Cosmetic damage
Most appliance claims are dents and scratches, not broken units. Loose loads, poor bracing and rough handling at cross-docks cause them. Load bars, edge protection and fewer touches are the fix.
Appliances
Appliance freight, delivered without dents
Fridges, washers, ranges and dishwashers moved from plant or port to distribution centre and store, loaded to avoid dents and delivered into the home when you need it.
24/7
Dispatch
<1 hr
Quote response
Overview
Appliances are heavy, bulky and easy to dent
A major appliance is a large box of thin painted steel. It fills a trailer quickly, weighs enough to need proper handling, and shows every scuff. Manufacturers, importers and retailers move them in three stages: from the plant in Mexico, the US or overseas to a distribution centre, from the DC to stores, and from the store or DC to the customer's home. We cover all three. Truckloads are floor-loaded or palletized depending on how the receiver unloads, fridges and freezers travel upright, and home deliveries go out with two-person crews who install and take the old unit away when that is booked.
- Clamp-ready truckloads
- Upright fridge and freezer handling
- Mexico and US plant cross-border
- Two-person home delivery
Challenges we solve
Where appliance freight goes wrong
Clamp handling
Many appliance DCs unload with carton clamps rather than pallet jacks. Loads have to be built so the clamp can reach each unit, which changes how the trailer is stacked.
Cube, not weight
Appliances fill a 53 ft trailer well before it reaches its weight limit. Mixing heavy and light units and stacking where the cartons allow decides how many units fit.
Upright and orientation rules
Refrigerators and freezers should travel upright to protect the compressor, and manufacturers mark which way other units can be stacked. Ignoring the carton markings voids warranties.
Home delivery
Final delivery needs two people, an appointment, sometimes installation and haul-away of the old unit. Old units with refrigerant have to go to a facility that can recover it.
How we work
How we move appliances
Load plan by model
We get the model mix, carton dimensions and stacking rules, then plan the load for the receiver's unloading method, clamp or pallet.
Book the right trailer
Air-ride dry vans with load bars and logistic posts, or trailers set up for floor-loaded appliances.
Cross-border from Mexico and the US
Much of North America's appliance production is in Mexico and the US. We coordinate the customs broker and the carrier for loads moving north.
DC and store replenishment
Truckloads and multi-stop runs from the DC to stores, booked to each store's receiving hours.
Home delivery and haul-away
Two-person delivery, placement, installation and haul-away through white-glove partners, with photos and signatures on completion.
Rules and regulations
Handling, origin and disposal rules
Carton handling markings
Manufacturers mark which side is up, how high cartons can be stacked and whether clamp handling is allowed. Following them protects the product and the warranty.
CUSMA rules of origin
Appliances made in Mexico or the US can move duty-free within North America when they meet the CUSMA origin rules. The commercial invoice and origin statement have to support it.
Steel content tariffs
Since 2025 some US tariffs on steel also apply to the steel content of imported household appliances. Your customs broker confirms what applies before the load crosses.
Refrigerant recovery on haul-away
Old fridges, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerants that must be recovered before disposal under provincial and state rules. Haul-away units go to facilities that can do it.
Plant to store
Truckloads that arrive without damage
Appliance freight is mostly cube and finish. A 53 ft trailer holds a mixed load of large units long before reaching its weight limit, so the load plan decides how many units ship per truck and how well they are protected.
Receivers unload in two ways. Some DCs use carton clamps that grip each unit from the sides, which needs space between rows and units placed where the clamp can reach. Others take palletized freight with pallet jacks. Building the load for the wrong method slows the unload and causes damage.
Cosmetic damage is the main cost. A dented door is a unit sold at a discount or returned. Air-ride suspension, load bars at each row, edge protection and avoiding unnecessary cross-docks cut it significantly.
Production is concentrated in a few places, including large plants in Mexico and the southern US. Northbound loads cross the border with origin documents that support CUSMA treatment, and the customs broker should see the paperwork before the truck arrives at the crossing.
Store to home
The last mile is where customers judge you
Home delivery of appliances is a service, not a drop. The customer expects a time window, two people who bring the unit into the right room, often installation, and removal of the packaging and the old unit.
Each of those is a separate service with its own cost. Booking them at order time lets the right crew and truck be assigned. Adding them on the day usually means a second visit.
Haul-away has its own rules. Old fridges, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerants that must be recovered by a qualified facility. The delivery partner takes the old unit to one rather than to a general waste site.
For retailers, delivery photos, signatures and timestamps are the evidence when a customer reports damage later. We collect them on every delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Appliances: common questions
Do you ship appliances by the truckload?
Yes. We move full truckloads from plants, ports and distribution centres, loaded to the receiver's unloading method and the manufacturer's stacking rules.
Can you deliver appliances to customers' homes?
Yes. Through our white-glove partners we provide two-person delivery, placement, installation and haul-away of the old unit.
How do you prevent dents and scratches?
Air-ride trailers, load bars, edge protection, loads planned so units do not shift, and as few handling points as possible. Most damage happens at cross-docks, so we avoid them where we can.
Do refrigerators have to ship upright?
Most manufacturers recommend it to protect the compressor and oil system, and many cartons are marked that way. We follow the carton markings on every load.
Can you bring appliances from Mexico?
Yes. We coordinate the carrier and customs brokers on both sides for appliances moving from Mexican plants to Canada and the US.
Do you move commercial appliances?
Yes. Commercial kitchen equipment, laundry machines and refrigeration units move on dry vans or flatbeds, with liftgate or rigging at delivery when needed.
Related industries
Other industries we ship for
Retail & Consumer
Peak-season ramp, DC bypass, omni-channel fulfillment and DTC last-mile orchestration.
Furniture & Office Moves
Retail and office furniture blanket-wrapped or crated, with liftgate, inside delivery and full office relocations.
Technology & Electronics
High-value, sensitive freight — semiconductors, data centers, consumer electronics, IT hardware.
Let’s move it
Have a shipment? Get rates within the hour.
Tell us the origin, destination and mode. A Qeep specialist replies within the hour with live capacity, lane price, and a transit window you can actually plan around.