Picking Up or Dropping Off a Shipment at a Carrier Terminal
We understand you may require pickup from or drop-off at a carrier terminal instead of standard door-to-door service. Here’s everything you need to know about how to run these quotes, the information required, and how we’ll support you throughout the process.
When Would This Apply?
- Pickup from Terminal: The consignee will collect the shipment directly from the carrier’s terminal location.
- Drop-Off at Terminal: The shipper will be dropping off the freight at the carrier’s terminal location, and it will move from there to its destination.
Step-by-Step: How to Run a Terminal-Based Quote
🚦When Requesting a Quote, Be Clear
If your shipment will be picked up from or dropped off at a terminal, and you already know which carrier terminal you would like to use, please include the following in your quote request:
- City, province/state, and postal/ZIP code of the terminal
- Carrier name and the terminal name
- Location type should be "Warehouse"
- Special Instructions: Add a note specifying whether "Customer to Pickup from Terminal" or "Customer to Drop-off at Terminal"
📨 Not Sure Which Terminal? Contact Us
If you're unsure about the terminal details, just reach out!
Send us a message through live chat or email support@freightsimple.com with:
- Whether this is a pickup or drop-off
- A request to confirm or locate the correct terminal
We’ll contact the carrier on your behalf and provide:
- The confirmed terminal address
- Any special instructions (e.g., ID requirements, hours of operation, dock info, etc.)
💡 Not sure which carrier to use?
Run a quote from your origin and destination ZIP/postal codes to see which carriers service that area. Once you’ve selected a carrier, ask our Support team so they can confirm the correct terminal address for that specific carrier.
📑 Booking the Shipment
Once your shipment is booked:
- A BOL (Bill of Lading) will be automatically generated through your dashboard
- It will include any terminal codes or special instructions added during quoting or confirmed by our team
📞 We’ll Notify the Carrier
After you book, we’ll reach out to the carrier to confirm the pickup or drop-off details.
Keep in mind:
- Sometimes carriers may provide different instructions or update the terminal address
- If that happens, we’ll update all necessary paperwork for you. Please stay tuned!
🛻 Be Ready for Pickup or Drop-Off
- If dropping off, please do so on the scheduled date to avoid delays or confusion
- If picking up, we’ll let you know as soon as the carrier marks the shipment as "Available for Pickup"
Why It's Important to Confirm Terminal Details
- Carriers won’t accept or release freight without the correct terminal address and booking references, instructions, and paperwork.
- For drop-offs, if we don’t know when the freight was handed over, we can’t properly follow up on tracking or delays.
- For pickups, the carrier won’t release the freight until it’s marked "Available for Pickup," so tracking must be closely monitored.
Keeping the Shipment Tracked
Once confirmed, we’ll monitor the shipment for you:
- For drop-offs, let us know when you drop it off. We'll then follow up with the carrier to start tracking.
- For terminal pickups, we’ll watch for “Available for Pickup” status and notify you when the freight is ready.
Still have questions? Reach out via chat or email—our team's here to help make your terminal shipments run smoothly.