Building materials freight
Building materials freight ships by LTL or truckload once the pallet weight, length and delivery site are known, because jobsites and yards change what equipment the carrier needs. Send the product, dimensions, weight and a description of the delivery location and we quote the service that fits.
At a glance
- Tile, stone, bagged mortar and other dense building products put a lot of weight on each pallet, so the gross weight on the bill of lading must match the scale.
- Construction sites and residential addresses count as limited-access or residential deliveries for most carriers, and those accessorial charges belong on the quote from the start.
- Long items such as trim, pipe or siding need their full length declared, since carriers handle and price freight past standard pallet size differently.
What makes building materials freight different from other LTL?
Building materials freight is heavy, often long and often delivered to places without a dock. A pallet of pavers or tile can reach the weight limit a liftgate can lower, and a bundle of trim can run longer than a standard pallet.
Those traits decide the equipment before they decide the price. Tell us what the product is, how the pallet or bundle is built and where it is going, and we confirm the carrier's handling limits before booking.
How are tile, stone and bagged products classed?
Tile, stone and bagged products are classed by the NMFC item for each product. Many items follow the 13-tier density scale from NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, while some keep a commodity class, so give the carrier a precise product description.
Dense products tend to fall in a lower class on the scale because the pallet weighs a lot for its size. The density scale and worked example on this page run the numbers for a full pallet of floor tile.
Freight class by density (lb per cubic foot)
- 0 to 1 lb/ft³Class 400
- 1 to 2 lb/ft³Class 300
- 2 to 4 lb/ft³Class 250
- 4 to 6 lb/ft³Class 175
- 6 to 8 lb/ft³Class 125
- 8 to 10 lb/ft³Class 100
- 10 to 12 lb/ft³Class 92.5
- 12 to 15 lb/ft³Class 85
- 15 to 22.5 lb/ft³Class 70
- 22.5 to 30 lb/ft³Class 65
- 30 to 35 lb/ft³Class 60
- 35 to 50 lb/ft³Class 55
- 50 or more lb/ft³Class 50 example below
Worked example: a pallet of porcelain floor tile
- Measure the loaded pallet, pallet included: 48 × 40 × 30 inches = 57,600 cubic inches.
- Convert to cubic feet: 57,600 ÷ 1,728 = 33.3 cubic feet.
- Divide the weight by the cubic feet: 2,000 lb ÷ 33.3 = 60 lb per cubic foot.
- Read the class off the density scale: 60 lb per cubic foot falls in class 50.
Run your own pallet through the freight class calculator, or read how freight class works.
How do jobsite and residential deliveries affect a building materials freight quote?
Jobsite and residential deliveries add accessorial charges to a building materials freight quote because the carrier sends a smaller truck, a liftgate or extra time. Describe the site: an active construction project, a home driveway, a lumber yard with a forklift, or a gated area with limited access.
The receiver needs equipment to unload heavy pallets where there is no dock. Liftgates have platform-size and weight limits that vary by carrier, so send the heaviest and longest piece and the carrier confirms whether a liftgate delivery works.
Which service fits: LTL, volume LTL, partial or full truckload?
Standard LTL fits most palletized shipments that can share a trailer; volume LTL, partial truckload and full truckload fit larger loads or loads that need their own truck. Price the same shipment details across the four services, and confirm the points in the table before you book.
| Service | Fits | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Standard LTL | Palletized freight that shares a trailer and moves through carrier terminals | NMFC item and class, pickup and delivery accessorials, delivery appointment |
| Volume LTL | Larger LTL shipments quoted as a one-off price for that shipment | Quote terms, space the freight takes, whether it still moves through terminals |
| Partial truckload | Shipments that share a truck with a few others | Whether the freight stays on one trailer, any planned transfers, transit estimate |
| Full truckload | Freight that fills a trailer, reaches its weight limit, or needs its own truck | Trailer type, loading and unloading time, appointments at both ends |
How should long-length items be packed for LTL?
Long-length items should be bundled, banded and packed so a forklift can lift them without bending or breaking. Siding, trim, pipe and rail travel better on a pallet or runners sized to their length, with the ends protected.
Declare the overall length on the quote request. Carriers can add a charge for freight past a set length, and the rule differs by carrier, so we check it on your dimensions before booking.
What do you send for a building materials freight quote?
A building materials freight quote needs the 8 details below. Complete details let the carrier rate the shipment once, without a reweigh or reclass after pickup.
- Product and NMFC item number, if you know it
- Pallet or bundle dimensions, with the longest piece marked
- Gross weight of each pallet or bundle
- Delivery site type: jobsite, residence, yard, store or warehouse
- Dock, forklift or liftgate needs at pickup and delivery
- Gate codes, access limits or site contact for the receiving end
- Stackable or not for each pallet
- Pickup and receiving hours at each location
What do the freight terms on this page mean?
- Limited-access delivery
- A delivery to a site such as a construction project or gated area where a carrier charges for the added time or equipment.
- Residential delivery
- A delivery to a home or home-based business, which most carriers bill as an accessorial.
- Banding
- Steel or plastic straps that hold a bundle or pallet load together.
- Accessorial
- A service beyond dock-to-dock pickup and delivery, such as a liftgate, that adds a charge.
Quick answers
Can you deliver building materials to a construction site?
Yes, as a limited-access delivery. Describe the site and the unloading equipment available and we confirm with the carrier before booking.
Do you offer a delivery date for jobsite freight?
We share the carrier's transit estimate and confirm the delivery details before booking. We cannot promise a delivery date, since the carrier controls the schedule.
Can a liftgate lower a full pallet of tile?
That depends on the carrier's liftgate weight limit and platform size. Send the heaviest pallet's weight and dimensions and the carrier confirms.
Should a full load of lumber or tile go truckload?
Compare the options on the shipment's pallet count, dimensions, weight and lane. We quote LTL, volume LTL, partial and full truckload on the same details.
Quote your next materials shipment
Send the product, weight, dimensions and delivery site and we will price your building materials freight.