Expedited Shipping 101: A Full Guide
Expedited shipping explained — when to use it, how it differs from standard freight, cost factors, and how faster transit protects deadlines and revenue.
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Freight strategy, service selection, and shipping education
Plain-English guidance for choosing equipment, planning shipments, managing exceptions, and understanding the freight terms that shape day-to-day logistics.
Pallet Shipping 101: Best Practices in Pallet Preparation
How to prepare pallets for freight shipping — stacking, wrapping, labeling, and weight distribution best practices to prevent damage and avoid reclass fees.
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What Is a Lowboy Trailer?
What a lowboy trailer is, its dimensions and weight capacity, and when the ultra-low deck height makes it essential for heavy equipment and tall machinery.
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9 Tips For Hazardous Materials Transportation
9 practical tips for shipping hazmat freight — proper classification, placarding, carrier certification, and documentation to stay compliant and avoid fines.
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Transporting a Motorcycle: How to Ensure a Successful Shipment
How to ship a motorcycle safely — crating, strapping, trailer options, and what to confirm with your carrier to avoid damage during transit.
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How to Ship Furniture: a Guide for Business Owners
How to ship commercial furniture — packaging, blanket wrap vs. crated, LTL vs. truckload & what business owners should know about freight furniture delivery.
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Power-Only Trucking Guide for Shippers
What power-only trucking is and when shippers should use it — how hiring just a tractor to pull your trailer cuts costs and adds scheduling flexibility.
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What Is a Dry Van and How Is it Different from a Reefer Truck?
Dry van vs. reefer trailer — key differences in construction, cost, and cargo suitability to help you choose the right enclosed trailer for your shipment.
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What Is a Step Deck Trailer? Step Deck vs Flatbed Guide
What a step deck trailer is, how it compares to a standard flatbed, and when the lower deck height makes it the right choice for taller or heavier freight.
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What Is a Vented Van Trailer?
What a vented van trailer is, how airflow ventilation works & when to use one over a dry van or reefer for produce, chemicals & moisture-sensitive freight.
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Your Complete Guide to Tanker Endorsements
What a CDL tanker endorsement is, when drivers need one, testing requirements, and why it matters for hauling liquid or gas freight in tank trailers.
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18 Common Types of Freight Trailers
A breakdown of 18 freight trailer types — dry van, flatbed, reefer, step deck, RGN, conestoga, and more — with dimensions, capacity, and best-use scenarios.
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Freight Shipping Experts Share Tips for Reducing Delays and Extra Costs
Practical tips to reduce freight delays and avoid extra charges — from accurate BOLs and proper packaging to appointment scheduling and accessorial awareness.
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Top Qualities to Look for in the Best Freight Brokers
What to look for in a freight broker — carrier network size, communication, technology, insurance & traits that separate reliable brokers from the rest.
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When “Oversized” Becomes Normal: What Defines a Heavy Haul Job
What qualifies as heavy haul — weight and dimension thresholds, permit requirements, trailer types, and how brokers plan oversized freight shipments.
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Standard Pallet Sizes and Pallet Dimensions: How Many Pallets Can Fit on a Truck?
Standard pallet sizes, dimensions & truck capacity — how many pallets fit on a 53-foot trailer, common pallet types & tips for maximizing load efficiency
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LTL Freight Classification: How It Impacts Your Shipping Costs
How LTL freight classes work — the 18 NMFC classes, how density and handling affect your classification, and why it matters for your shipping costs.
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What Does FOB Mean in Shipping? FOB Origin vs Destination
FOB Origin vs. FOB Destination — what Free on Board means, who pays for freight, and who assumes risk at each point in the shipping process.
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From the Cowtown team
Freight answers we give customers every week
By Colby Baskin, CEO
Most of these guides start with a question we hear from a shipper: What trailer do I need? Why did the quote change? What should I expect at delivery?
We write down the answer, keep it practical, and update the guide when something important changes.
Want to learn more?
Talk through a shipment
Need help choosing the right freight option?
Cowtown Logistics can review the freight details, timing, lane, equipment needs, and delivery requirements before recommending a practical shipping plan.