I had been thinking about posting something on shipping parts around between members as I had been involved in some of this before.

   If you can keep your shipments within the limits of parcel carriers like UPS you will have much less problems and expense than with regular trucking companies.

   UPS can handle up to max 150 pounds per package. Maximum size per package is 130 united inches which is length and girth combined, and the maximum length is 108 inches. You can ship multiple pieces and they are supposed to automatically compute a per hundredweight basis if cheaper than charging per each individual parcel.

   It will be worth it to disassemble some items to get within their size or weight restrictions so you should do that if you possibly can.

   They charge on a per parcel basis or on a per cwt basis. Rates depend on size, weight, distance, and commodity classification in that per cwt rates are applicable only on freight classes from class 50 to class 125 items (see below).

   Packaging these used and undetermined actual value parts is mostly a common sense situation. Of course you have to protect items for shipping/handling by carriers probably better than if you just threw it into the back of your pickup and drove off down the street. Carriers are loading this stuff into their UPS vans, shuffling it around as they load/reload other items around it, and they they reload/rehandle at their terminals to line haul vehicles, perhaps reload again at another transfer point or two before it gets to a destination terminal for reloading and delivery to you. It is packed right along with anything else they may be carrying.

   These people move right along and they don't have time to stop and baby every little part they haul. So things get scratched up, or dented. So, if you ship a fender or a light, bulky, item subject to damage, you know it will be scratched up from rubbing around other packages. It is often best to leave it exposed so they can see what they are actually handling and as far a scratches go, you have to refinish it anyway. (At least they cannot rust it to pieces.)

   Good labeling is important. Seal the boxes with good tape. "HANDLE WITH CARE" markings can help sometimes.

   You can check weights pretty close by weighing yourself while holding the package and then subtracting your unloaded weight. UPS will also check the weight when you take it to the UPS terminal for shipping.

   Some items will just be too big and heavy for UPS. Then you will have to make some personal arrangements or ship via common truck. For that you can read all this below stuff:

                         
        Auto Parts - NMFC Items (Freight Classification)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Axles, auto, with external or internal attachments or parts.(17920)
      loose - (17920 sub 2)----------------------------- class 100
      in packages or on skids (17920 sub 3)------------- class  85
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Body parts, Parts, or Trim - viz: Parts, NOI  (18260)
      less than 4 pounds per cubic foot density
              (18260 sub1)------------------------------ class 250
      4 but less than 10 pounds per cubic foot density
              (18260 sub 2)----------------------------- class 150
      10 pounds or greater per cubic foot density (18260 sub 3):
              loose - (18260 sub 4)--------------------- class 100
              in packages- (18260 sub 5)---------------- class  85
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Body sections, NOI; Bodies; Body sections combined with hoods, 
 fenders, rear decks, radiators or other auto parts; or hoods, 
 fenders, rear decks or radiators combined with other auto parts: 
 used, having value for  reconditioning or surface refinish and
 reuse: loose or in packages-  
 Ships prepaid only. (NMFC 18285)----------------------- class 250
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bumpers or bumper fittings: (NMFC 18420)
      Steel,  loose, or in packages - (18420 sub 3)----- class 100
      Steel,  in boxes or crates - (18420 sub 4)-------- class  85
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Doors, truck or passenger car, exterior including rear 
      deck lids or tailgates: (18520)
      loose - (18520 sub 1)----------------------------- class 200
      in boxes - (18520 sub 2)-------------------------- class 150
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Engine bonnets, or hoods,metal, NOI, with or without 
 integral fenders, in boxes or crates: (18600)  -------- class 250
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Engines, auto, used, or used automobile parts:  (18630)
      each less than 50 pounds- loose - (18630 sub 2)--- class  85
      50 pounds or over, or in packages or on skids -
              - (18630 sub 3, sub 4) ------------------- class  70
  (for engines or parts for reconditioning or salvage)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Fenders, metal, without finish, or primed with one coat
      only in boxes or crates - (18660) ---------------- class 200
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Transmissions, or clutches, or parts thereof, each 
      50 pounds or over, loose or in packages;
       or if less than 50 pounds, in boxes. (19940) ---- class  85
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 Engines, internal combustion, NOI: (new or reconditioned) (120800)
      Released to value not exceeding $5.00 per pound:
      other than mounted on trailers or wheeled shipping 
      carriers- (120820 sub 3) ------------------------- class  85
      Released to value exceeding $5.00 per pound, but
      less than $10.00 per pound:
      other than mounted on trailers or wheeled shipping 
      carriers- (120820 sub 6) ------------------------- class 100

