Locations
- Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, at minimum — full street addresses if you have them, since a broker eventually needs them anyway.
- Whether either location is residential.
- Whether either location has a loading dock, or will need a liftgate.
- Whether either location has limited-access characteristics (school, construction site, storage facility, and similar).
- Whether delivery requires a scheduled appointment.
The shipment itself
- Dimensions (length × width × height) and weight for each distinct pallet or handling unit — not just a shipment-wide total. See how to measure a pallet for exactly where to measure.
- A clear commodity description.
- Declared value, if it's meaningfully high relative to standard carrier liability coverage.
- Whether the shipment involves hazardous materials — and if you're not certain, check the product's Safety Data Sheet, Section 14. It's worth knowing that Section 14 is technically non-mandatory under OSHA, so it's sometimes left incomplete; if it's blank or you're still unsure, that's a reason to confirm with the manufacturer or carrier, not to assume "no."
Contacts
- A pickup contact name and phone number.
- A delivery contact name and phone number, if different.
- A requested ship date, if you already have one in mind.
Before you request quotes
- Calculate density (weight ÷ cubic feet) for each handling unit, and get a sense of the estimated freight class.
- Note anything unusual about the commodity that might affect classification beyond density — fragile, used/reconditioned, high-value, or loosely packaged items are the most common cases.
- Have your Hazmat status resolved, or clearly marked as unresolved, rather than guessing.
Working through this list before you contact a broker means the quote you get back is more likely to hold up once the shipment actually moves — which is the entire point.
Rate Farm walks through this exact list and builds a Shipment Brief from it.
Analyze My Shipment