What Are The Best Freight Companies to Ship Pallets With?

The freight industry keeps changing. Picking the right partner for pallet shipments boosts your supply chain and profits. This guide looks at the best freight brokerage companies for pallet shipping. It covers selection criteria and industry insights. Use this information to make smart choices in 2025.

Understanding Pallet Shipping and Its Importance

Pallet shipping is a reliable and affordable way to move goods. It’s popular in retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce. Consolidating products on sturdy platforms, like wood or plastic pallets, helps businesses. They can save space, cut down handling time, and ensure safe delivery. This works for local, national, and international shipping. This logistics solution is made for businesses that need to move large, heavy, or bulky items. It helps streamline logistics and reduces the risk of damage.

Items often shipped on pallets include:

Construction materials
Automotive parts
Furniture
Electronics
Retail stock

Basically, it’s any product that needs safe, bulk shipping. Choosing the right pallet size and type is key. It helps lower freight costs and ensures smooth handling in the supply chain.

Leading Freight Brokerage Companies for Pallet Shipping

JB Hunt: A Legacy of Reliability and Innovation

JB Hunt started in 1961. It has grown from a traditional carrier to a Fortune 300 company. Now, it’s one of the largest freight brokerages in North America. The original article praised their reliability and tech focus. But their service offering has even more to explore:

Expanded Service Portfolio

JB Hunt offers a truly multimodal approach with services including:

Dedicated Contract Services – Ensuring capacity at set contract rates. This serves as a good alternative to common carriage and brokerage.
Final Mile Services – We cover every mile of home delivery. Our service reaches 90% of the United States.
Specialized LTL Services – Particularly beneficial for bulky freight that requires special handling, with reported damage rates less than one percent
International Shipping – Streamlining global supply chains with comprehensive transport options

Technology Integration

The J.B. Hunt 360°® platform changes how customers handle transportation. It offers one interface for quoting, booking, tracking, and managing shipments. This platform offers customers access to almost 1 million trucks. It also provides tracking all day, every day.

Customer Experience

A fishing company’s global transportation director said, “To me, technology means seeing everything as it happens.” He also noted, “The 360 Platform excels at this.”

Arrive Logistics: The Fast-Rising Disruptor

Arrive Logistics focuses on technology and adaptability. Their growth and capabilities are even more impressive.

Unprecedented Growth

Arrive Logistics started in 2014. It is the fastest brokerage to hit $1 billion and $2 billion in sales. This shows strong, sustainable growth. Their 2024 gross revenue is expected to be $1.8 billion. This ranks them #10 among the top freight brokerages in the nation.

Technological Investment

Arrive will invest $120M in transportation software and hire over 3,000 new team members by 2025. This shows their strong commitment to digital transformation. ARRIVE now™ is their unique platform. It was created by industry experts to give representatives strong digital tools.

Operational Scale

Arrive handles more than 5,000 shipments each day. They work with over 40,000 carriers and serve more than 4,000 customers. Their service portfolio is extensive. It includes specialized options like cross-border shipping to Mexico and Canada. They also offer intermodal solutions and temperature-controlled transport.

TQL (Total Quality Logistics): Customer-Focused Excellence

TQL started in 1997. It is now the #3 freight brokerage in America, earning about $5.2 billion each year. Their growth is built on a foundation of personalized service and technological innovation:

Technology Platform

TQL’s TRAX platform provides substantial advantages for shippers, including:

Real-time LTL volume and Partial truckload quotes via API
Carrier and service level selection based on specific needs
Chronological tracking with status updates and mapping
Document management and invoice handling
Detailed reporting with up to two years of shipment history

Carrier Network

TQL has over 40 Less Than Truckload carriers in its preferred program. It measures their performance on key metrics to ensure quality service. This network covers both national and regional areas. It helps TQL save costs by consolidating loads. This maximizes truck space and lowers emissions.

Additional Top Freight Brokerages Worth Considering

JB Hunt, Arrive Logistics, and TQL provide great services. However, other key companies are worth a look for your pallet shipping needs:

C.H. Robinson Worldwide

C.H. Robinson is the largest freight brokerage in North America, earning $18.7 billion each year. It manages over 35 million shipments yearly. The company relies on a network of more than 450,000 carriers to serve over 90,000 customers. Their technology platform helps customers lower LTL freight costs. They can do this without losing speed or service.

Echo Global Logistics

Echo generates about $3.7 billion each year. It has made partial truckload shipping easier, cheaper, and more efficient for shippers. Their method combines traditional LTL services with a wide network of truckload providers. This gives them unique flexibility and pricing choices.

RXO

In September 2024, RXO bought Coyote Logistics from UPS for $1.025 billion. This deal made RXO the third-biggest freight brokerage in North America. Its revenues now exceed $6 billion. As a tech-enabled logistics provider, they handle around 8,000 shipments each day. They work with a network of over 100,000 carriers.

