Freight shipping questions, answered
These are the freight shipping questions shippers ask Lifetime Logistics Services LLC most often, with direct answers. We are a freight broker and trucking company in Covina, California, moving full truckloads across 11 western states. If your question is not here, call (562) 566-8953 or send the quote form and a person on our team will answer.
Quotes and rates
- How do I get a freight quote?
- Send the quote form with the pickup city or ZIP code, the delivery city or ZIP code, the pickup date, the trailer type, the weight and the commodity. You can also call (562) 566-8953. A person on our team prices the load and replies.
- How much does a truckload cost?
- It depends on six things: the distance, the trailer type, the weight, how much notice we have, how many trucks are available on that lane that week, and the price of diesel. Extra stops, long waits at the dock and special handling add to it. We do not publish rates because they move with the market. Request a quote and we will give you a price for your load on your date.
- Why do truckload rates change from week to week?
- Because truck supply and freight demand change. A lane can be cheap when many trucks are leaving a city empty and expensive when few are. Harvest seasons, holidays, weather and fuel all move the market.
- Is the quote the final price?
- The quote covers the load as you described it. If the weight, the dates, the addresses or the trailer type change, or the truck is held at the dock well past the free time in your quote, the price can change. We confirm the terms in writing before pickup.
- How far in advance should I book?
- A day or two ahead gives the best choice of trucks and the best chance of getting one of ours. Same day loads are sometimes possible in Southern California, where we have trucks most days.
Equipment and freight
- What kinds of trailers do you provide?
- Mostly 53 foot dry vans. We also arrange flatbeds, including step decks when needed, and box trucks for small loads that need their own vehicle. For power only loads you provide the trailer.
- Do you ship refrigerated or frozen freight?
- No. We do not list refrigerated service. We haul dry freight.
- Do you handle less than truckload shipments?
- No. We move full truckloads, where your freight has the truck to itself. For a few pallets that need their own vehicle, we can arrange a box truck.
- How much weight can one truck carry?
- About 42,000 to 45,000 pounds in a dry van and up to about 48,000 pounds on a flatbed. The legal limit is 80,000 pounds for the truck, trailer and cargo combined on interstate highways.
- Can I get a trailer dropped at my dock?
- Often, on dry van lanes with steady weekly volume. Most of our drop trailer loads deliver into the Inland Empire in Southern California. Ask when you request a quote.
Coverage
- What states do you ship to and from?
- California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Most of our loads are in California, Arizona and Nevada.
- Is my load on your truck or another carrier?
- It depends on the lane and date. About a quarter of our loads in 2026 were on our own trucks. If it matters to you which one hauls your load, say so when you request the quote.
- Do you ship to Mexico or Canada?
- No. We pick up and deliver within the United States. We can deliver to a customs broker or transfer yard on the United States side of the border.
- Do you have local offices in the areas you serve?
- No. We have one location, in Covina, California, and we dispatch every load from there.
After you book
- How will I know where my load is?
- We keep track of each load from pickup to delivery and check in with the driver or carrier for arrival times. You can call or email us for a status at any point, and we contact you if anything changes.
- When do I get the proof of delivery?
- After the load delivers. We collect the signed proof of delivery from the driver or carrier and send it with the invoice.
- What is detention?
- A charge that applies when a truck is kept waiting at pickup or delivery beyond the free time allowed. Ask how much free time is included when you get your quote.
- How are partner carriers vetted?
- We check each one through Highway, which verifies the carrier's identity, operating authority and insurance, before we give them a load.
- Can I see proof of insurance?
- Yes. Ask us for a certificate of insurance when you book.
Ready to price a load?
Send the quote form or call us. A person on our team replies with a price.