If you’re a carrier used to hauling palletized general freight, your first apparel or textile load might come with a few surprises. None of them are difficult to handle once you know what’s coming.
Floor-loading is common
A meaningful share of apparel freight ships floor-loaded — garments hung directly on in-trailer rails, or cartons stacked without pallets to maximize cube space. This changes load securement and unload time expectations. Always confirm loading method before you arrive at pickup.
Weight distribution on baled goods
Compressed textile and secondhand-apparel bales are dense and can shift the load’s center of gravity if stacked incorrectly. Proper blocking and bracing matters more here than with lighter, bulkier general freight.
What good apparel brokers provide upfront
- Clear loading method (palletized, floor-loaded, or mixed)
- Accurate weight and dimensions before dispatch
- A real point of contact at pickup and delivery — not just a BOL number
Carriers who specialize in this freight tend to stick with a small number of trusted brokers, because the loads are more consistent and communication is faster than on the open load board.
