Confirming your loading or offloading method
For the safety of our drivers and your freight, and to guarantee the successful delivery of your order, all heavy or large shipments must be offloaded by one of three methods: a shipping dock, a forklift, or a lift gate (accessorial). We ask you to confirm your facility's capabilities during the quoting process.
The offloading requirement policy
During the address details step of your booking (after quoting but before confirmation), you will be asked a series of questions to determine the proper delivery method.
If your delivery location does not have a shipping dock, a forklift, or a lift gate accessory added to the order, your booking cannot be completed. The system guides you through these questions based on your previous answers.
How it works in FreightSimple
-
Answer the shipping dock question
When you enter or confirm a pickup or delivery address (after quoting but before booking), you will first see the question "Does this location have a shipping dock?" If you select Yes, your delivery is booked accordingly and no further offloading questions are needed.
-
Answer the forklift question
If you answer No, a follow-up question appears: "Does this location have a forklift?" If you select Yes, your delivery is booked for forklift offloading and you can proceed with confirmation.
-
Requote with a lift gate if needed
If you answer No again, the system automatically shows the message "This location requires a lift gate service since there is no dock or forklift available. Click below to requote with lift gate." A quick Requote button lets you easily update your quote to include Liftgate at Pickup or Liftgate at Delivery.
- Already covered. If you have already selected a liftgate during the quoting or booking process, these questions will not appear. The system knows you are covered.
Why this is important
Carriers need to know exactly how freight will be handled on-site. If no equipment is available, drivers cannot safely offload pallets, and extra fees or missed deliveries can occur. By confirming your setup upfront, you will:
- Avoid extra liftgate or redelivery fees
- Ensure a smoother delivery process
- Save time during booking
If you frequently ship from or deliver to locations without docks or forklifts, add “Liftgate required” to that address in your Address Book. It will automatically apply for future quotes.
Related articles
- How to Add a New Address
- Understanding Liftgate Services
- Inside Pickup / Delivery
- Understanding Location Types
- How to Avoid Additional Fees