Typical Price Ranges To Ship Your Freight
Here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we offer a wide variety of transportation services. The pricing of each of these services is subject to a unique set of factors that together determine the cost of getting your freight moved.
Although we'll discuss some of these factors on this page, for more in-depth information on the service you're looking for, click the corresponding button below:
Dry Van Shipping
Realistic RPM Based On Current Market Pricing Conditions:
$1.50-$3
Flatbed Shipping
Realistic RPM Based On Current Market Pricing Conditions:
$1.75-$5
Note: The RPM ranges above measure price estimates for shipments measuring 400+ miles and don't take into account the day rates of shorter hauls or account for the current price of fuel (based on the DOE national average).
Heavy Haul Trucking
Realistic RPM Based On Current Market Pricing Conditions:
$4-$11
The factors that impact your "all-in" heavy haul trucking price include:
- Permitting Needed
- Escort Services
- Utility Service Costs
- Engineering Services
- Trailer Uniqueness
International Shipping
Containerized Cargo - $6K-$12K per Container
Non-Containerized Cargo - $80-$160 per W/M
Note: The per container and weight/measure (W/M) ranges above measure price estimates for primary ocean shipping routes and do not take into consideration possible adjustment factors such as currency (CAF), bunker fuel (BAF), peak season and port congestion fees.
What Factors Impact Your Freight Rates?
Your freight rates are intimately tied to the five price influencers that dictate the rate you're given for your shipments.
Let's touch on each of them.
Price Influencer #1: Supply and Demand
In the transportation industry, supply and demand steal the show in determining the price you pay to get freight moved.
Just like your ability to sell sweet drinks from the counter of your childhood lemonade stand ballooned in the warmth of mid-July, carriers find it far easier to sell their services when the market is hot.
When sourcing for transportation capacity, supply and demand are classified as follows:
Supply: The number of transportation solutions in your area that are ready, willing and able to move your freight.
Demand: The number of other loads in your area that also need a solution.
If demand increases while the supply of transportation solutions stays steady, the price of finding a solution for your freight will increase. On the flip side, if demand decreases while the supply of solutions in your area holds, carriers — recognizing the decreased need for their services and the added competition for business — will move freight at lower price points.
Learn More About Supply and Demand >
Price Influencer #2: Seasonality
When it comes to the number of transportation solutions available to get the job done, seasonality is highly influential. As such, the time of year in which you're moving your commodity plays a large role in the price you'll pay to do so.
From variations of specialized flatbeds, designed to haul oversized freight on northern highways in the summer, to reefers available to transport temperature-controlled commodities during harvest seasons across the country, the time of year you're moving freight will impact your price.
For example, if you need reefer capacity during produce season in the southwest, you'll need to compete with other shippers for trailer space in that region during produce harvest. The added competition of harvest season will increase your price.
Price Influencer #3: The Specifics of Your Freight
Every shipment is different.
Flatbed freight may require tarping while dry van commodities could need to be blanket or pad wrapped — which come at a cost.
More specialized freight may require a tanker or hazmat-endorsed driver to get them moving — decreasing the supply of qualified drivers, which increases the price.
The type of services, handling and special instructions attached to your freight impacts the price you'll pay to transport it. Accessorials like these can quickly add up so expect to pay more should your freight need specialized service offerings like white-glove delivery or drayage at the port.
Learn How to Reduce Your Freight Rates >
Price Influencer #4: Length of Transit
The distance your freight needs to travel is highly influential on the final price you'll pay.
Although there are a number of factors that impact your freight's rate-per-mile (RPM), you shouldn't expect to pay the same amount for a 200-mile shipment as you would for a 1,200-mile long haul.
Generally, the more time your provider spends transporting your freight, the more you're likely to pay. This pattern holds true across all modes of freight transportation as time is truly money in the world of transportation.
Price Influencer #5: Urgency
In the transportation industry, the largest bargaining chips on the table are time and money.
Since this is the case, the urgency of your shipment directly influences the price you'll pay to get it moving. The amount of notice you give your transportation provider before a load’s departure is known as lead time.
When it comes to the budget-sensitive and on-time delivery of your freight, giving adequate lead time to your provider is absolutely essential.
As your pick-up date gets closer, and other shippers book carriers for their loads, the cost of finding a solution for yours will increase.
For more price control, it's always best to find a solution for your upcoming shipment well in advance.
Although it varies from one company to another, a lead time window of 24-72 hours prior to the moment your freight needs to load will give your transportation provider enough time to find your best-fit solution at a competitive price.
