Frequently asked questions

No — it's a reference price. A person confirms the price with you before booking. Extras such as a liftgate (lift platform) or an extra stop, waiting time, a truck ordered and not used (TONU) or freight that differs from what you described are charged as your quote's terms explain.

For truck shipments and pallet storage, you get an instant quote online: a reference price that a person confirms with you before anything is booked. For weekly lanes, special freight, floor space (sq ft) or temperature-controlled or hazmat storage, send the form, call or message us, and a person replies with a price.

Tell us in your request: we look for a carrier with a liftgate truck (a lift platform that lowers the pallets to the ground). It's quoted as an extra before you book.

We only book carriers with at least $100,000 in cargo insurance and $1,000,000 in auto liability, checked on their certificate of insurance. That insurance is the carrier's and follows its policy terms. If your freight is worth more than $100,000, tell us when you ask for a price. Bear Shift doesn't sell cargo insurance; for full value, keep your own cargo policy.

Before you sign the delivery paperwork the driver gives you (the bill of lading or proof of delivery), write down what's damaged, take photos and keep the goods and packaging. Tell us in writing within 24 hours (5 business days if the damage was hidden); those notices are for coordination and don't shorten the time you have to claim. The claim itself is filed in writing with the carrier, which is responsible for freight in its care under the bill of lading; we give you the carrier's legal name, MC/USDOT and insurer and help you file it.

Use the “Register your warehouse” button in this section. We review your facility, licenses and insurance, then send you the partner agreement to read and sign online.

Your warehouse, while the goods are in your care — that's why we ask for warehouse legal liability insurance. The goods belong to the client and your receipts are issued in the client's name. Bear Shift coordinates and never holds goods in its own name.

Before your first order, we tell you in writing when and how you get paid; it's set in the partner agreement and on each storage order.

No. You don't commit to a minimum volume, and we don't guarantee one either: each job arrives as a storage order for you to review. The agreement explains how to end it with written notice; we send it to you to read in full before you sign.

Focused on the Seattle–Tacoma area (Puget Sound). We arrange freight across the Pacific Northwest and to or from anywhere in the continental U.S. (lower 48). Common areas: Seattle · Tacoma · Kent · Auburn · Sumner · Fife · Puyallup. Somewhere else in the continental U.S.? Ask us — we look for carriers nationwide.