General Freight Services Across Australia
Not everything fits neatly on a pallet, and a huge amount of business freight doesn't. General freight is the catch-all for everyday cargo that travels loose: cartons, crates, cases, drums, bundles and mixed or irregular items. We carry it across Australia, interstate, regional and metro.
- What it is
- Non-palletised cargo, including cartons, crates, loose, mixed and irregular items
- Best for
- SMEs and businesses with mixed, boxed or one-off consignments
- Coverage
- Interstate, regional and metro across Australia
- Load sizes
- A single carton through to mixed multi-item consignments
- How it's priced
- Greater of actual or cubic weight, per item or consignment × the lane
What Counts as General Freight
If it can be safely loaded, restrained and carried but isn't a palletised unit, it's general freight. Typical examples:
Cartons & Cases
Boxes or small quantities that don't justify a pallet.
Crates & Timber Cases
Including protective packaging around machinery and parts.
Loose & Mixed Consignments
Irregular items that don't stack neatly, or a combination of items heading to the same destination, each handled individually.
Drums, Bundles & Rolled Goods
Cylindrical and rolled items secured for transit.
Packaging: The Thing That Most Affects Loose Freight
Because general freight isn't on a stable pallet base, how it's packaged matters more than on any other service, both for safety and for cost. A few practical pointers before you ship:
Pack for Handling
Box to withstand normal handling and stacking, since loose freight shares trailer space and gets moved more than a full pallet does.
Label Clearly
Label each item clearly, and mark anything fragile or “this way up.”
Measure & Weigh Accurately
Priced on the greater of actual or cubic weight, so guessed dimensions lead to a corrected invoice.
Consolidate Where You Can
Several small items combined into one well-packed carton is usually cheaper and safer than many loose pieces.
General or Pallet Freight?
The dividing line is simple: loose, boxed or irregular goods are general freight; goods stacked and secured on a pallet are pallet transport. If you could palletise but aren't sure it's worth it, ask us. Palletising is often cheaper and safer once you're past a certain volume. General freight moves interstate, regional or metro, runs as a scheduled service when it's regular, and goes on our time-sensitive service when it's urgent.
Not sure how to classify it? General freight is the right place to start, and we'll sort the rest.
Send your item list with sizes and weights and get a general freight quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is general freight?
General freight is cargo that isn't on pallets: cartons, crates, cases, drums, bundles, and loose or mixed items. It's the everyday, catch-all freight category for goods that don't travel as a palletised unit.
What's the difference between general freight and pallet freight?
Pallet freight is stacked and secured on a pallet as a single forkliftable unit; general freight is loose, boxed or irregular. They're handled and priced differently. If you can palletise economically, it's usually cheaper and safer. See pallet transport.
How is general freight priced?
On the greater of actual or cubic weight, per item or per consignment, plus the lane and any handling. Accurate dimensions and weights give the most accurate quote.
Can you carry mixed consignments to one destination?
Yes, a mix of cartons, crates and loose items going to the same place is exactly what general freight is for.
Get a General Freight Quote Today
Send your item list with sizes and weights and we'll sort the rest.