Christmas Tree Shipping

It's the end of October and with only 57 days left before December 25th, Christmas tree shippers are already making plans to ship live trees to retailers. Last year, more than 33 million Christmas trees were sold in the United States¹. With the majority (more than 60%) of those trees being purchased off a retail lot, shippers need a reliable shipping provider to keep healthy, real trees in stock at locations across the U.S.

With 53' length requirements for most Christmas tree loads, full truckload service is the most economical and direct (fewer stops mean faster deliveries). In some cases, intermodal transportation may be more economical, and a viable option when long haul capacity is tight. No matter what mode you choose, you can certainly expect that the annual surge in freight volume will make it difficult to find competitive rates on shipping your real trees.

And that's where FreightCenter comes in. Did you know we helped hundreds of Christmas tree shippers get their trees to lots last year? Let us execute your Christmas tree shipping this holiday season. Our ability to find capacity at a competitive rate could save you time and money.

Give our truckload department a call at 877-716-7882 today and get a head start on your upcoming shipping needs.


¹ Christmas tree facts available via the National Christmas Tree Association.

How to Calculate Trucking Rates

How to Calculate Trucking Rates

Freight rates can fluctuate for a large variety of reasons.  This often makes it difficult to calculate LTL trucking rates without professional assistance. From gas prices to weather restrictions, freight rates change daily.  The demand of the market can also considerably effect your trucking rates.  During a time when there's an excess amount of freight, it's considered a 'truckers market.'  Trucking transportation companies become less competitive and rates can be slightly higher.

Freight rates can also change drastically depending on your shipping locations and the freight class your cargo falls under.  Thus there truly is no "average freight rate."  A pallet of feathers and a pallet of glass mirrors require different methods of transport and handling.  This results in different freight classes.  It's recommended that you contact a freight agent to help you find the correct freight class for your shipment. 

FreightCenter's instant ratings calculator is a widely used tool in the freight shipping community. Instead of contacting each carrier individually a shipper can calculate trucking rates from hundreds of carriers in a few simple steps.  Before quoting it's important for you to know all of the following details about your shipment.

Shipment Specifications:
To and from zip codes
Site specifications (Dock, forklift, residential, terminal)
Shipment packaging (Boxed, Crated, Palletized)
Weight
Dimensions
Freight Class

Visit FreightCenter and input this information into the quick quote form.  FreightCenter's system will calculate trucking rates in a matter of seconds and will even allow you to save your quotes for later. Have questions about your shipment, call 800-716-7608 to speak to an agent.