§ 04.5Services / Transport & Logistics
Totes are an
awkward freight.
We’re built for them.
A general carrier sees a 48-inch square pallet with a tall, top-heavy, part-weathered object on it and quotes accordingly. We see the thing we move every single day. Our trailers, our straps and our drivers are configured for tote loads — which is why our freight numbers tend to beat a spot quote.
- Per trailer
- 48 units
- Coverage
- 48 states
- Dock required
- No
- Forklift required
- No
§ 04.5.1Equipment
What we send, and why it matters.
The trailer type determines how many units fit, how fast they load and whether your site needs equipment it does not have.
| Equipment | Units (275 gal) | Loading | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | 48 single-stacked | Dock or liftgate | Standard loads, weather protection |
| 53' dry van, double-stacked | up to 96 empty | Dock | Empty backhauls, sound cages only |
| 48' flatbed | 40 single-stacked | Side load, any yard | No-dock sites, forklift from any angle |
| 53' curtainside | 48 single-stacked | Side load, any yard | No-dock sites needing weather cover |
| 26' box truck with liftgate | 14 single-stacked | Liftgate | Small pickups, tight urban sites |
| Flatbed with onboard forklift | 32 single-stacked | Self-loading | Sites with no equipment at all |
That last row is the one worth knowing about. If your site has no dock, no forklift and no yard equipment, we can bring everything required — it costs more per unit but it turns an impossible pickup into a routine one.
Site conditions we handle routinely
- Loading dock at any height
- Ground level with a forklift on site
- Ground level with no forklift — we bring one
- Gravel, dirt or unpaved yards
- Gated sites requiring escort or induction
- Sites with overhead clearance restrictions
- Multi-building campuses with several collection points
- Weekend or out-of-hours collection by arrangement
What makes freight cheaper
- Backhaul capture — the biggest leverWe deliver stock out and we need the trailer back. An empty return leg past your site is the cheapest freight that exists. Always ask whether a lane is running.
- Full trailers48 units costs very little more to move than 24. If you can accumulate to a full load, the per-unit freight roughly halves.
- Double-stacking emptiesEmpty units with sound cages stack two high, which doubles the density of a return load.
- Flexible datesA two-week window lets us fit you into an existing lane. A fixed date means dedicated equipment.
- 48units
- Per 53' trailer
- 96units
- Double-stacked empties
- 48states
- Lane coverage
- 3–10days
- Typical lead time
Single-stacked loaded or empty.
Sound cages only.
Own fleet plus contract carriers.
By distance band.
§ 04.5.2Bands and lead times
Published, so you can plan without calling.
| Band | Radius | Minimum | Lead time | Freight basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0–150 mi | 4 units | 2–4 business days | Included in unit price |
| B | 150–350 mi | 12 units | 3–6 business days | Included at 24+ units |
| C | 350–800 mi | 24 units | 4–8 business days | Included at 48 units |
| D | 800–1,500 mi | 48 units | 5–10 business days | Quoted per lane |
| E | 1,500 mi+ | 48 units | 7–14 business days | Quoted per lane |
Bands are indicative and a partial load on a running lane beats every number here. Our primary lanes are IL, IN, WI, MI, OH, IA, MO and KY; regular lanes reach TX, GA, NC, PA, NY, CA, WA and CO.
Freight-only movements
You do not have to be buying or selling to use our trucks. If you need totes moved between your own sites, or from a supplier to your plant, we quote it as straight freight — and we are usually competitive precisely because we are already running the lane.
- Site-to-site transfers within your own operation
- Supplier collections on your behalf
- Loaded tote movements, product in place
- Empty repositioning between depots
- Loaded tote freight
- Accepted — declare the product and weight
- Hazmat freight
- Placarded loads by arrangement
- Insurance
- Cargo cover on all movements
- Tracking
- Collection and delivery confirmation by email
§ 04.5.3The carbon of the truck
Freight is the one place our model costs the environment something.
We are honest about this. Reclaiming a tote in Oregon and washing it in Illinois involves real diesel. Our outbound freight intensity rose 4% between 2022 and 2025 as we extended into longer lanes.
- Backhaul capture — an empty return leg is the lowest-carbon freight available
- Full-trailer loading wherever a customer can accumulate to 48 units
- Double-stacked empty returns, doubling units per truck mile
- Lane consolidation — multiple customers on one movement where geography allows
- An honest note in our Impact Report rather than a quiet omission
Even at band E, the freight carbon of moving a tote is a small fraction of the 262 lb CO₂e saved by not manufacturing a replacement. But small is not zero, and we report it.
§ 04.5.4Freight, questioned
Practical logistics.
We have no dock and no forklift. Can you still collect?
Yes. We send a flatbed with an onboard forklift, or a box truck with a liftgate for smaller counts. Tell us the site conditions on the form and the quote will include the right equipment rather than a surprise on the day.
Can you move totes that still have product in them?
Yes, with an accurate declaration of the product and the fill weight. Placarded hazmat movements are possible by arrangement — tell us the UN number and packing group.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Two to four business days locally, up to two weeks for the furthest bands. A flexible window gets you onto an existing lane and costs less than a fixed date.
Do you charge waiting time?
We allow two hours on site as standard, which is generous for a tote load. Beyond that, detention applies at the rate quoted upfront — but in practice it almost never arises because our drivers know how long a tote load takes.
Can one trailer deliver and collect?
That is our preferred arrangement. Stock in, empties out, one freight leg, netted invoice. See wholesale supply for how it works at volume.
Ask about the lane
The cheapest freight is the trailer already going past you.
Give us the origin, the destination and a date window. If a lane is running, you'll know within a day.