Electronics and tires share a trailer type and not much else. Electronics are light, compact and worth a great deal per pallet, so the planning is about security and coverage. Tires are bulky, lighter than they look per cubic foot, and often stacked by hand, so the planning is about space and dock time. This page covers each in turn.
Electronics
Consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, networking and telecom gear, appliances and components all usually move palletized in a 53-foot dry van. What sets them apart is value. A single trailer can carry far more value than an average dry van load, which makes these shipments attractive to thieves and exposes the shipper if coverage isn't sorted out first.
Declared value and cargo insurance — discussed first, not after
Cargo insurance carried by trucking companies comes with per-load limits, and liability for loss is commonly capped. If your load's value exceeds the coverage available, a total loss leaves you holding the difference. Before we book a high-value load, we ask for the declared value and confirm the applicable coverage limit in writing. If the numbers don't line up, you'll know before pickup, when there is still time to arrange additional coverage or split the shipment.
Security practices
- Sealed trailer — sealed at pickup, seal number on the bill of lading, checked intact at delivery.
- No unnecessary stops — the load moves direct, without parking a loaded trailer in unsecured lots near origin.
- Carrier verification — confirming who is picking up before the load is tendered, to guard against fraudulent pickups.
- Discreet paperwork — product descriptions on shared documents kept to what is required.
Specific security requirements are agreed per load and written into the plan.
Lithium batteries
Laptops, phones, power tools, battery packs and many other devices contain lithium cells. Depending on battery type, watt-hour rating, quantity and packaging, the shipment may carry marking and paperwork requirements. The shipper supplies the battery details and safety data sheet; we confirm per load before quoting.
Tires
Passenger, light-truck and commercial tires usually move in dry vans to distribution centers, wholesalers and dealers. They are a classic cube-out freight: the trailer runs out of space well before it reaches legal weight.
Floor-loaded vs. palletized
| Method | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Floor-loaded (hand-stacked, often laced) | Fits the most tires per trailer | Hours to load and unload; lumpers often needed; more detention exposure |
| Palletized or racked | Fast forklift loading and unloading; easier receiving | Fewer tires per load; pallets or racks take space |
Cube-out before weight-out
Because tires fill space before weight, the useful measure is how many fit in the trailer, not how much they weigh. Tell us tire sizes, counts and loading method and the quote can be built on a realistic count per load rather than a weight assumption.
Lumpers and unload time
Floor-loaded tires take a long time to unload, and many receivers use lumper services charged per load. Unloading can also run past the free time. We confirm whether the receiver uses lumpers, who pays, how it's paid, and the detention terms, and put each in the quote.
We focus on lanes across the Southeast, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, the Midwest and California — send your lane and we'll confirm before quoting. Delivering into a DC? See the Retail DC Delivery Guide or start a quote.