Services · transport
Freight is why used boxes cost what they cost.
- Pricing
- By quote
- Availability
- Depends on partner suppliers
- Quote request
- Free, no obligation
Ask about a lane
Origin, destination, what is moving and roughly how much. A partner supplier can quote it and say whether flattening changes the answer.
Answer first
Three levers decide whether a used-box lane works.
- Flattening. Flattened boxes take far less space on a trailer, which can be the difference between a viable lane and an expensive one.
- Matching trips. Freight that fits a truck already making the journey usually costs less. Ask whether a supplier can do this, and be flexible on dates.
- Consolidation. Combining a collection and a delivery on one visit can cut the freight on both.
- Pallet positions
- 26
- 48 × 40 pallets on a typical 53′ dry van, single layer.
- Flattened per trailer
- Varies
- Depends on size, wall count and band height.
- Pricing
- Quote
- Set by the supplier for your lane.
- Quote request
- Free
- No obligation.
Equipment
Options partner suppliers may offer.
| Equipment | Best for | Site requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 53′ dry van | Standard collections and deliveries | Dock, or forklift and leveller |
| Flatbed | Baled OCC, banded pallet lots | Forklift, side access |
| Box truck with liftgate | Sites with no dock; small clearances | Ground-level access |
| Roll-off container | Cleanouts over several days or weeks | Hard standing, clear drop area |
| Partial truckload | Mid-sized orders on suitable lanes | Standard dock |
| LTL | Small orders of a few pallets | Standard dock or liftgate booked |
Questions
Freight, answered.
Why is freight such a big part of the cost of used boxes?
How many flattened gaylords fit on a truck?
Can boxes be collected from a site with no dock?
Is freight available everywhere?
Load planning
Common configurations and when each one fits.
Getting this wrong can cost more than any other single decision in used packaging, because freight is often larger than the value of what is on the trailer.
| Configuration | Use when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Floor-loaded single layer | Product is heavy and you will weigh out | Wasted height if product is light |
| Double stacked | Product is light and you will cube out | Collapse if misaligned or damp; confirm the rating with the supplier |
| Palletised single | Mixed loads, fast unloading | Pallet weight eats payload |
| Flattened, banded | Empty box delivery or collection | Crush in the bottom bands if stacked too high |
| Mixed flat and assembled | Combined delivery and collection | Complexity on the dock; agree the plan in advance |
| Partial or shared | Small orders on suitable lanes | Longer transit |
Site information
Things to tell the supplier before a truck is booked.
Each of these can turn a short collection into a wasted trip.
- Dock or ground level, and whether a liftgate is needed
- Dock leveller present, and its weight rating
- Trailer access: gate, approach angle, turning space, overhead clearance
- Your quiet hours, so a collection does not compete with your own inbound
- Check-in procedure and where the driver reports
- PPE requirements and whether drivers may be on the dock
- A named contact who will be there that day
- Any appointment system and how far ahead it books
- Whether a forklift and operator are available
Lane economics
Why the same order can cost different amounts.
Delivered pricing is lane-specific. These are the usual reasons, listed so it reads as arithmetic rather than inconsistency.
- 01
Return capacity
A lane with regular return traffic can price lower than a one-way lane, which is why a closer destination sometimes costs more.
- 02
Direction of trade flow
Freight into a region is often cheaper than out of it, or the reverse. It has little to do with distance and a lot to do with what else is on the road.
- 03
Seasonality
Truck capacity tightens at harvest and before the holidays, so a lane that is cheap in one month can be dearer in another with no change to the boxes.
- 04
Flexibility
A delivery window rather than a fixed date can let a load ride on a trip already planned. It is a cheap concession for a buyer to make.
- 05
Load efficiency
A trailer-efficient quantity usually lowers the per-box cost, because freight is shared across more boxes.
- 06
Consolidation
Collection and delivery on one visit can cut freight on both legs.
Ask whether inbound and outbound can be combined.
One visit, empties out and stock in. Not every supplier offers it, but it is worth asking.