Shelf-stable food freight
Shelf-stable food freight ships by standard LTL or truckload at ambient temperature, cased and palletized for distributors and retail distribution centers. Send the product, pallet details, lot codes and the receiver's appointment rules and we quote the service that fits.
At a glance
- Standard LTL and dry van truckload carry freight at ambient temperature, so the products we quote are canned, bottled, boxed and dry goods that need no temperature control.
- Retail distribution centers set delivery appointments and receiving rules, and those rules belong on the quote request so the carrier can confirm what it can do.
- Lot codes and purchase order numbers on the bill of lading help the receiver match the delivery to its order at the dock.
What food products can ship as shelf-stable food freight?
Shelf-stable food freight covers products that hold up at the temperatures of a dry trailer and a warehouse dock: canned goods, bottled drinks, snacks, dry goods, sauces and packaged ingredients. GET Express does not offer refrigerated, temperature-controlled or protect-from-freeze service.
Products that can freeze, melt or spoil in a dry trailer need a service we do not offer. Ask us first if a product is borderline, such as liquids shipped in winter or chocolate shipped in summer.
How are cased food and beverage products classed?
Cased food and beverage products are classed by the NMFC item for each product. Many items use the 13-tier density scale from NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, and some keep a commodity class, so describe the product on the bill of lading the way its item reads.
Canned and bottled goods tend to be dense, while snacks and cereal fill a pallet with little weight. The density scale and worked example on this page show the numbers for a pallet of canned goods.
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 example below
- 35 to 50 lb/ft³Class 55
- 50 or more lb/ft³Class 50
Worked example: a pallet of canned vegetables in cases
- Measure the loaded pallet, pallet included: 48 × 40 × 52 inches = 99,840 cubic inches.
- Convert to cubic feet: 99,840 ÷ 1,728 = 57.8 cubic feet.
- Divide the weight by the cubic feet: 1,800 lb ÷ 57.8 = 31.2 lb per cubic foot.
- Read the class off the density scale: 31.2 lb per cubic foot falls in class 60.
Run your own pallet through the freight class calculator, or read how freight class works.
How do retail distribution center appointments affect shelf-stable food freight?
Retail distribution center appointments decide when shelf-stable food freight can be unloaded, and a carrier that misses one can be turned away. Send the receiver's appointment process, receiving hours and any compliance rules with the quote request.
We pass those rules to the carrier and confirm what the carrier can offer before booking. The receiver sets the appointment slot and its own compliance terms, so we cannot promise a slot or compliance with a retailer's program.
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 |
What paperwork should travel with food freight?
Food freight paperwork should carry the lot codes, purchase order numbers and product description the receiver expects. Distributors and retail centers check deliveries against their orders, and a mismatch can hold up unloading.
Build pallets to the receiver's height and pallet-type rules, label each pallet on two sides and keep lot codes grouped. A clean pallet build speeds the count at the dock.
What do you send for a food and beverage freight quote?
A food and beverage freight quote needs the 8 details below. Complete details let the carrier rate the shipment once, without a reweigh or reclass after pickup.
- Product description and NMFC item number, if you know it
- Confirmation that the product needs no temperature control
- Case count, pallet count and pallet dimensions
- Gross weight of each pallet
- Lot codes and purchase order numbers for the bill of lading
- Receiver's appointment process and receiving hours
- Pallet height or pallet-type rules at the receiving center
- Stackable or not for each pallet
What do the freight terms on this page mean?
- Shelf-stable
- Food or drink that keeps at room temperature without refrigeration.
- Lot code
- A code printed on product packaging that identifies the production batch.
- Retail distribution center
- A retailer's warehouse that receives supplier freight and ships it on to stores.
- Dry van
- A standard enclosed trailer with no temperature control.
Quick answers
Do you offer refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight?
No. GET Express quotes ambient freight on standard LTL and dry van truckload, and does not offer refrigerated or protect-from-freeze service.
Can you book retail distribution center appointments?
We pass the appointment rules to the carrier and confirm what it can offer before booking. The receiver sets the slot.
Will you meet my retailer's compliance program?
We cannot promise compliance with a retailer's program. Send the rules and we confirm with the carrier what it can do before you book.
Do lot codes need to be on the bill of lading?
Many receivers ask for them. Add lot codes and purchase order numbers when the receiver requires them.
Quote your cased goods
Send the product, pallets and receiver rules and we will price your shelf-stable food freight on standard LTL or truckload.