      Value of the property not declared or released in 
      accordance with the provisions of item 120820 above.
                                           - (120840) -- class 150
--------------------------------------------------------------------
  

   The above commodity items are what I would ordinarily expect members of a special interest antique or classic auto group to ship out or to have shipped in.

   The descriptions are generally pertinent only to common motor carrier shipping via trucking companies such as AAA Cooper, ABF Freight, American Freightways, APA Transport, Averitt Express, CF MotorFreight, Conway Transportation, USF Dugan, USF Holland Motor Express, Motor Cargo, NationsWay Transport, Overnite, Preston Trucking, USF Reddaway, USF Red Star, Roadway Express, Saia Motor Freight, Silver Eagle Co., Viking Freight, Watkins Motor Lines, Yellow Freight, and many others.

   These are the carriers that haul shipments which generally are too heavy or too large for United Parcel Service (UPS). Usually their rates are much higher than UPS especially for private individuals that may not be regular customers of these particular carriers.

   For their regular shippers or customers they usually have special contract rates or discounts allowed from their regular class rates which may range from 30 to 70%. The usual range is 50->60% presently. That is why it is best to take advantage of a friend or relative who can ship your stuff out prepaid or receive your stuff in collect at the special, more reasonable (or cheaper) rate and discount level.

 The way to define these freight classes is for example:
         view a class 100 rate as being $10.00 per cwt,
              a class 70 rate should be approximately $7.00 /cwt,
              a class 85    $8.50, 
              a class 125  $12.50,
              a class 150  $15.00,
              a class 250  $25.00, etc. (all are approximations)

     The class 100 rate may be $19.95, $34.50, $47.60, or $147.60
     per cwt depending on the shipments weight, origin, 
     destination, and the carrier used.

    

      They would charge for this:
              527 @ 62.16 cwt = 327.58
               22 @ 223.21 cwt=  49.11
              -------------------------
              549       Total  $376.69
    

   This is quite a difference. This only illustrates charges for this one example. All carrier's rates are different. They may be generally competitive between major US points but there are some real big differences when shipping to or from certain points in less populated areas (out in the boonies). I check lower rates via ABF Freight to Redfield so it is better to use them rather than Yellow.

(By the way, If I shipped via UPS the same above from Oregon to Cleveland the rate is $39.45 per cwt for total $216.58 on their standard per cwt basis so you can see how reasonable they are in comparison to truck, for us little guys, anyway. But they couldn't handle the engine as is too big and heavy.)

   Many shops and distributors do a lot of business with UPS who is generally much cheaper. They do set up per-hundred-weight rates on 200 pounds and over multiple package shipments and they would charge perhaps around $25.00 per cwt on a shipment of this weight provided that they could handle it. So it is best to do all you can to work within the confines of UPS, if possible.

   UPS does not hit you so hard with extra penalty charges for residential service (possibly $50), call before delivery charge (possibly $20), possible re-weigh correction charge (around $10), possible redelivery charge (possibly $50).

   I hate to be an alarmist but these trucker guys can really get to you unless you are someone they don't want to screw around (like a regular customer).

     Ralph Ausmann

    

   Watch out for UPS when shipping stuff to or from Canada. UPS charges a $25.00 brokerage fee for bringing anything through customs, regardless of size or cost. This charge is not ususally mentioned at the shipping end and is charged collect (along with any duties owed) at the receiving end. I found this out the hard way, having ordered $30.00 worth of stuff from the states, and having the price wind up being double due to this charge......

   For small stuff the post office is often the cheapest way to cross the border (use regular U. S. Postal Service).