Loading and Unloading Freight
How to get your freight on and off the truck safely and efficiently
Loading and unloading is where your shipment meets the real world: docks, forklifts, liftgates, ramps, and people on the ground. The method you choose has a direct impact on safety, timing, and cost, from whether a carrier can even complete the pickup, to whether you’ll see extra fees for missed attempts or long wait times.
In this section of the Freight Shipping Guide, you’ll find practical guidance on how loading docks work, what forklifts can and cannot safely handle, when a liftgate is required, when hand unloading is allowed, how terminal-to-terminal shipping can simplify tricky locations, and what to consider when using dock alternatives such as portable ramps, cranes, or truck-mounted lifts. You will also learn how these choices connect to accessorial charges, wait fees, and delivery timing so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises.
This Loading & Unloading Freight section has been created by Freightera’s logistics team (20+ years of combined experience in freight shipping) and reviewed by Freightera co-founder and editor-in-chief Zhenya Beck. Our goal is to give you clear, real-world options so you can choose the safest, most efficient way to move your freight on and off the truck.