Gross Weight
Getting an instant container shipping quote is easy thanks to online technology. All you have to do is fill out some simple information and you get a price for shipping online. When you are shipping LCL (Less than a container), you must provide the weight per item. Weight is usually not needed to get a quote for FCL (Full Container Load). However, a shipper should keep the weight of their container in mind for shipping, since there are some considerations in the future.
Sometimes you will hear a logistics expert speak about the gross weight of a container. Essentially, the gross weight is the total weight of the cargo shipment, plus of the packaging, including pallets and any blocking. This is different from net weight, which refers to the weight of the cargo shipment minus all of the packaging and pallets.
Gross weight could play a big role in a container during the transportation process before and after the port. This means the trucking of a container in the United States to the port and from the port. According to the Safe Container Act, any container with a gross weight that exceeds over 29,000 pounds must receive a certification. This is a legal requirement for US Trucking. In addition, the maximum gross weight in the US for trucking containers is 80,000 pounds, which also includes the weight of the fuel and chassis. Therefore, even though weight is not needed for a quote, it could play a factor when dealing with gross weight.