You might have come across the terminology linear feet umpteen times, very often during shipping your personal belongings while relocating and hiring a freight movement service. If you wish to move your freight using shipping companies who specialise in long distance haul, helping movement of large amount of goods across seven seas and seven mountains, you need to get accustomed with linear feet for the reason that the shipping companies charge price for transportation based on the amount of space utilised in the truck. Generally, this space is measured in linear feet. 

So, ready to move? Explore transportation services from Ianis Cargo for easy movement of freight to and from any EU countries and across the entire Europe. Handover your shipping concerns at the leading transportation logistics companies in Romania where shipping takes place in an orderly and disciplined manner backed by the support of ingenious technology. There are no middlemen to help save costs.  What’s more, shippers are in full control of their goods right from the pickup to the drop off location as they can incessantly access tracking of goods while they are in transit. Start shipping from the renowned logistics service providers in Romania. Send your enquiry with the pickup and drop off location together with the exact weight of the shipment! It’s free and you will be returned with a lowest quote instantly.  

Read on find what linear feet is all about and the reasons why it is considered important while moving goods with the help of a container truck. Let’s go straight to explain linear feet in detail.  

A linear foot is a measurement which is 12 inches (equals one foot) long and extends in a straight, linear line. For measuring linear feet, measure the length in inches and divide it by 12. The linear feet determine the price for transportation of goods. However, full-service freight movers charge long distance freight haul by taking into account the weight of the shipment. It is important to know how many linear feet would be used by your belongings to know the space it occupies inside the truck. Before you start, shippers can ask the shipping company for comparison guide as the latter often provides customers with a complete hand guide that helps convert the size of a residence into approximate linear feet required so that the former can have a better idea of the space their belongings consumes in a trailer. The benefit is that shippers need only to pay for the space they use, until they use up the entire truck space. Consider using a tape measure for getting precise measurements rather than using other tools like rulers.  

What makes linear feet different from other measurements? 

Usually for freight shipments, measurement relates to three-dimensional space consumed by freights. That is the volume of shipment. As we all know, volume is the product of length, width and height of an object. With the three measurements, shipping companies is able to arrive at the space taken up by a particular package. Linear feet, on the other hand is not this much complex as calculating the volume. It is the simplest of all measurements with its own significance. When a shipper has to submit the measurement in linear feet, he/she has to simply measure the length of their shipment including the packaging. It is measured in square feet while volume is always measured in cubic feet. 

Linear Foot Rule 

In regard to shipping and transportation, the linear foot rule is accepted way to arrive at the freight rates for the goods that are being transported. More often, it applies to LTL shipment where shipping is done at much lower rates compared to FTL service. The linear foot rule provides that for shipments exceeding 10 linear feet or more are charged for 1000lbs per linear foot. Hence, a shipper has to check with the carrier to ensure that he/she has not breached this rule stipulated. If violated it can attract fines or take a toll on your Bill of Lading. 

 Why linear feet a significant factor in shipping? 

If shippers want to get an estimate of their shipping costs, linear feet come to their help. If shippers know how much space their cargo consumes in a single trailer, they can receive an approximate quote which later assists them in planning for financing the shipment. Another consideration is that most of the shipping and carrier companies provide a per foot adjustment rates in case your goods take up less or more space than what shippers originally provided for. Under such instances, money will be deducted or added to the amount in accordance with the adjustment to be made. Providing a precise measurement from shippers’ side always result in receiving accurate freight price quotes based on the amount of space a particular freight takes up in the trailer. Linear measurement gives accurate measurement and it’s no brainer.

Here are four prominent reasons shipping companies consider linear feet a significant factor while transporting freight.

1. Space Optimisation
One of the main reasons why linear feet is a significant factor in shipping is that it helps shipping companies to optimize the use of their resources. When a shipping company receives an order, they need to determine the amount of space required to transport the goods. By calculating the linear feet, the shipping company can estimate how many containers or trucks they need to use, and they can also determine the most efficient way to load the containers or trucks to maximize the space available.

2. Cost Optimisation
Another reason why linear feet is a significant factor in shipping is that it affects the cost of shipping. Shipping companies typically charge by the linear foot, which means that the more space a shipment occupies, the higher the cost of shipping. Therefore, it is essential for businesses to calculate the linear feet accurately to avoid overpaying for shipping.

3. Selecting Appropriate Vehicle
Linear feet is also essential in determining the type of shipping container or truck that is needed for a particular shipment. For example, if a shipment occupies only a few linear feet, it may be more cost-effective to use a smaller container or truck. On the other hand, if a shipment occupies many linear feet, it may be more efficient to use a larger container or truck.

4. Safe Loading and Unloading
In addition, linear feet is crucial in ensuring that shipments are loaded and unloaded safely and efficiently. When a shipping container or truck is loaded, it is important to ensure that the weight is distributed evenly to prevent damage to the goods and to the container or truck. By calculating the linear feet, the shipping company can determine the optimal way to load the container or truck and distribute the weight evenly.

Shipping Service from Ianis Cargo 

Start moving your freight from Ianis Cargo to any parts of the Europe or around the globe. Get support for surface, ocean and air freight needs at the top freight and logistics services in Romania where shipping gets as simple as A, B, C. Also book your parcel shipment through Ianis Cargo’s sister concern Ianis Courier, the courier and shipping service in Romania, which started its services during the third quarter of this year.  

Let us know your shipping concerns and find solutions. Keep your queries and comments posted below. Our shipping and logistics support team is available 24×7 to help you!