How to Deal With a Freight Shipment
Perhaps one of the hardest parts of this industry is dealing with freight shipments. While smaller mats (under 150 pounds and 9′ wide or less) can ship via FedEx ground; often to efficiently cover the entire garage we use larger 10′ material or master rolls that have to ship freight.
What to Expect?
When you order larger product and it is being shipped via freight, the product is delivered using the same large commercial trucks that deliver to commercial locations. For residential deliveries they will typically call ahead. The tracking results are almost never correct, because they will typically not deliver until they have talked with you and set an appointment. We have had 52′ trucks show up on many occasions. The truck will not have a lift gate. While the driver will help you slide the product off the back of the truck, he is not under any obligation to help you move the product where you want it.
You can also expect a call from a dispatcher who will tell you the total weight and ask how you are going to unload it. Remember, each roll can be unloaded individually and most often they are unloaded by hand.
Helpful Tips
- Let your sales person know about any private bridges, obstacles, dead end streets or other barriers to a large truck delivery.
- Plan on being home for at least 4 hours and waiting for a truck. It is helpful if you can have a couple extra people to help.
- BE NICE to the driver and they will typically be very helpful.
- DO NOT miss your appointment. Redelivery fees can be very expensive.
- Have a utility knife to cut the plastic wrap.
- BE READY and unroll your mats right away. Even if you do not trim them, getting them rolled out helps them relax
