Bear Shift Full truckload · arranged with vetted carriers
Full truckload shipping with a dedicated, vetted carrier
Full truckload shipping in the Seattle–Tacoma area: when your freight fills a trailer, or simply should not share one, we book a whole truck for it. Bear Shift is a licensed freight broker: an independent carrier with its own FMCSA authority hauls the load, and we coordinate everything from the quote to the proof of delivery.
What full truckload means
A full truckload (FTL) shipment gets a dedicated 53-foot dry van for one customer. The trailer is loaded at your dock, you can seal it before it leaves, and the carrier drives it to the delivery dock without stopping at a terminal or transferring your pallets to another truck. Nothing else rides with your freight, so it is handled less and has fewer chances to get damaged.
It usually makes sense from about 10 to 12 pallets, or with fewer pallets when the freight is heavy, fragile, valuable or must not be mixed with anyone else's. Below that size a partial or LTL shipment often costs less, and we point that out when you ask for a price instead of selling you a truck you don't need.
Who books a full truck
- Manufacturers and distributors sending a full production run or restocking a warehouse.
- Importers sending a container's worth of pallets from the port area to a distribution center.
- Retail suppliers with a delivery appointment that cannot be missed or split.
- Anyone whose freight should not be touched by another shipper's pallets or forklifts.
How we arrange your truck
- You tell us the pickup and delivery cities, the ready date, the pallet count and weight, and whether each end has a dock.
- We send you a price. It is a reference until a person confirms it, and nothing is booked before you approve it.
- We book a vetted carrier, set the pickup and delivery appointments with both docks, and share the bill of lading prepared for your load.
- You follow the truck with a tracking link and receive the signed proof of delivery and a single invoice.
What we need from you
For an accurate price, send the pickup and delivery addresses or ZIP codes, the date the freight is ready, how many pallets or pieces there are, the total weight and what the product is. Tell us the dock hours at each end and whether either location lacks a loading dock, since a liftgate truck is a different booking. If the receiver works by appointment, give us the reference number it uses.
Extras that can apply
A full truckload price covers the run from one dock to another. If the driver waits beyond the free time at a dock (detention), if the truck is ordered and then not used (TONU), or if you add a stop along the way, those charges follow the terms of your quote. Mention a second stop before booking, so the carrier can plan the route and include it in the price from the start.
Ready to price a full truck?
Full truckload questions
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer?
A 53-foot dry van typically takes 26 standard pallets, loaded straight and single stacked, depending on weight. A loaded truck has a legal weight limit, so heavy freight can reach it before the floor is full. Send us the count and the weight and we confirm that it fits before booking.
Can I track my truck?
Yes. Once the load is booked you get a tracking link to follow the shipment, and we let you know when it is picked up and delivered. Location updates come from the carrier and its driver, so how often they arrive depends on them.
What happens if the carrier cancels?
If a booked carrier drops your load, we start looking for another vetted carrier right away and keep you informed while we search. We can't promise how long that takes, since it depends on which trucks are free near your pickup, and you decide whether the new price and timing work for you.