FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YOUR FREIGHT SHIPPING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
FREIGHT SHIPPING COSTS
Due to the high volume we ship through our network of carriers, we are able to secure deeply discounted shipping rates. Your shipping quote is based on the information you provide to Roper Air Freight Inc at the time of booking. Any changes or differences in the weight, class, size, or location can result in additional shipping costs direct from the carrier. To ensure that your shipping rates stay in line as originally quoted, be sure to use the Roper Air Freight Inc BOL provided. This lets the carrier know to bill roperairfreightinc.com at the pre-negotiated freight rates and discounts.
No. It is critical to the integrity of your quote that you determine the accurate weight of the freight items you are shipping. If you book your shipment at a weight that is incorrect, the freight carrier will discover the error when they weigh the freight (which they can do at any time). If an inaccurate weight is used in booking, a billing adjustment will be made at the carrier’s non-discounted rate and added to your account. Incorrect weight is the cause of more than half of all billing adjustments Roper Air Freight Inc customers receive. Don’t guess. Get the weight right.
According to the National Motor Freight Transportation Association, Inc., there are 18 freight classes, ranging numerically from 50 to 500, that classify a commodity based on an evaluation of 4 characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability. Freight class is an important factor in determining the total cost charged by the carrier for shipping your item(s).
Yes. There are residential delivery fees that apply to shipping freight to a primarily non-commercial location, including apartments, residences, farms, estates, remote locations, and possibly even schools and churches. Please note that home-based businesses in residential zip codes are billed as residential due to special arrangements that need to be made by the carrier. The cost to ship also can change when delivering to a limited access location (i.e., construction sites, military bases, camps and storage facilities). Be sure to ask your Roper Air Freight Inc representative if you are unsure if your location would fall into one of the above categories.
PACKAGING
The safest mode of shipment is to use white glove or blanket wrap service. At an additional cost, this shipping option includes secure packaging by a professional and safe delivery by truck. Ask your Roper Air Freight Inc agent about white glove or blanket wrap services.
Yes. Our motorcycle shipping specialists have custom pallets that allow for the safe transportation and safe loading and unloading.
Packaging materials can be found at any home improvement store or parcel shipping store.
No. Roper Air Freight Inc does not sell or provide packaging mater, nor does your driver carry with him items used to properly package your freight. Before the arrival of your driver, your package should be secured to a pallet and protected from damage.
A securely, properly packed shipment is your greatest protection against potentially damaging road and warehouse conditions. Please make sure that all items being shipped are properly and securely packaged to prevent damage. All freight should be packaged, crated, or stacked and secured onto pallets with banding, shrink-wrap or breakaway adhesive. Improper packaging may decrease or nullify the carrier’s liability for damage claims or loss. Labels should be placed on every freight piece in multiple places.
BOOKING YOUR SHIPMENT
A bill of lading is standard, mandatory paperwork providing the carrier and driver with all pertinent information related to the shipping costs and information. This paperwork allows for proper billing to be processed by the shipping company and Roper Air Freight Inc. All parties involved should have a copy of the BOL (buyer, seller and carrier). It is very important that the Roper Air Freight Inc BOL be given to the carrier at the time of pickup. Also, keep one copy for your records. Not using our paperwork could result in more hassle and extra shipping costs from freight carriers.
Freight transit times are not guaranteed unless specifically noted on the freight quote option you select when booking you shipping rates. All other delivery times are estimates only that cannot be guaranteed, though they are normally reliable. Freight shipping transit times begin the day after your freight has been picked up.
We are a freight broker that utilizes the trucks of the largest, most reputable carriers. We ship thousands of loads through YRC, Roadway, UPS and many others. To see a list of the carriers available and the shipping costs to move your freight, get a quote now. At Roper Air Freight Inc, we present carrier options. You choose the carrier.
It’s important to understand the difference between freight insurance and carrier liability. The industry-standard liability cargo insurance coverage offered by all LTL carriers booked through Roper Air Freight Inc is $0.10 cents per pound. That doesn’t cover the value of most shipments, so Roper Air Freight Inc offers its customers the ability to purchase supplementary freight insurance accessed directly during the freight quote and booking process.
