Shipper safety checklist
Freight Pickup Safety Checklist for Shippers
A safer pickup begins before the truck arrives—with accurate freight information, prepared cargo, and a clear loading plan.
Drivers and carriers are responsible for operating and securing equipment safely, but shippers also shape the conditions at pickup. Accurate information, freight readiness, site control, and early disclosure of special requirements help prevent delays, equipment mismatches, and unnecessary exposure.
Confirm the shipment before equipment is assigned
Start with the packaged freight—not an earlier estimate or the unpackaged product dimensions. Provide the piece count, length, width, height, total weight, individual piece weights, commodity, packaging, and photos when they help explain the load.
Tell the transportation team if the freight is fragile, high-value, top-heavy, unusually shaped, capable of shifting, sensitive to weather, or unable to be stacked. These characteristics can affect the equipment, securement materials, loading orientation, and route.
Prepare a controlled loading area
The loading area should have enough space for the assigned equipment to enter, maneuver, stage, and exit. Keep pedestrians and unrelated vehicles out of the active area, address obvious surface or overhead hazards, and provide clear directions to the correct entrance and loading point.
- Confirm facility hours, the onsite contact, and check-in process.
- Share required PPE, escorts, badges, orientations, or photography restrictions.
- Verify dock height, ramp, forklift, crane, or ground-loading requirements.
- Identify low clearances, narrow gates, soft ground, steep grades, or limited turning space.
- Confirm where the truck should wait if the loading area is occupied.
Align loading, placement, and securement
The shipper controls how freight is prepared and presented for pickup. The motor carrier and driver must evaluate the vehicle, loading outcome, weight distribution, and securement before moving. Both parties should communicate when a piece requires a specific orientation, lift point, blocking, bracing, edge protection, tarp, or securement method.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s cargo securement rules establish performance requirements for cargo transported in interstate commerce. Shipment-specific requirements can vary, so the responsible carrier should confirm the final loading and securement plan before departure.
Disclose regulated and restricted freight early
HAZMAT, bonded cargo, oversized or overweight freight, controlled-site deliveries, and high-value shipments require additional review. Do not wait until the truck arrives to identify these conditions.
HAZMAT or regulated material
Provide the proper shipping description, classification, quantity, packaging, shipping papers, emergency information, and any other required documentation for carrier review.
Restricted facility
Confirm TWIC, TSA, PPE, escort, registration, appointment, background, or site-specific requirements before an owner operator is assigned.
Regulations and facility requirements can change. This checklist is general planning guidance, not a substitute for the current rules or a shipment-specific safety and compliance review.
Freight pickup readiness checklist
Shipment confirmed
Piece count, packaged dimensions, weights, commodity, value, and special handling match the transportation request.
Freight ready
Packaging, pallets, crates, labels, and pickup documents are complete before the scheduled truck arrives.
Loading plan ready
The dock, forklift, crane, ground-loading method, operator, and loading area are available and appropriate.
Site instructions shared
Entrance, contact, hours, PPE, parking, check-in, staging, and restricted-access instructions are communicated.
Special requirements reviewed
HAZMAT, temperature, secure-site, oversized, overweight, high-value, or unusual cargo needs were disclosed in advance.
Delivery details verified
Receiving address, appointment, hours, contact, unloading method, and proof-of-delivery expectations are confirmed.
Use Stop Work Authority when something is not right
Anyone involved in the pickup should be able to pause the process when conditions, freight, documents, equipment, or instructions do not match the safe plan. Resolve the issue, document the change when appropriate, and continue only after the responsible parties agree the move is ready.
Planning specialized or regulated freight?