Freight Shipping From Florida To California

What's in this article?

Is your business based in Florida, but do you need to send products to customers in California? If so, freight shipping may be the right option for you. Freight shipping can be a more affordable and efficient way to transport large quantities of goods across the country than traditional shipping methods.

Depending on your needs, there are a few different ways to ship freight from Florida to California. If you need your shipment to arrive quickly, you may want to consider freight shipping by air. This option is generally the most expensive, but it is also the fastest. If you have time to spare, you may want to go for ground transportation. This option is typically less expensive than air freight shipping, but it will take longer for your shipment to reach its destination.

This post will look into some factors related to freight shipping from Florida to California.

But let's first understand what freight shipping is.

Keep reading!

What Is Freight Shipping?

Freight shipping is a way to transport goods using roads, rail, and air. It is an integral part of many businesses that sell things online because they need to send the products to different parts of the world. There are three main types of freight shipping over the road:

Full Truckload (FTL)
Less than truckload (LTL)
Intermodal

Partial truckload and expedited shipping are also forms of freight shipping.

What Classifies As A Freight Shipment?

Freight is any shipment whose weight is more than 150 lbs. Shipments that are this size would usually be cheaper to ship through the parcel.

There are two ways to deliver freight:

Floor-loading
Loading it onto a truck on pallets

You have to unload it by hand in Floor-loaded freight, but you can unload shipment loaded on pallets through a forklift.

Around 26 pallets can be transported by a standard truck. Pallets are typically 48 inches wide and 40 inches long. If the pallet is taller than 48 inches, it is called a double-stacked pallet.

The height of a container or truck bed is usually four feet off the ground's surface. If you want to either load or even unload the truck, warehouses have an elevated dock that people can use. If the warehouse and storage facility doesn't have a dock, there is another way to load and unload the truck. People can use loading equipment or forklift. If there is no dock or forklift at the pickup or the drop-off location, people can book a truck with lift gate service, but it will cost you more.

Freight Shipping Modes From Florida To California

There are many options available for freight shipping from Florida to California, which are discussed below:

Full truckload (FTL)

Full truckload means that you move a lot of things at one time. You use a whole truck to do this. Although, it is different from LTL. Most containers used for FTL shipments (full truckload) can hold 24 to 26 pallets or more than 15000 lbs. FTL can be cheaper and reduce the chance of your things getting damaged during transport. The truck will be loaded with only the shipper's goods and will not make any other stops until it reaches its destination. You can move a full truckload of freight either by rail or road. It is the fastest and most direct way to ship goods.

Less than truckload (LTL)

Less than truckload shipping is for more oversized shipments than a package but not as significant to need an entire truck. This type of shipping is used for shipments between n 1 to 6 pallets or the parcel weighing around 150 to 15,000 lbs. It is even a common way to send things worldwide. The only problem is that other truck will transfer your package before it reaches its destination.

Partial Truckload

If your shipment is over 5,000 pounds or six pallets, you might want to consider a partial truckload. This option allows you to split the cost with other shippers, saving you money. This type of shipment is less likely to have the inventory transferred to a different truck during the journey.

Intermodal

Intermodal shipping is when you use more than one type of transportation to ship something. Intermodal freight shipping typically uses a combination of rail and truck transportation. However, other transportation methods can be used, such as truck, rail, and ship. Using this kind of shipping can save money on fuel and make sure your package arrives safely.

Expedited Shipment

Expedited shipping is when you use a faster method of transportation to get your shipment to its destination. It could include using a quicker truck or a different type of transportation, such as air. Expedited shipping is more expensive than other methods, but it can be worth it if you need your shipment to arrive quickly.

Freight Shipping Rates in Florida and California

Let's know about the general attitude of freight shipping companies quoting their rates in Florida and California.

Florida Freight Shipping Rates

Florida freight rates tend to be much cheaper during the fall and winter than during the summer. The reason is that there is a lot of produce industry in Florida, which means that freight rates are more expensive during the peak summer months.

Florida is a state that relies heavily on tourism and lacks a significant industry. Eventually makes it more costly to bring goods into the state but cheaper to take goods out. Jacksonville has a port, making it a busy place for international freight shipping. Importing and exporting are common here. Florida has a lot of people, so the competition keeps the prices for shipping low. The closer you are to a big city, the easier and cheaper it is to ship in or out.