Someone who is authorized to sign over the shipment and Roper Air Freight Inc BOL must be present at the time of pickup. If the driver arrives at the pickup location and either the freight is not ready or there is no one available to sign the BOL, he/she will not normally wait. The pickup must then be re-dispatched, which some freight companies charge a re-delivery fee for to cover extra time and miles.
Depending on the time of booking in your time zone, we can try to arrange for same-day pickup. Always speak to a Roper Air Freight Inc agent directly for special arrangements and urgent bookings. Please allow a 4-hour window of time for freight pickup, and note that most shipping companies make pickups in the afternoon and spend their mornings with freight deliveries.
TRACKING
Enter your PRO number or Shipment ID number to track the location of your shipment after pickup has been made. If you are having difficulty tracking your shipment on our website, contact customer service
A PRO number is used by carriers to organize and track the progress of each shipment. Your dedicated agent should be able to give you the PRO number for your shipment. If you encounter problems tracking your shipment on our website, contact customer service
Your driver will bring with him a Proof of Delivery receipt. This proof of delivery is also known as a Bill of Lading or BOL.
The best way to check your shipping status may depend on the carrier you selected. In some cases, your driver or your Roper Air Freight Inc agent will notify you before pickup or delivery.
BILLING
A billing adjustment represents a portion of unpaid freight shipping costs as reported by the carrier. In the freight industry, another term for a billing adjustment is “rebill”. Most billing adjustments are the result of the incorrect weight being communicated by the shipper. Incorrect freight class and the need to add accessorial charges for residential or limited access location account for a significant percentage of billing adjustments.
When obtaining a freight quote, the type of commodity, weight, dimensions, pick-up and delivery location, and distance all influence the cost to ship. The best way to avoid a change in shipping rates is to ensure that all information given to Roper Air Freight Inc at the time of booking is 100% complete and accurate. When scheduling your freight shipping, make sure you are as honest and accurate as you can be about the contents, size, and weight of your freight
Roper Air Freight Inc accepts all major credit cards for freight shipments booked online or over the phone with a Freight Agent. Arrangements for other payment options, such as domestic wires, international wires, or business checks, are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
GENERAL SHIPPING QUESTIONS
This usually occurs when Roper Air Freight Inc BOL is not used at the time of pickup, which results in a double booking in two systems and a change in shipping rates. Our freight brokers will promptly take care of the paperwork and have the charges properly credited for your freight shipment when notified. They will instruct you on the best way to send us the bill you’ve received from the carrier.
If your freight arrives damaged, it is important to accept the shipment in order to document the claim correctly. A claim must be filed within 48 hours of delivery, and can be done directly online on our site. Roper Air Freight Inc will act as liaison and assist the customer in processing the claim and filing all necessary paperwork, though we cannot guarantee all claims will be accepted from the shipping company.
LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping handles freight shipments ranging from 100 lbs to 20,000 lbs. When the item you need shipped or transported is too large to take to the post office or your local parcel company, freight is seen as a more economical approach. Freight shipping is the easiest way to move large and bulky items quickly and efficiently while keeping shipping costs low.
Yes, our carriers are experts in shipping in time for trade shows, exhibitions and/or expos. Shipment can be to a warehouse or directly to the show, depending upon the date and number of transit days. Trade show shipments can be picked up from and/or delivered to the show site outside regular business hours only when the show dates demand alternative scheduling.
Transit times are dependent on location, destination, service options, mode of transportation, weather and carrier chosen at the time of booking. Roper Air Freight Inc makes every effort to offer the most cost-effective mode of transportation. Transit times are provided by carriers and are estimated, not guaranteed.
Roper Air Freight Inc is a 3rd-Party Logistics provider that manages less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping, truckload (TL) freight shipping, international shipping, trade show shipments as well as specialty shipping. Our top shippers are business customers, many of which rely on us multiple times each month to handle their shipping needs and reduce their supply chain costs. We integrate our proprietary technology solutions with service delivered by National Account Managers to provide an unsurpassed level of service at the lowest available price. No matter your shipping problem, we will find a cost-effective solution for you.
