cap its liability at a value the shipper declares in writing or electronically, or agrees to in writing, if that value is reasonable. So check the carrier’s rate terms and your shipping documents for any declared value before you ship.
The law also sets minimum claim windows. A carrier may not give you less than 9 months to file a claim, or less than 2 years to sue after it disallows the claim in writing.
The FMCSA’s claim rules in 49 CFR Part 370 say a claim must be a written communication, filed within the time limit in the bill of lading or contract, that identifies the shipment, asserts the carrier’s liability and asks for a specific or determinable amount of money. The carrier then has to:
- Acknowledge the claim within 30 days, unless it pays or declines it in that time.
- Pay, decline or make a firm settlement offer within 120 days, or explain the delay in writing every 60 days after that.
Photograph the freight and note any damage before you sign for it, so you have evidence for the claim.
Packing Freight
Freight is lifted by forklift and moved across carrier docks, so the boxes on the pallet matter. At Custom Boxes Deals, corrugated boxes come in single and double wall constructions, cut to your product’s dimensions, and insert boxes keep parts separated inside. Our guide to length, width and height explains how to give us a size.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a shipment become freight?
In the US, UPS and FedEx treat shipments over 150 pounds as freight. Very long or large packages can also go over their size limits.
What is a bill of lading?
The receipt a carrier issues for freight it takes. Federal law requires one. Separately, a carrier’s terms can cap its liability at a value you declare.
What does a freight broker do?
A broker arranges transport by an authorized motor carrier for a fee, but does not move the freight. Under US rules as of September 2026, it must hold a $75,000 bond or trust fund.
How long do I have to file a freight damage claim?
A carrier cannot give you less than 9 months under US law. Check your bill of lading for the carrier’s own period, which can be longer.
Anthony Kim
Hello, I'm Anthony Kim, a seasoned packaging consultant and designer. With a professional journey spanning over four years, I've evolved from a budding designer to a recognized expert in the field. Currently holding the position of Packaging Consultant, I've honed my skills in creating not just visually stunning packaging but also solutions that align with strategic business goals.
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