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Freight & Shipping Policy

Last updated: September 3, 2026

Most products on MaterialHandling.com ship factory-direct from the manufacturer's plant or warehouse. This gets equipment to you faster and at lower cost, but it also means freight terms, transit times, and ship-from locations vary by brand. This page explains exactly how shipping works, what's included in our pricing, and — most importantly — how to receive a freight shipment so you're fully protected.

Shipping Methods

Small parcel (UPS/FedEx)Items under ~150 lbs that can be safely boxed — casters, hand tools, bin packages, cleaning tools, parts.
LTL freight (common carrier)Most equipment: pallet jacks, carts, lift tables, ladders, containers. Ships palletized/crated on a semi-trailer.
Full truckload / flatbedLarge orders, oversized equipment (dock levelers, large hoppers, bulk container quantities). Arranged by our freight team.

Freight Terms

  • Shipments are made FOB origin (the manufacturer's dock) unless otherwise quoted — ownership and risk of loss transfer to you when the carrier picks up the freight. This is why the receiving inspection below matters: transit claims are made against the carrier.
  • Quoted shipping charges cover dock-to-dock commercial delivery to locations accessible by a standard 53' trailer.
  • Liftgate service, residential delivery, limited-access locations (schools, military bases, construction sites, farms), inside delivery, and scheduled/appointment delivery are accessorial services. Select them at checkout or tell us when ordering — charges added by a carrier after delivery for services used but not ordered will be billed at cost.
  • A physical loading dock or forklift is the fastest way to receive LTL freight. No dock? Order liftgate service and the driver lowers the pallet to ground level. You are responsible for moving freight beyond the tailgate/ground unless inside delivery was purchased.

Ship-From Locations & Lead Times

Products ship from the manufacturer's facility. Typical origins include Angola, IN (Vestil); Lake City, MN (Valley Craft); Coatesville, PA (Ballymore); Akron, OH (Akro-Mils); Zionsville, IN (Vikan North America); Pomona, CA (EKKO); Ontario, CA (Eoslift, Bishamon); Norton, MA (Presto); DeForest, WI (Big Joe); and our own Elgin, IL warehouse. Recycled plastic pallets ship from regional yards in AL, AZ, AR, CA, and CO. See Brand Policies for the full list.

Each product page shows an estimated lead time (the time before the order ships). In-stock items typically ship in 1–3 business days; built-to-order equipment can take 1–8+ weeks depending on the factory queue. Lead times are estimates provided by the manufacturer and are not guaranteed. Transit adds roughly 1–5 business days depending on distance from the ship point. If your project is deadline-critical, contact us before ordering and we will confirm current factory lead times.

Receiving Your Freight Shipment — Required Checklist

This is the most important section on this page. Once you sign a clear delivery receipt, the carrier's liability largely ends, and damage claims become very difficult. Before the driver leaves:

  1. Count the pieces. Match the piece count on the delivery receipt. If anything is missing, write “SHORT — X pieces” on the receipt before signing.
  2. Inspect all packaging — every side. Look for punctures, crushed corners, broken banding, forklift punctures, or shifted loads.
  3. Note ALL damage on the delivery receipt before signing — be specific (“crate crushed on top, product visible”). If damage is severe, you may refuse the damaged piece(s); call us immediately at (855) 719-1415 while the driver is present if possible.
  4. Photograph everything — packaging before unwrapping, the damage, and the delivery receipt.
  5. Report concealed damage within 24 hours. If you discover damage after unpacking, stop, photograph it, keep all packaging, and email [email protected] within 24 hours of delivery. Carriers may deny concealed-damage claims reported later.
  6. Report shortages within 5 days of receipt.

Signing a clear delivery receipt certifies the shipment arrived complete and undamaged. We will always advocate for you with the carrier and manufacturer, but claims without receipt notations or timely reporting are frequently denied — and we cannot refund what the carrier will not honor.

Shipping Destinations

  • Contiguous U.S. (48 states): standard shipping on all products.
  • Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico: available on most products; freight quoted individually — request a quote.
  • Canada & international: we ship to your U.S. freight forwarder. Direct international shipping is quoted case by case; the importer of record is responsible for duties, taxes, and brokerage.

Address Changes & Re-Routing

Changing the delivery address after a shipment leaves the factory incurs carrier re-routing fees (commonly $50 or more, set by the carrier/manufacturer). Please verify your ship-to address, contact name, and phone number at checkout — carriers require a contact phone for freight deliveries.

Storage & Missed Deliveries

If a carrier cannot deliver because the location is closed, no one is available to receive, or a scheduled appointment is missed, the carrier may assess redelivery and storage fees, which are the customer's responsibility.

Freight Questions?

Our team is available Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm CST.

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