5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Freight Shipping Service

At Heavy Weight Transport, your questions matter. To help ensure you select a reliable and compliant freight shipping service for your heavyweight and standard shipping needs, we’re sharing insight into the five most common questions we receive from our customers.

1. What commodities do you handle?

At heavyweighttransportinc.com, our logistics providers can handle almost any shipment. However, there are certain types of cargo we can’t support or insure because of the risk of damage to vessels, containers, or pilferage.

These include:

  • Hazmat cargo
  • Over dimensional cargo
2. How does the container drayage process work?

The container drayage process is a crucial component of the supply chain, aiding the movement of goods over short distances between various modes of transportation. The efficiency of the drayage process directly impacts the overall supply chain, influencing transit times and the risk of damage or loss during transportation.

Here’s how the container drayage process works at Heavy Weight Transport:

Container Pickup: Once the container is off-loaded at the port and available for pickup, a driver is dispatched to collect it. This step requires determining the pickup location, the type of equipment needed (such as a 20’ or 40’ chassis), and confirming the delivery location. If a delivery appointment is necessary, it must be pre-authorized and communicated to the driver.

Delivery: This step involves delivering the container to its next destination, where it may be unloaded for further distribution or prepared for the next leg of its journey. Efficient drayage ensures that goods are moved quickly and safely, minimizing delays and disruptions in the supply chain.

Container Return: When a loaded container reaches its final destination and is unloaded, the empty container is returned to a designated location. To complete the return, Heavy Weight Transport picks up the empty container from the importer’s location — a warehouse, distribution center, or other facility where the goods were delivered. The empty container is then transported to a designated location, which is usually one of the following:

  • A container yard operated by the shipping line
  • An inland container depot
  • A port facility

3. How can I track my cargo?

Cargo tracking is essential for shippers who need to monitor their shipments’ progress and ensure timely delivery.

Heavy Weight Transport uses modern tracking and logistics technology that allows real-time monitoring of shipments. Through an in-house proprietary Transportation Management System (iTMS) for our trucking and drayage operations, our internal processes are automated from order receipt to customer service, to operations and billing, and driver settlements.

Dedicated to our customers’ needs, our online web portal provides a live view of our system for critical load updates, complemented by our proprietary mobile app in our drivers’ tablets for electronic receiver signatures and delivery notifications.

Additionally, we have an in-house Warehouse Management System (WHMS) linked directly to our iTMS that allows us to manage transloading inventory without the need to log inventory into storage and distribution software.

Heavy Weight Transport trucks are fully equipped with:
– Global position satellite (GPS)
– Electronic Log Data (ELD)
– Camera Surveillance
– Technology enhancements for driver route optimization

4. What documentation do you need for each shipment?

Heavy Weight Transport needs a delivery order that contains the following elements:

  • Container number
  • Size of equipment
  • Correct weight(s)
  • Commodity / Piece Count
  • Seal number
  • Reference/PO Number
  • Master BOL
  • Port of Loading / Origin
  • Port of Discharge / Terminal
  • Ocean Carrier
  • Vessel Name
  • Vessel ETA
  • Voyage Number
  • Customer Name
  • Shipper/Consignee details including contact & phone
5. Can you deliver on weekends?

Generally, Heavy Weight Transport recommends avoiding weekend deliveries due to additional cost but we can provide this service if needed.