Shipping & Freight Policy

Last Updated: Feb 2026

Welcome to Heavy Shipping LLC. Because we specialize in the transportation of heavy machinery, industrial equipment, car lifts, mowers, and excavators, our shipping processes differ significantly from standard parcel delivery. Please read this Shipping & Freight Policy carefully to understand your responsibilities, our procedures, and how we handle heavy freight logistics.

1. Freight Services & Transit Times

We utilize a network of specialized freight carriers, including Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Flatbed, and Heavy Haul transport, to deliver your equipment safely.

  • Estimated Times: All transit times provided at the time of quote are estimates, not guarantees. Heavy freight is subject to weigh station inspections, Department of Transportation (DOT) routing restrictions, and severe weather delays.
  • Dispatch: Once your quote is approved and payment is secured, dispatch typically occurs within 1-3 business days, depending on truck availability in your lane.

2. Delivery Locations & Accessorial Services

The size and weight of our shipments require specific delivery conditions. It is the customer’s responsibility to accurately report the delivery site conditions during the quoting process.

  • Commercial Delivery: Defined as a commercially zoned business with a loading dock and/or a forklift capable of unloading the specified freight weight.
  • Residential Delivery: Any delivery to a home, farm, or business operating out of a residential zone. Freight carriers charge an additional fee for residential routing.
  • Liftgate Service: Standard freight trucks are 48 to 53 feet long and sit roughly 4 feet off the ground. If you do not have a forklift or loading dock, you must request a liftgate. Note: Liftgates generally have a maximum weight capacity of 2,500 lbs. Equipment exceeding this weight (such as large excavators or multi-post car lifts) cannot use a liftgate and requires flatbed/step-deck transport with on-site rigging or heavy forklifts.
  • Limited Access: Locations such as construction sites, schools, military bases, farms, and storage facilities may incur limited access fees by the carrier.

3. Customer Preparation of Equipment

If Heavy Shipping LLC is picking up equipment from your location, you must prepare the machinery for safe transport:

  • All loose parts must be removed, boxed, and securely strapped to a pallet.
  • Fluids (fuel, hydraulic fluid) may need to be drained depending on the carrier and transport type.
  • Moving parts (e.g., excavator booms, mower decks, lift arms) must be lowered, locked, and secured.

4. Receiving Freight & Inspection (CRITICAL)

When your heavy equipment arrives, you or your designated representative must be present to inspect and sign for the delivery. Your signature on the Bill of Lading (BOL) or Delivery Receipt is a legal acknowledgment that the freight was received in good condition.

Inspection Checklist:

  1. Count the pieces: Ensure the number of items/pallets matches the BOL.
  2. Check for visible damage: Inspect for scratched paint, bent metal, leaking fluids, or torn shrink wrap.
  3. Notate the BOL: If you see any damage or shortages, you must write a detailed description of the damage on the driver’s copy of the BOL before signing it (e.g., “Mower deck scratched,” “Pallet 2 of 3 missing”).
  4. Take Photos: Photograph the freight while it is still on the truck, as well as during and after unloading.

Failure to notate damage on the delivery receipt transfers liability to the receiver and significantly reduces the chance of a successful freight claim.

5. Freight Claims & Concealed Damage

If you discover damage after the driver has left (Concealed Damage), you must report it to Heavy Shipping LLC immediately.

  • Concealed damage must be reported within 48 hours of delivery.
  • Do not move or use the equipment. Keep all packaging, pallets, and shrink wrap intact for the carrier’s claims inspector.
  • Heavy Shipping LLC will act as a liaison between you and the freight carrier to file the claim, but final claim approval and payout are determined solely by the carrier’s insurance.

6. Additional Fees & Accessorial Charges

To avoid unexpected charges, please ensure all quote details are accurate. Heavy Shipping LLC reserves the right to bill the customer for post-delivery accessorial charges issued by the carrier due to inaccurate information. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Redelivery Fees: If the carrier attempts delivery and you are not available, or the site cannot accommodate the truck.
  • Detention Fees: Carriers typically allow 30-45 minutes for loading/unloading. Exceeding this time will result in hourly detention fees.
  • Reweigh/Reclassification Fees: If the actual weight or dimensions of your shipment exceed what was stated on the quote.
  • TONU (Truck Ordered, Not Used): Applied if a pickup is canceled after a truck has already been dispatched.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy, require a specific accommodation for an upcoming shipment, or need to file a claim, please contact our dispatch team:

Heavy Shipping LLC

4101 USF Apple Dr
Tampa, FL 33620, United States

Phone: +1 (813) 974-2966

Email: contact@zhenautocarltd.shop

Website: zhenautocarltd.shop