Shipping Auto Parts? Maximize Your Efficiencies and Minimize Your Costs with Our Freight Guide

Last Updated: March 18, 2024

Shipping auto parts requires a little extra thought and consideration:

• Engines and transmissions are heavy.
• Body panels like bumpers, doors, hoods, and trunks are both oversized and susceptible to damage.
• Wheels, tires, and rims can be awkward to package and transport.
• And finally, some auto parts like batteries and airbags are considered hazardous materials, so they need special labeling and handling.

If you’re moving auto parts to wholesalers, distributors, and retail operations, we’ll offer you our tips and resources to simplify your domestic freight shipments. We’ll show you the ins and outs of moving all kinds of automotive parts via FTL and LTL freight carriers so you can keep your operation running efficiently and cost-effectively.

#1: Choosing FTL vs. LTL Can Impact Your Costs and Your Timeline

If you move auto parts domestically around the U.S., you’ll have a couple of shipping options:

• For smaller shipments under 150 lbs.—the kinds of one-off shipments that may go direct to consumers, for example—you can use small parcel carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL.

• For heavier shipments—or large shipments to retailers, wholesalers, or distributors—you’ll need to use a freight carrier. You’ll also need to understand the pros and cons of FTL and LTL freight service.

What’s the Difference Between FTL and LTL?

When you choose full truckload (FTL) shipping, the entire truck will be dedicated to your shipment. All the cargo on board will be yours, and all the stops will be for you.

If you have enough freight to fill a trailer, FTL service is the obvious choice.

However, even when you don’t have a full trailer-load of freight, FTL service can still make sense if:

• Your shipment weighs 5,000–44,000 lbs. (a real possibility with auto parts shipments!)
• You need to move 6 or more pallets

A freight broker can help you do the math to determine whether FTL or LTL service is right for you.

FTL service is also a good bet if:

• Your shipment is time-sensitive – i.e., you need to make a delivery appointment/window with a fulfillment partner. Unlike LTL, in which carriers make multiple stops for other shippers’ pickups and drop-offs, FTL is dedicated service for just one shippers’ freight. As a result, the timeline is much more reliable.
• Your product is fragile or high value – Other shippers’ cargo will not be loaded or offloaded around yours. If you’re shipping body panels, windows, electronic systems, or other fragile items, an FTL solution may be the right one for you.
• You do not want your cargo handled during transit – When you use FTL service, your shipment will be loaded at the origin point and unloaded at destination. This minimal handling means a reduced chance of damage for any fragile auto parts you’re shipping.

When you choose less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, your shipment will be loaded into a trailer with several other shippers’ freight. These shipments “share” the space as they make their way to their own destinations. A truck carrying LTL freight will make several stops along its route.

LTL shipping means you pay only for the space you use, rather than the entire trailer. This makes LTL an attractive option for operations making regular, smaller freight shipments. However, since the truck makes multiple stops, shipments take longer to arrive at their destination.

Consider LTL service if:

• You’re moving anywhere from 1–6 pallets
• Your shipment weighs between 150 and 12,000 lbs. (although shipments over 5,000 pounds may be better suited for FTL; talk to your freight broker!)
• You can deal with potentially longer transit times

Choosing the right freight service for your shipments is key when optimizing your logistics. Selecting the wrong option can mean wasted dollars on unnecessary freight expenses, timelines that leave retailers and distributors frustrated, and disappointed customers.

In other words, these aren’t choices to take lightly. A freight broker can help you carefully consider all the variables of your unique situation to make the right choice for your budget and your business. (More on freight brokers below!)

#2: Proper Packaging Is Essential

Auto part shipments can be heavy, bulky, sharp, and/or hazardous, all of which present challenges to carriers. Proper packaging will protect your goods from damage—and protect the people who handle your shipments, including your team members and the carrier’s employees. 

Wherever possible, palletizing your auto parts shipments is the way to go. 

Some auto parts are better off being crated. Engines, for example, will be better protected in a crate. Additionally, crating can make your load stackable. Since shipments that can’t be stacked can mean extra freight charges, crating items like engines can keep your freight bills lower.  

Freight Tip: Before shipping an engine or a transmission, all fluids need to be drained, including coolant, water, oil, and fuel.

#3: Size & Weight Restrictions May Come Into Play

When you’re moving auto parts, oversized and heavy shipments are a real possibility. This can create a few freight challenges: 

• Some LTL carriers have weight limits of 10,000 or 15,000 lbs. Some LTL carriers may be willing to accept shipments up to 20,000 lbs., but for very heavy shipments, you may need to use FTL service. 

