LTL Carriers

Rocking chairs are usually delivered to points in North America, other than to the major cities of Texas, by LTL Carriers.    (LTL = Less Than a Truckload.)

Overnite Transportation, an LTL carrier, picks up rockers at our shop on Wednesdays.  Despite their name, delivery will take about a week.

Overnite has terminals throughout the land and makes most deliveries from their own trucks. Some destinations they do not serve, however, and for those points, they "interline" with another LTL carrier who will make the delivery.

LTL carriers operate large tractor trailer trucks for pickup, travel over the road between terminals, and local delivery.  If a 45’ long trailer cannot get near your delivery address, we must make special arrangements or use a "blanket wrapped" carrier.

We crate the furniture that is handled by LTL carriers.  You will have to open the crate and dispose of it.  Kids love to play in them so yours or the neighborhood ones may get a benefit.

LTL carriers are tuned more to commercial customers than to residential ones.  Their service and the process of delivery are described in the Shipping Information Sheet shown below.  For some patrons, their level of service will not be adequate.

If you need additional or different services than those provided by the LTL carrier, we can ship the rockers by "blanket wrapped" carrier.  Blanket Wrapped shipping costs twice what LTL delivery costs; Saturday delivery is possible but would add to this price.  Travel time is 5–10 days for blanket wrapped shipments.

Prior to shipping by LTL carrier, we mail, FAX, or email a copy of the "shipping information sheet" that is shown below.

Receiving a Rocker from Overnite Transportation Co.
or Other LTL Carrier

Your chair will be delivered from a terminal in:  ____________________________

The phone number of the delivery terminal is:  ____________________________

Delivery will be during the week of:  ____________________________

The Pro Number that identifies your shipment is:  ____________________________

A dispatcher will call to let you know the day that the driver is coming and the approximate time of the delivery.  However, rather than waiting for a call, we recommend that you call on the morning of ____________________.  Ask for the dispatcher and give him the Pro Number.  Say that you are the consignee and that you are calling to make an appointment for the delivery.  Your call will help the dispatcher schedule the drivers’ routes and will help you get faster service.

Someone must meet the delivery driver at the destination address and sign for the shipment. The dispatcher will usually be able to accommodate you if you have days of the week which are better or worse than others, but the time of delivery can rarely be specified.  The appointment windows can be large — as in all afternoon.  There are no weekend or holiday deliveries.

The dispatcher cannot know every contingency on every route, and sometimes drivers are early or late.  To anticipate and alleviate any delay or miscommunication, we recommend that you call the dispatcher an hour before the delivery appointment and ask if the driver can be contacted to see if he is on schedule.

The normal level of service provided by LTL carriers is termed "curbside delivery."  The driver will place the crate in a garage, on a porch, or inside a ground floor door, but will not go up an elevator or flight of stairs or open the crate.  We will have prepaid all charges for this level of service.  For an additional $60 "inside delivery" charge, the driver can go deeper into the building.  Tell us or the dispatcher if you need this service.  You will pay the $60 to the driver or will be billed for it later.

Sometimes crates pick up splinters or grime, be careful of your floors.

We are careful in our packing and crating, but damage may occur due to mishandling.  We guarantee that you will receive your furniture in perfect condition.  But, if the carrier damages a chair that we must repair or replace, we need your help to obtain compensation from them.

• Before you sign the delivery receipt, examine the crate.
• If there is damage to the crate, describe it on the receipt.  For example:  "The crate is punctured." or "The frame is broken."  Have the driver initial your description.
• If you can see damage to the chair, refuse the shipment.  The carrier will return the chair to us; we will repair or replace it.
• If, after signing the receipt, you find damage inside the crate.  Call us.

Instructions for opening (and inspecting) are written on the crate.  You will need a sharp knife and a Phillips screwdriver.

To make a playhouse, fort, pilot house, etc. of the crate:  close it back up, cut a door in one end, and cut appropriate windows as directed by the player(s).

Call us with any problem or question, 888-334-0307.
Gary Weeks and Company