The price that is going to be finally billed to you by any PA courier that you do
business with is going to be calculated by the combination of several different figures. Most couriers begin by assessing a base rate to your shipment. This is calculated in one of a number of ways.
If you're shipping within a small area with a package that is under a certain weight limit, your courier may have a flat fee that they use as a starting point for all billings in the area. On the other hand, if you're shipping anything that is bigger, or is going further, they will use a formula based on a freight class and the distance that you are shipping your package.
The freight class is the number that is calculated based on the weight and the size of your shipment. Every truck or other delivery vehicles has a maximum volume capacity and weight limit. They divide the available space between many different shipping companies, and the amount that you are going to be charged is based on how much of the space in the truck you are taking up. The freight class that you are assessed might be adjusted if your package is going to be especially hard for the courier to handle in any way.
Next comes the distance. Every mile that your package is being shipped is usually going to cost you more. Most courier simply have a per mile rate that they use along with the freight class to come up with the basic charge for your company. This might then be multiplied by a certain figure based on the speed at which you select for your delivery to be made within.
After that, the courier will add on any extra expenses to your bill which might be needed for your shipment. Usually this includes things like the hiring of extra help with the delivery. A good example of this is when pilot vehicles need to be hired to guide a wide load down the highway.
There are also going to be charges for any types of special equipment that you need to rent along with your shipment. A good example of this is a liftgate. Anytime you ship anything that weights more than 100lbs you'll need to also pay for a liftgate, unless you're shipping both to and from facilities that are equipped with loading docks.