Gross Weight? Tare Weight? Wait! Which Weight?

Gross Weight

A basic tenet of shipping is that freight is rated on its gross weight. Gross weight is simply the weight of the product and its packaging. For example, the glass vase, packing peanuts, carton, sealing tape and label combine to make the gross weight.

Even when you attach your freight to skids or pallets for ease of handling, pallet weight (which can be considerable as anyone who has tossed them around a dock will testify) must be included in the gross weight.

Net Weight

The weight of the product itself without packaging. (The vase by itself.) Net weight is rarely a factor in shipping unless a carton is overpacked and splits open. (Check the seal on the bottom of a standard shipping carton for the maximum weight the carton will hold safely.)

Tare Weight

Tare weight is the weight of an empty vehicle or container. Normally not something that a shipper is concerned with but it's a term everyone should know.

Volumetric Weight - Air freight

International airfreight shipments are usually rated per pound or per kilogram. However, what the airlines are really selling is space aboard the aircraft. Therefore, they have a volumetric equivalent for shippers of lightweight articles. Consider how much space 100 kgs of ping pong balls would consume vs. 100 kgs of anvils. International air shipments are figured on both the actual gross weight and volumetric weight and rated at the higher of the two. To determine volumetric weight for air:

Multiply length x width x height in inches and divide by 366. The result is the volumetric in kilograms.

Example: 20" x 20" x40" = 16,000 cu. inches

Divided by 366 = 43.7 (round up to 44 kilograms)

If the gross weight of the shipment is 35 kilograms, it would be rated on the volumetric 44 kilograms. If the actual gross weight is 50 kilograms, it would be rated at 50 kgs.

Weight/Measure ' Sea Freight

Many sea freight shipments are rated on a Full Containerload (FCL) basis. However, Less-than-Containerload (LCL) and the occasional FCL shipment are rated on a metric "Weight/Measure" in most trades. This formula is based on 1 cubic meter (35.3147 cubic feet) versus 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds), whichever yields the greater revenue to the carrier. Let me save you some time. Unless your shipment is extremely dense, it's going to go on Measure. I've shipped tractor parts that went on Measure. Weight basis shipments are rare.

Trucking Density Rates

Motor carriers also sell space on their trailer, even though the rates are on a weight basis. Domestic LTL (less-than-truckload) rates are usually charged per one hundred pounds ("cwt"). However, think of those ping pong balls again. Many trucking rates factor in density. Plastic items and commodities of a similar nature have tiered rates that are based upon the density of the product. The tariff may read something along the lines of:

Plastic Items NOIBN (not otherwise indexed by number) Density under 10 pounds per cubic foot

Rate $10.00/ cwt.

Plastic Items NOIBN Density 10 to 20 pounds per cubic foot, Rate $8.50/ cwt

The difference between motor carrier density rates versus air or sea volumetric rates is that the motor carrier density rates apply only to select commodities. They're universal in air and sea shipments.

GROSS MEASUREMENT

For air and sea freight, the LxWxH measurements are stretched to the farthest point. For example, an automobile length would stretch bumper tip to bumper tip. Therefore it's advisable, whenever possible, to "square off" the package. Say you're shipping a stove with a chimney attachment. Remove the chimney before shipping and lay it flat alongside or inside the stove. If you are shipping an automobile, remove the radio antenna.

http://Howtoshipanything.com is and online resource dedicated to help you ship both domestically and internationally. W.E. Reinka, an international shipping consultant, may be reached at [http://www.howtoshipanything.com/w-e-reinka/]