Can Crating Reduce My Freight Costs and How?

If you’re wondering whether crating can reduce your freight costs, the answer is yes. Professional crating can lower your shipping expenses by minimizing damage, optimizing space, and preventing costly delays. Whether your business ships machinery, electronics, or industrial components, the right crate can directly influence efficiency and long-term savings.

Reduced Freight Damage Lowers Your Costs

Freight damage is one of the most common and expensive issues shippers face. When an item is improperly packaged or lacks structural protection, carriers must treat it as a higher risk. That often results in higher rates, surcharge adjustments, and increased liability exposure.

Professional crating helps eliminate that risk by reinforcing your shipment against shock, vibration, moisture, and impact. With fewer damage claims, your business avoids replacement costs, production downtime, and chargebacks, which immediately improves your bottom line.

Optimized Crate Design Reduces Dimensional Weight

Another major cost-saving factor is space optimization. Custom-built crates are designed to fit your item precisely using blocking, bracing, and interior support to protect it without wasted cubic footage. Since freight carriers charge by dimensional weight or volume, eliminating unused space inside a crate can reduce your shipping class and lower your rate.

This is especially helpful for oversized or irregularly shaped items. Instead of paying for awkward dimensions, custom crating compresses the footprint and packs your shipment more efficiently on trucks, pallets, and ocean containers.

Lower Spend on Packaging Supplies

Crating also reduces the need for excessive or ineffective packaging materials. Many businesses attempt to secure heavy or fragile items with boxes, bubble wrap, or makeshift wood structures, only to find that these solutions require more material and still do not prevent damage.

Professional crates use the exact amount of lumber, foam, and cushioning needed. This eliminates waste and saves money while significantly improving protection.

Improved Handling Reduces Surcharges

Carriers prefer shipments that are simple to move, stack, and load. Well-built crates with forklift access points, reinforced framing, and proper weight distribution move smoothly through carrier networks.

This helps you avoid fees that may be added to shipments that require special handling or manual intervention.

Compliance Prevents International Delays

For companies shipping internationally, ISPM-15 compliant crates can prevent border delays and unexpected costs. Heat-treated, stamped lumber ensures your shipment meets global regulations. This helps you avoid inspections, hold-ups, or the need for re-crating at the destination.

Faster and more predictable transit always means lower overall freight costs.

Expert Crating Leads to Long-Term Savings

Partnering with a professional crating company like Crate This ensures your shipments benefit from industry knowledge and proven protection methods. Experienced builders understand weight distribution, moisture control, and compliance across multiple industries.

Better-built crates equal fewer shipping issues and more predictable freight expenses.

Start Saving on Shipping With Better Crating

In short, crating absolutely can reduce your freight costs. With less damage, fewer surcharges, optimized dimensions, and smoother transport, custom crating becomes an investment that quickly pays for itself.

If you’re ready to ship smarter and protect your budget, Crate This offers custom crating designed for strength, precision, and efficiency. Contact us today for a quote or to learn more about how our crating solutions can support your business.