If the individual items in your shipment are light enough for you to remove from the truck, you do not need a lift-gate. If your item is over 120 lbs and you live in a residential location, you will need a lift-gate.
A lift-gate is basically a hydraulic lift used to raise and lower items from ground level to the level of a delivery truck or trailer. Most freight companies deliver items on a truck which are usually designed to load and unload at a loading dock or with a fork-lift. If your delivery location (ie, residence) does not have a loading dock or fork-lift and the item is too heavy to remove from the trailer by hand, then you would need a lift-gate.
People often ask “how does the delivery company expect residential customers to get the heavy freight off the truck?” Unfortunately, the answer is: “they expect you to pay for a lift-gate delivery”. You don’t want a delivery truck trying to deliver without a lift-gate and then not have a way to get it off the back of the truck.
If you can’t get the freight off the truck, there will be a re-delivery fee on top of the full retail lift gate fee.
If you are willing to drive to the closest terminal and pick up the freight from the delivery terminal, you do not need a lift-gate.
*Please note: In some area’s freight companies may require lift-gate delivery for liability reasons.
