Freight broker for manufacturers
Manufacturing freight is scheduled freight. A truck that shows up a day late does not just move a delivery date — it can stall a line, a shipment window or a customer's install. We plan manufacturing loads around the production and receiving schedule, not around whichever truck is cheapest that morning.
Manufacturers usually ship a mix that no single trailer type covers. Finished goods on pallets move dry van; raw steel, extrusions, pipe and coil move flatbed; fabricated assemblies and machine frames that exceed standard deck height move step deck. We quote each of those against the actual dimensions and securement needs rather than defaulting to a van because it is easier to cover.
Inbound and outbound behave differently too. Inbound raw material tends to be weight-limited and tolerant on timing; outbound finished goods tend to be dimension-limited and unforgiving on the delivery appointment. Treating both the same way is how manufacturers end up paying detention on one side and missing appointments on the other.
Before dispatch we confirm the carrier's operating authority, insurance and identity, and we put the load requirements — equipment, securement, tarping, appointment windows, any required PPE or check-in procedure at your plant — into the written rate confirmation so the driver arrives knowing what the site expects.
Equipment we quote for this freight
- Dry Van — Palletized finished goods, packaged components, cartoned parts.
- Flatbed — Steel, coil, pipe, extrusions and material that loads from the side or overhead.
- Step Deck — Fabricated assemblies and machine frames that exceed standard flatbed deck height.
Handling details we confirm before dispatch
- Plant check-in procedure, gate hours and required driver PPE
- Live load versus drop trailer, and whether the trailer can stay overnight
- Securement expectations for steel, coil or fabricated freight, agreed in writing before dispatch
- Tarping requirements for open-deck loads, including who supplies and pays for tarps
- Delivery appointment windows and the receiving site's detention policy
What we need to quote it
- Pickup and delivery facility locations, including plant or dock designation when a site has several
- Commodity, packaging and total weight
- Dimensions per piece when the freight is not palletized
- Equipment required, or the constraint that determines it (height, loading method, tarping)
- Pickup date and any fixed delivery appointment
- Loading and unloading method available at each end — dock, forklift, overhead crane
Pre-dispatch checklist
- Confirm the piece dimensions before the equipment is selected, not after the truck arrives
- Flag any load that requires a crane or specific loading equipment at either end
- State the appointment window in the rate confirmation rather than by phone only
- Verify carrier authority, insurance and identity before dispatch on every load
- Keep the bill of lading and proof of delivery attached to the shipment record
Talk to us
Questions shippers ask
- Can you handle both inbound raw material and outbound finished goods?
- Yes. We quote inbound and outbound truckload lanes with dry van, flatbed and step deck equipment. Tell us which side of the plant the load touches and what constrains it — weight on inbound, usually dimensions and appointment on outbound.
- Do you cover recurring production lanes?
- We quote recurring lanes the same way as spot loads, priced against current conditions each time. Shippers moving consistent volume can pre-register so the company profile and contacts are already on file.
- What if my freight exceeds legal dimensions?
- Tell us the exact dimensions and weight. Over-dimensional freight requires permits and routing work, and we will tell you plainly what is involved rather than quoting it as a standard flatbed move.
Price a load
Send the lane, the equipment and what's on the trailer. We come back with an all-in rate — no account required.