The short answer
Plan recurring freight around a typical load, its expected variation, pickup readiness and the receiver’s availability. Recurring does not automatically mean FTL or a reserved pickup slot. Share the pattern with Pelham and confirm capacity, pricing and how changes will be handled.
Describe the normal pattern and the exceptions
Whether you move two pallets every week or several truckloads a month, volumes change with production, dock availability and seasonal peaks. A brief with the typical load and its expected variation lets the team confirm capacity and pricing and handle exceptions. Include these five details:
- Origin and destination: the usual pickup warehouse in California and receiving business in Florida.
- Frequency and ready days: how often you ship (for example, every Thursday morning) and when the goods are packed and ready.
- Typical load: pallet count, loaded dimensions (length × width × height), weight and goods.
- Variation and seasonality: peak periods, changing destinations or months when volume doubles or drops.
- Receiving requirements: appointment windows, dock access and the person coordinating each end.
A useful recurring shipment brief
“We expect [frequency] shipments from [supplier/location] to [receiver/location]. A typical load is [count, sizes, weight]. During [period] it may change to [variation]. Goods are normally ready [schedule], and the receiver requires [arrangements].” This is a planning brief, not a capacity reservation.
Choose capacity from the load, not the frequency
A common misconception is that recurring shipments always need a full truckload. The load decides:
- Recurring LTL: steady partial loads of 1 to 7 pallets per shipment that can share trailer space.
- Recurring FTL: 8 pallets or more per shipment (volume load or full truckload), or loads that need exclusive capacity in a 53’ trailer, with one driver or a two-driver team.
Tip: if volume peaks in certain months, ask about LTL for the normal months and a volume load or FTL for the peak season. See LTL vs. FTL: the differences rather than assuming all repeated shipments need dedicated trucks.
Agree what needs reconfirmation
| Change | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| More pallets or larger dimensions | Does the quoted capacity and price still apply? Extra space changes the billable weight. |
| A new ready date or appointment | Can pickup and receiving still be coordinated? |
| A different destination, warehouse or forwarder | Does the service and quote still fit? |
Even on a regular schedule, tell the team about these changes before pickup. Keep the latest agreed details together.
How are recurring shipments priced?
Freight rates are dynamic and change with the market, so a previous quote does not automatically fix future prices or availability. For regular volumes, Pelham offers contract rates. A contract rate keeps the agreed base rate and adds a fuel surcharge percentage that goes up or down with fuel prices. Share the brief above and ask the team for a contract rate proposal.
Match the schedule to an LTL service level
- Expedited LTL: estimated 3 calendar days from pickup, for South Florida only, from Homestead to West Palm Beach.
- Regular LTL: estimated 7 calendar days from pickup to all Florida destinations.
- Economy LTL: estimated 10 calendar days from pickup to all Florida destinations, suited to predictable, non-urgent replenishment.
These are estimates, not guarantees; plan the receiver’s stock with that margin.
Request a review of the pattern
Send a recurring freight enquiry using the brief above. Add the details listed in freight quote requirements for the initial load. Confirm each arrangement before treating it as booked.