• Additionally, certain oversized auto parts can’t easily be palletized or crated. This can make proper packaging difficult, and it makes handling more challenging for your carrier.  

In these scenarios, it makes sense to consult the experts. A freight broker can shop around these types of challenging loads to help you find the right carrier for your heavy or oversized shipments.  

Additionally, look for a freight broker who works with a full-service freight forwarder or logistics company. These freight brokers may be able to connect you with creative packaging solutions to protect your freight in transit and make these loads easier for carriers to handle, which can save you money on your freight bills. 

#4: Freight Class Matters

When you’re shopping for LTL solutions, you’ll need to have all the specs of your shipment handy to get an accurate quote. That includes the shipment’s length, width, height, and freight class.

Although carriers set their own rates, your shipment’s price will ultimately reflect its freight class. Freight class acts represents a shipment’s “transportability”—how easy or difficult it is to move that freight.

To determine transportability, four elements are considered:

1. Density: How dense is the shipment? In other words, what’s its weight as compared to its volume?
2. Stowability: What is the size and shape of the shipment?
3. Ease of Handling: What kind of care is needed to move the shipment?
4. Liability: How valuable is the shipment, and how vulnerable is it to perishability, theft, or damage?

Based on these criteria, freight is placed into one of 18 classes.

Auto parts fall into a few different classes. We’ve shared some of the more common ones below, along with examples of the parts that fit into each category:

It can be tricky to pick the right freight class, and picking the wrong code can impact the price of your shipment significantly. If you know your shipment’s National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) code, you can match that code with a freight class.

A freight broker can also help you determine an accurate freight class for your shipment so you can get an accurate quote for your shipment.

#5: Recognize Which Items Are Hazardous

While some auto parts are simply delicate—or require special handling due to their weight and size—some are designated hazardous by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

These hazardous parts require special labeling and handling. It’s your responsibility to let your freight broker or carrier know when your shipment contains hazardous materials, such as:

• Airbags
• Aerosol paints or lubricants
• Batteries
• Seatbelt pretensioners
• Any components containing fuel or refrigerant
• Touch-up paint

If you’re ever in doubt, get the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)/Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product you’re shipping. It will give you all the information you need to share with your freight broker and carrier to stay compliant and protect everyone coming into contact with your shipment.

#6: Working with a Freight Broker Can Save You Time and Money

When you’re shipping auto parts, partnering with a freight broker—as opposed to working directly with a domestic trucking carrier—can offer you several benefits, including:

Immediate Access to a Network of Carriers

Freight brokers spend much of their time establishing relationships with different carriers. They evaluate each one, saving you from having to vet each one yourself. Additionally, a freight broker will shop your freight project around to all of these carriers and gather quotes for you, saving you the legwork.

In other words, with one phone call to a freight broker, you can access a vetted network of carriers.

Flexibility to Meet Changing Needs

If your business is at all seasonal—or you anticipate changing needs throughout the year—working with a freight broker can offer you greater flexibility. For example, if you need to ship additional stock in advance of a seasonal bump in sales, a freight broker can step in with a range of options to fill those needs via several different carriers.

Competitive Pricing

In some areas of business, it pays to go direct. When you’re negotiating LTL shipping, a freight broker can often get you better pricing than you’d get by working with the carriers yourself.

Here’s why:

• A freight broker can shop your project to multiple carriers to find the best price for your shipment.
• Additionally, some freight brokers have established preferred pricing with carriers they do a certain volume of business with. As a result, they may have access to better rates than you’d get by going direct.

Effective Communication

Top freight brokers take their job as an intermediary between shippers and carriers seriously. While some carriers simply aren’t equipped to deliver high levels of customer communication, a good freight broker will ensure that the shippers who work with them stay updated every step of the way. 

Expertise & Insight

Finally, partnering with a great freight broker offers you the chance to work with an expert, someone who knows over-the-road freight inside and out. They know what paperwork to prepare, what information they need to get you an accurate quote, how to deal with any challenges that pop up, and how to save you time, effort, and money.

In short, working with a solid freight broker holds many different advantages, all of which add up to simpler, easier auto parts shipments for you.

Shipping Auto Parts Easily and Cost-Effectively

When you’re moving auto parts domestically, your freight bills can add up quickly. However, by keeping these tips and distinctions in mind, you’ll create new efficiencies, save money, and keep your freight moving into your customers’ hands.

Looking for more strategies to keep your costs down and your auto parts moving? Talk to our experts. With significant expertise in the auto parts industry and access to all freight modes, we’re uniquely positioned to help you create a cost-effective freight plan that protects your bottom line.