Figure out how to ship it.
Large. Heavy. Awkward. Rate Farm helps you figure out what comes next.
Start with the thing you have, not a shipping term you already need to know. Rate Farm helps you choose a practical shipping path, then gives you the freight details to prepare it properly.
How should this thing be shipped?
You don't need to know whether the answer is parcel, LTL, local delivery, or something more specialized. Give Rate Farm the basics and we'll show you the most practical path to investigate next.
This is deliberately broad. It helps you decide what to research next; it does not promise a carrier, service level, or price.
Turn a pallet into something you can actually quote.
Enter the shipment as it will be tendered. Rate Farm calculates density and an estimated class, then shows you what still needs attention.
Quick Freight Class Check
LTL freight density & freight class estimator
Not sure what to include? How to measure a pallet for LTL freight →
Add multiple pallets, hazmat, and other shipment details in Full details.
Optional details (improves the review status, not required for an estimate)
Freight class is ultimately determined by the applicable NMFC item, which can depend on the specific commodity's handling, stowability, and liability characteristics — not density alone. This tool provides a density-based estimate using the current 13-sub density scale, not an official NMFTA or ClassIT+ classification.
Why Rate Farm doesn't just give you a class number
A freight class estimate starts with density — weight divided by the space the shipment occupies. But classification can also depend on handling, stowability, liability, and the specific commodity. That's why the number is an estimate, not a promise.
Rate Farm also keeps handling units separate. A dense pallet and a light, bulky pallet can legitimately produce different estimated classes in the same shipment. The site flags that instead of hiding it behind a blended average.
Once you know the path, Rate Farm helps you do the freight work.
Start with the freight you have. Rate Farm carries the useful details forward so you don't have to rebuild the shipment at every step.
Choose the path
Decide whether parcel, LTL, local delivery, or specialized transport is worth investigating.
Check the freight
Measure the handling unit, calculate density, and get a density-based class estimate when applicable.
Prepare the shipment
Add pickup, delivery, commodity, packaging, and service requirements to one reusable brief.
Check the quote
Compare quoted assumptions with the shipment you actually plan to tender.
Useful whether you're shipping something for the first time or checking your tenth quote.
“I sold it. Now how do I ship it?”
For eBay, Etsy, and other sellers whose item is suddenly too large or heavy for ordinary parcel shipping.
See the freight path → First-time shipper“What do I need before I ask for a quote?”
Get the dimensions, weight, location details, and service requirements together before the back-and-forth begins.
Get the checklist → Already have a quote“Does this quote match what I'm shipping?”
Check the quoted weight, class, and accessorial assumptions before a mismatch becomes a billing problem.
Open Quote Check →The same freight engine powers the readout below.
This is a live sample, not a screenshot. Rate Farm runs the sample shipment through the same calculation and readiness logic used by the tools above.
Answers for the parts of shipping that aren't obvious.
Practical guides for choosing a shipping path, preparing freight, understanding quotes, and avoiding expensive surprises.
Freight Shipping 101
A plain-English path from “I have something big to ship” to a shipment that is ready for a real freight quote.
Reference guideLTL Freight Class Guide
The density-based class scale, worked examples, mixed pallets, and the limits of a density-only estimate.
Choose a pathFreight or parcel: which makes sense?
What to look at when an item is getting too large, heavy, or awkward for ordinary package shipping.
Large itemsHow to ship furniture
A practical look at packaging, dimensions, pickup, delivery, and the point where freight becomes worth considering.
How to Measure a Pallet for LTL Freight
Where to measure, what counts, and why the finished handling unit matters.
Avoid surprisesLiftgate, Residential & Limited Access
The service conditions that can change what a quote actually means.
UnderstandWhy Can Two Pallets Have Different Freight Classes?
Why mixed-density shipments deserve a per-unit view instead of one average.
After the quoteWhy Did My Freight Get Reclassified?
The measurement, density, and shipment-description mistakes worth catching early.
PrepareHow to Palletize Freight for LTL Shipping
Build the handling unit so it survives the trip and can be measured honestly.
DocumentsHow to Read an LTL Bill of Lading
Make the paperwork match the shipment before pickup.
Local calculations and drafts. No freight payment, booking, or carrier guarantee. When Rate Farm eventually recommends paid shipping services, any commercial relationship will be disclosed.
Figure out the path, then prepare the freight.
You don't need to know the shipping terminology first. Start with the item, work out what matters, and carry the details into a real quote conversation.