How to Choose the Right Freight Brokerage Partner

When picking the right freight brokerage for pallet shipping, consider these important factors:

Reliability and Industry Experience

Find brokers who have a solid track record and deep industry knowledge. This shows they can handle the complexities of the freight market. Top revenue-earning companies often show operational excellence and stability. This makes them reliable partners for the long term.

Technology Capabilities

In 2025, the digital world is growing. Advanced platforms help with checking carriers, setting prices, automating tasks, and communicating. They do more than just fix problems. They also enhance efficiency and streamline operations. They set up a shipping experience that is quick, safe, and profitable. Evaluate whether potential partners offer:

Real-time tracking and visibility
Digital document management
API integrations with your existing systems
Data analytics and reporting capabilities
Mobile accessibility for on-the-go management

Service Diversity

The best freight brokerages offer comprehensive services that address various shipping scenarios:

Pallet sourcing & procurement: Connecting with manufacturers to provide various pallet types
Inventory management: Helping track and manage pallet inventory levels
Logistics coordination: Managing transportation and delivery to multiple locations
Custom pallet design: Developing specialized pallets for specific applications

Fraud Protection and Compliance Measures

Make sure your potential partner has solid carrier vetting procedures. This helps lower fraud risks in the industry.

Validation of carrier operating authority and safety ratings
Insurance verification processes
Continuous monitoring for compliance issues
Automated tools for detecting inconsistencies and potential risks

Types of Pallet Shipping Services

Knowing your pallet shipping options helps you find the best and cheapest choice for you.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

LTL shipping is ideal for smaller pallet shipments that don’t require a full trailer. These services usually manage shipments of one to six pallets. They can weigh up to 10,000 pounds. J.B. Hunt and similar companies provide palletized LTL services. This is a cost-effective way to ship freight that doesn’t fill a whole truckload.

Partial Truckload

This option is great for shipments that are too big for standard LTL. However, they aren’t large enough to need a full truck. Partial truckload typically handles loads between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds. Echo Global Logistics leads in making this service easier and cheaper for shippers.

Specialized LTL

For bulky items that need special handling, use LTL services from J.B. Hunt.

They handle items such as:

Furniture
Appliances
E-bikes
Medical gear
Building supplies
Gaming tables

These services have much lower damage rates, under one percent. This is better than traditional palletized LTL.

Palletized vs. Non-Palletized Shipping

When shipping large freight, businesses must choose between palletized and non-palletized options. While palletization offers standardization, it comes with trade-offs:

Palletized LTL Considerations:

May require custom-built pallets for unusual items, increasing costs
Non-stackable pallets result in “air charges” for unused vertical space
Forklift handling can lead to higher damage rates
Standardized handling processes across carriers

Specialized LTL Advantages:

No fees for over-length items
Charges only for space the product occupies
Specialized handling and loading reduces damage risks
Warehousing options for longer timetables
Scheduled delivery at no additional charge

Industry Trends and Challenges in 2025

The freight brokerage industry is at a key point. Several important trends are shaping its future:

Industry Consolidation

The freight brokerage sector has seen a drop of 5,409 brokerages in two years. Now, only 25,334 brokerages are left as we close 2024. Larger firms are buying smaller competitors. This creates a more competitive market. They’re doing this to grow their market share.

Technology Integration

To succeed in 2025, brokerages need to adopt smarter tools and simpler processes. This will help tackle issues like fraud risks, inefficiencies, and fluctuating costs. Advanced platforms that combine carrier vetting, pricing, automation, and communication are now essential. They are no longer just optional.

Fraud Prevention Focus

Fraud tactics like double brokering and cargo theft are changing. Also, regulatory complexities add to the challenge. Because of this, brokerages must have proactive vetting processes in place. More companies now use real-time fraud detection. It helps them check important data and protect their operations.

Sustainability Initiatives

More brokerages now provide freight consolidation services. This helps maximize truck space and cut emissions. Pallet backhauling is becoming popular. It’s a sustainable transport method. It reduces unused capacity and boosts savings and efficiency.

Making Your Selection: Beyond the Big Names

This guide shows some top freight brokers. But remember, the best choice should fit your business needs. Consider these final recommendations:

Choose a brokerage that matches your needs. Some brokers excel in specific industries or freight types.

Ask for customer references. Talk to current clients with similar shipments to hear about their performance.

Begin with a test shipment. Before you commit long-term, try a trial shipment. This helps you assess the brokerage’s processes and communication.

Check the Broker Watch List. It helps you spot companies with payment or service problems.

Think about regional specialists. National brokerages cover a lot of ground. But, regional specialists can offer better service in certain areas.

Research your options and understand the changing world of freight brokerage. This way, you can choose the best partner for your pallet shipping needs in 2025 and beyond.