.freight-calculator-container {
font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
}
.frc-header {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.frc-tool-wrapper {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.frc-input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.frc-row {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 20px;
}
.frc-col {
flex: 1;
min-width: 200px;
}
.frc-label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #555;
}
.frc-input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Important for padding */
}
.frc-btn {
background-color: #0056b3;
color: white;
padding: 15px 30px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
font-size: 18px;
width: 100%;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.frc-btn:hover {
background-color: #004494;
}
.frc-results {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 25px;
background-color: #e9ecef;
border-radius: 6px;
display: none; /* Hidden by default */
}
.frc-result-item {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
}
.frc-result-value {
font-weight: bold;
color: #0056b3;
}
.frc-disclaimer {
font-size: 14px;
color: #777;
margin-top: 20px;
font-style: italic;
}
.frc-article h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 35px;
}
.frc-print-btn {
background-color: #6c757d;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.frc-print-btn:hover {
background-color: #5a6268;
}
Welcome to our free online freight rate calculator. While many users search for a "freight rate calculator download free" in Excel or PDF format, static downloadable sheets quickly become outdated as fuel surcharges and carrier base rates fluctuate weekly. This dynamic online tool provides instant estimations based on the crucial factors that determine LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) and FTL (Full-Truckload) shipping costs: actual weight, dimensional weight, and distance.
Use this tool to get a quick baseline figure for budgeting your next shipment.
Why Use an Online Calculator Instead of a Download?
While the search for a "freight rate calculator download free" is common, downloadable spreadsheets are inherently flawed for freight pricing. Freight rates are highly volatile. They change based on the current price of diesel fuel, the supply and demand of available trucks in specific lanes (e.g., shipping out of Florida during produce season becomes expensive), and carrier-specific general rate increases (GRIs).
An online calculator, like the one above, uses dynamic formulas that are easier to keep current than a static Excel file on your hard drive. Instead of downloading a file, you can simply generate your estimate here and print the page to PDF if you need a saved record.
Understanding the Calculation: The Importance of Chargeable Weight
Novice shippers often make the mistake of only considering the actual dead weight of their shipment. However, freight carriers bill based on what is known as "Chargeable Weight."
Chargeable weight is the greater of two numbers:
- Actual Weight: What the shipment literally weighs on a scale.
- Volumetric (Dimensional) Weight: A calculation of the space the shipment occupies in the trailer. The standard formula used in our calculator is (Length x Width x Height in inches) / 139.
If you ship low-density items, like pillows or assembled plastic parts, your volumetric weight will likely exceed your actual weight, and you will be charged based on the space consumed rather than the actual pounds. Our calculator automatically determines the chargeable weight to provide a more realistic estimate.
function calculateFreight() {
// Get input values
var weightAct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_weight').value);
var dist = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_distance').value);
var len = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_length').value);
var wid = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_width').value);
var hei = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_height').value);
var baseRpm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_rpm_estimate').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(weightAct) || weightAct <= 0 || isNaN(dist) || dist <= 0 || isNaN(len) || len <= 0 || isNaN(wid) || wid <= 0 || isNaN(hei) || hei <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all weight, dimension, and distance fields.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(baseRpm) || baseRpm 1) { utilizationRatio = 1; } // Cap at 100%
// The adjustment factor ensures a minimum baseline cost and scales up.
// A shipment that is 10% of capacity might cost 35% of the full truck rate due to LTL inefficiencies.
var adjustmentFactor = Math.pow(utilizationRatio, 0.6);
// Ensure very small shipments still have a minimum floor cost relative to distance
var estimatedTotal = Math.max((baseLaneCost * adjustmentFactor), (dist * 0.50));
// Display Results
document.getElementById('frc_dim_weight').innerHTML = dimWeight.toFixed(0);
document.getElementById('frc_chargeable_weight').innerHTML = chargeableWeight.toFixed(0);
// Format currency using standard JS locale formatting
document.getElementById('frc_total_cost').innerHTML = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD' }).format(estimatedTotal);
// Show result container
document.getElementById('frc_result_container').style.display = 'block';
}