FAQ

General Questions

Less than truckload shipping refers to shipments that are usually less than 10,000 lbs and less than 10 feet of trailer

Accessorial fees are charges over and above freight and fuel charges. These are charges that are incurred due to requirement, either operationally or circumstantially . For instance, you have a shipment consigned to a Customer without a dock,  you will need a truck with a hydraulic liftgate to unload. This will incur an accessorial charge. Among others, this would include, appointments, dangerous goods, declared values, and wait time. See Accessorial section.

The shipping rate – sometimes called the freight rate – is the cost of delivering cargo from one location to another. As you might expect, the actual price you’ll pay depends on a variety of factors, many of which are specific to your shipments.

Here are the main determinants of the shipping rate:

  • Commodity
  • City the shipment picks up and delivers to
  • Weight of the shipment
  • Dimensions of the shipment
  • Service (road/rail/air)
  • Equipment & Operational Requirements at pick up and delivery

3PL is short for Third Party Logistics. M.A.K. Freight Systems, acting as an agent, can take on any aspect of the freight shipping process, per our customer’s request. This can start from a quote, setting up pick up and delivery of the order, to auditing Carrier invoices.  The 3PL is responsible for tracking the order and helping resolve any issue in a timely manner.  Whether your shipping within city or across the country or cross border and M.A.K. is your one stop shop for shipment.

Full Truck Loads are normally shipments that take up the majority of the space on the transport equipment being used.

A fuel surcharge accounts for fluctuating fuel prices and the average cost of transporting goods. The most commonly used formula for calculating a fuel surcharge is based on three variables: a base fuel price, base fuel mileage, and the source and interval of the current fuel price. When a surcharge is calculated accurately, it not only protects the carrier but the shipper as well. M.A.K. Freight System Fuel Surcharge is from a Carrier association. We can also use our customer’s customized fuel surcharge if requested.

A Bill of Lading is a legal document that records the type and quantity of goods being shipped by a carrier on behalf of a shipper. The Shipper is responsible for ensuring all information recorded on the BOL is correct, providing all necessary documents for the transit of the goods. The Shipper signs the document before the carrier begins transit of the goods. The Consignee then signs a document upon receipt of the delivery. The Bill of Lading, acts as the basis for the information for the proof of delivery receipt, showing who has taken ownership of a particular shipment and what the shipment contains, Consignee is to record a legible signature (can print name as well), and the date/time received. Any variances in the condition of the shipment must me noted on the delivery receipt, upon acceptance, for a claim to be honoured.

An effective 3PL will act as your Transportation department, sourcing the right carrier/service/equipment, and to provide options to meet Shipper/Receiver’s needs, at a competitive cost.  A team of experienced staff will quickly resolve issues and improve On Time Service. Acting as an extension to your Customer Service, a 3PL reduces time required by your Employees in finding the right carrier, dealing with service problems and Carrier invoice issues.