Here's what matters: Shipping is often an expensive part of the process when ordering marine building supplies. There are a few tips and tricks to help keep the freight bill down.
What are the Different Ways My Order Ships?
The golden rule is the more you can order at a time the lower your percent of freight on the order will be. To break that down plainly, the more you buy at once, the less you pay per item in shipping. The first step to optimizing shipping cost is understanding what modes of shipping are available:
1. Parcel (UPS & FedEx)
When It's Best: A parcel delivery is best for small packages such as hardware, dock wheels, accessories, and smaller floats. After the product reaches a certain size it incurs additional charges. This can create a huge swing in cost. Dock floats are the best example of where this can save you a ton.
Example: If you ordered a 24"x48"x16" dock float, this would cost approximately $150 per float to ship parcel. If that float was substituted with a 24"x48"x14" the cost would reduce down to approximately $50-55 per float. If you need under three dock floats you should try to order from this list to save BIG.
| Eagle Float Dock Float Size | Approximate Shipping Cost Per Float |
| 24"X36"X8" | $20-$25 |
| 24"X36"X12" | $50-$55 |
| 24"X36"X16" | $50-$55 |
| 24"X48"X8" | $50-$55 |
| 24"X48"X12" | $50-$55 |
| 24"X48"X14" | $50-$55 |
Delivery Expectations: Just like most of your other online purchases these packages are dropped at your shipping address. There is no signature required and no appointment required. Note that these packages are so big that they often will deliver over the course of two days due to limitations on the truck itself.
2. LTL - Less Than Truckload (Estes, XPO, Southeastern Freight)
When It's Best: A LTL (Less than truckload) order is best for 1-6 pallets. Fortunately we have computers to figure out the best way to optimize that. The primary thing to know is that if you have enough in your checkout cart to justify LTL you can likely add more to the cart for little to nothing in shipping cost. This varies depending on what you are adding but the golden rule prevails (the more you can order at a time the lower your percent of freight on the order will be). Any item that is 8 feet or larger will be subject to additional handling fees. If you can order smaller items to avoid these overlength charges.
Example: If you ordered seven 48x96x12 dock floats that would cost approximately $1,350 to $1,450 in LTL shipping cost. If that was substituted with fourteen 48x48x12 dock floats shipping cost comes down to approximately $900-$1000. Note that generally smaller floats cost more per cubic foot than larger floats. Make sure winning on freight doesn't cost you in higher cost of materials.
Delivery Expectations: LTL deliveries require a delivery appointment, signature, and appropriate access. Before placing an order confirm your shipping address can accommodate a LTL delivery (most can). If you have concerns about a truck being able to access your shipping address use an alternative address or we can schedule a pickup at the local freight terminal (Varies on location and carrier).
3. Partial / Full Truckload (Dedicated Carrier)
When It's Best: A truckload rate is generally best for anything more than six pallets. A truckload shipping rate will be provided at checkout but honestly that rate is most likely a conservative figure. If that truckload rate seems high reach out to our team so we can dial that in for you.
Example: We’ll be the first to admit: website shipping calculators aren't always your best friend for big orders. If you have twenty 48x72x20 floats in your cart, the site would quote you approximately $2,400 for a full truckload. But if you don't actually need the whole truck, why pay for it? Our team specializes in finding partial truckload rates that can drop that cost to roughly $1,300. If you're planning a large order the website is great for a ballpark figure, but get in touch for a custom shipping quote that actually fits your load.
Delivery Expectations: Generally there is more control on delivery window, equipment, and delivery services when purchasing dedicated freight. There are a ton of options with a wide variety of price tags. Our team specializes in finding the right service for you.
Summary
1. Parcel (UPS & FedEx)
Best for: Small hardware, accessories, and specific "small" dock floats.
The Pro-Tip: Watch out for size thresholds. Reducing a float height by just 2 inches (e.g., from 16" to 14") can drop your shipping cost from $150 down to $55 per float.
Expectations: Standard residential delivery; no appointments or signatures needed. Large orders may arrive over two days.
2. LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Best for: Orders consisting of 1 to 6 pallets.
The Pro-Tip: Once you hit the LTL threshold, you can often add more items to your cart for little to no extra shipping cost. To save even more, avoid items over 8 feet long to dodge "overlength" surcharges.
The Comparison: Swapping seven large floats for fourteen smaller ones can save you in freight, but always double check that the material cost doesn't offset those savings.
Expectations: Requires a delivery appointment, signature, and a location accessible by a large truck.
3. Partial & Full Truckload (Dedicated)
Best for: Large-scale projects requiring more than 6 pallets.
The Pro-Tip: The automated website freight quotes are good for ballpark figures for huge orders. While the site might default to a Full Truckload rate, our team can often negotiate a "Partial Truckload" rate by utilizing empty space on existing routes.
Expectations: Offers the highest level of control over delivery windows and specialized equipment, providing a premium, point-to-point service.
Bottom Line: The more you buy at once, the less you pay per item in shipping. If your freight quote looks high at checkout, contact our team we can often find hidden savings through partial load negotiations.