California Freight Shipping Rates

The cost of shipping goods in California can change depending on what is happening. California has four major ports, and much freight moves through these ports. There is also a busy freight border crossing in California.

In California, intermodal freight's schedule remains busy. Imports and exports are a big part of the freight market here. The price of intermodal freight is low because there is a lot of it, and it has excellent access to railroads. If you need to ship something quickly, it can be expensive to do so if you are not close to a significant area. That is why it is essential to use a company that can offer the best freight rates in California.

Factors that Decide on the Shipping Cost From Florida To California

Different factors can have a significant impact on shipping costs. Some of them are discussed below:

Transportation Mode:

How you choose to transport your freight will significantly impact how much it costs. For instance, shipping by air will be more expensive than shipping by truck or rail.

Distance:

The location of your business and your customers will also affect shipping rates. For companies that ship internationally, rates will be higher than if you only ship domestically.

Weight:

Your shipment's weight will also impact shipping costs and how much space your shipment takes up. Heavier and larger shipments will cost more to ship than smaller, lighter shipments.

Time:

If you need your shipment to arrive quickly, you'll likely have to pay more for expedited shipping options.

Special Handling:

If your product needs special handling or is considered hazardous, you will most likely pay an additional charge.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Freight from FL to CA?

When you're thinking about shipping from Florida to California, it can be hard to figure out how long it will take. This is simple: many factors go into the delivery time of your freight.

For example, if you're shipping furniture, the distance of your move matters. If you're moving across the country, it will take longer than if you're moving across town. And if you're moving across the state, it will take less time than if you're moving across the country because there are fewer miles overall.

Another factor that affects delivery time is traffic along the route. If there's a lot of traffic (or weather issues), it can significantly slow down the delivery time. We recommend booking your move in advance to make sure there isn't anything slowing us down before we get started!

However, if we talk about an average freight delivery time from FL to CA, it's five days.

How Is Freight Shipping from FL to CA Different from Parcel Shipping?

Regular shipping is easy. You can do it in a few hours. But freight shipping is more complicated. It would help if you did it the right way or it won't work. Here are some of the differences between freight and parcel shipping:

Shipping Time is Difficult to Predict.

Freight shippers tell you when they think your shipment will arrive, but it's rarely on time. It is because freight shipping is difficult to predict.

BOL Is Required.

Freight shipments typically come with a "bill of lading." This document tells the courier what is in the shipment. The shipper needs to know what is in the shipment to be moved safely. The bill of lading is also a contract. BOL will play a significant role if anything happens to your parcel during shipment. So fill it right. This way, we can make sure that everything is handled fairly.

Weight and Size Do Not Always Matter.

The weight, size, and density also affect your shipping rates when using freight shipping. Heavier items cost more to send in the parcel shipping than lighter items. However, with freight shipping, the weight of an object does not always determine the cost. For example, Ping-Pong balls are more expensive to ship than bricks because they are less dense and have a greater chance of getting damaged during transport.

How To Prepare A Freight Shipment for Moving from Florida to California?

If you are shipping freight, there are some things you need to do differently than when shipping a parcel from Florida to California. Here are some tips to help make sure your freight shipment is sent and received accurately and safely.

First, make sure to prepare pallets of the correct size. Pallets are used to move shipments quickly. A good pallet is made of wood or plastic and weighs between 20-70 pounds. When choosing a pallet, make sure it is strong enough to hold the weight of what you're shipping and that it doesn't hang over the edge, which could damage your shipment.
If you are not using a pallet, you must prepare shipping containers, crates, or boxes. Be sure that they can carry your package weight. If you are going to reuse containers, remove any old shipping labels or barcodes. It will help ensure that the wrong items are not sent to the wrong place. Use dunnage on all sides of the container to keep your things from moving around. You can also reinforce the edges of the container to make sure it doesn't bend.
Label your pallets with a shipper address and mobile number on each side.
Every freight carrier has its instructions for you to follow. Some shipments will require pre-authorization from the carrier. Make sure you read the instructions carefully to avoid stress during the pickup.

Conclusion

So, if you are looking for a reliable and affordable freight shipping company to transport your goods from Florida to California or vice versa, be sure to consider the factors we have outlined in this article. You can ensure that your items will arrive at their destination safely and on time.

Value for Money	★★★★★	4.9
Vehicle Care	★★★★★	4.9
Fast Delivery	★★★★★	4.9
Friendly Staff	★★★★★	4.9