How do I estimate freight cost on a liquidation pallet?

Confirm pallet count, weight, dimensions, pickup ZIP, and freight class. Get LTL or full truckload quotes based on origin and destination. Heavy categories like CPG and home goods often have freight costs that exceed 10% of lot value.

Does Pallet coordinate freight on wholesale deals?

Yes. Pallet coordinates freight on transactions so buyers and sellers agree on pickup or delivery terms before escrow releases, reducing surprise logistics costs after purchase.

Wholesale Freight & Logistics Guide

Q: What is FOB pricing on a wholesale lot?

FOB (freight on board) pricing means the buyer arranges and pays for transportation from the seller's warehouse. The ask price excludes inbound freight, which the buyer must model separately.

The lowest ask price on a wholesale lot rarely wins. Freight and logistics can add 10–30% to all-in cost on heavy categories, and pickup surprises are one of the top sources of buyer disputes on liquidation deals. Professional U.S. resellers model freight before they fund, not after the pallet is staged.

This guide explains FOB vs delivered pricing, regional warehouse hubs, and how buyers plan freight on manifested lots through networks like Pallet.

FOB vs delivered: know what you are buying

Wholesale listings use two common freight terms:

FOB warehouse: Buyer arranges pickup or carrier. Ask price excludes inbound freight.
Delivered pricing: Seller or network quotes freight to your dock. Ask price may include delivery.

Never compare lots on ask price alone. A cheaper FOB lot from Ohio to your Texas warehouse may cost more all-in than a delivered lot from Dallas.

What to confirm before you bid

Every lot should document:

Pickup ZIP and warehouse hours
Pallet count and stack height
Estimated weight and freight class
Liftgate or dock requirements
Appointment and staging lead time

Missing logistics detail is a signal the seller has not moved professional volume before.

Regional hub patterns

Midwest and Ohio Valley

Apparel, footwear, and general merchandise hubs around Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. Strong for resellers in the central U.S. with lower average LTL distance to coasts.

Texas and the South

Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta serve CPG, home goods, and mixed retail cleanouts. Export and discount retail buyers often consolidate here before container planning.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

New Jersey and Pennsylvania warehouses feed beauty, fragrance, and apparel closeouts. Higher accessorial costs; buyers should quote freight early.

Pallet coordinates freight on every transaction so pickup and delivery terms are clear before escrow releases. Buyers see origin, logistics profile, and pricing context on each lot.

Freight math that protects margin

Build all-in cost as: lot ask + inbound freight + warehousing + outbound shipping + prep labor. On CPG and home goods, freight alone can exceed 15% of lot value. Light categories like apparel and beauty may run lower, but size and cube still matter for LTL quotes.

Cluster purchases by origin ZIP when possible. Two lots from the same warehouse on one truck beats two separate pickups from opposite coasts.

Common freight mistakes

Quoting freight after funding instead of before
Underestimating accessorials (liftgate, residential, appointment fees)
Ignoring stack limits for standard LTL equipment
Changing pickup windows after escrow without updating release terms

Frequently asked questions

What is FOB pricing on a wholesale lot?

The buyer pays for transportation from the seller's warehouse. Ask price does not include inbound freight.

How do I estimate freight on a liquidation pallet?

Confirm pallet count, weight, pickup ZIP, and freight class, then get LTL or truckload quotes for your destination.

Does Pallet coordinate freight?

Yes. Freight terms are part of every deal and coordinated before escrow release.