Freight Shipping Guide

IBC totes and drums are oversized industrial products that ship via freight carrier — not parcel services like UPS or FedEx Ground. This guide explains how freight shipping works, what determines your shipping mode, and how to get the best rates.

Shipping Modes

Your order quantity determines which shipping mode is used:

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)

LTL shipping shares truck space with other shipments. This is the most common mode for smaller orders. Your order is palletized and loaded onto a shared trailer.

  • IBC Totes: 1-20 units
  • Drums: 1-80 units
  • Delivery time: 3-7 business days
  • Best for: Smaller orders, first-time buyers, testing product fit

FTL (Full Truckload)

FTL means your order fills an entire truck. This delivers the best per-unit freight cost because the truck goes directly from our warehouse to your location with no intermediate stops.

  • IBC Totes: 21-60 units (15 pallets, 4 totes/pallet)
  • Drums: 81-320 units (20 pallets, 4 drums/pallet)
  • Delivery time: 2-5 business days
  • Best for: Large orders, cost-conscious buyers, warehouse restocking

Multi-Truck

Orders exceeding one full truckload are split across multiple trucks. We coordinate delivery schedules so trucks arrive in sequence to avoid congestion at your receiving dock.

  • IBC Totes: More than 60 units
  • Drums: More than 320 units
  • Best for: Large-scale operations, manufacturing plants, distribution centers

What Determines Freight Cost?

Several factors affect your freight quote:

  • Distance — Distance from our warehouse to your delivery address
  • Quantity — More units per shipment means lower per-unit freight cost
  • Delivery options — Liftgate, residential, inside delivery, and appointment surcharges add to the base rate
  • Freight class — Based on product density and handling characteristics (standard NMFC classifications)

Getting a Freight Quote

Enter your destination ZIP code on any product page to get an instant freight quote. Quotes include the base freight rate plus any selected surcharges. Quotes are cached for 4 hours — if carrier rates change, your next quote will reflect the update.

Receiving Your Delivery

  • Inspect all containers before signing the delivery receipt
  • Note any visible damage on the carrier's bill of lading
  • Take photos of damage before the driver departs
  • Report damage within 48 hours by contacting us

Questions about freight to your area? Contact us for personalized shipping guidance, or see our surcharges page for details on accessorial fees.