Mode A
Small parcel
Under 150 lb per box · under 108 in long
Prototypes, brackets, panels, and small production lots. Boxed, labeled, tracked door to door. Fastest options live here: overnight and 2-day air.
UPSFedExUSPS
Every order leaves the same dock but not on the same truck. This page covers the small-parcel services we use through UPS, FedEx, and USPS, the LTL freight we book through FedEx Freight, Uber Freight, and Amazon Freight, how fast each one gets to you, and how to tell which mode your order will take.
Our quoting workflow looks at the packed weight, the longest dimension, and how many boxes the order would need, then picks the mode. You see the shipping line on the quote before you order, and you can ask for a different service level at checkout.
Prototypes, brackets, panels, and small production lots. Boxed, labeled, tracked door to door. Fastest options live here: overnight and 2-day air.
Production runs, long parts, heavy plate, or anything that would otherwise become a stack of boxes. Palletized, strapped, and shared on a trailer with other freight.
Large production releases. A dedicated trailer or a volume LTL move, quoted per lane through the same freight platforms. Usually planned with you ahead of the release date.
All three deliver to every state. UPS and FedEx carry most of our parcel volume because they accept boxes up to 150 pounds and offer day-definite ground and guaranteed air. USPS fills in for light, compact shipments and for addresses only the Postal Service reaches, such as PO boxes and APO/FPO. Delivery commitments below are the carriers' published standards for the contiguous U.S.; remote areas, Alaska, and Hawaii can be later.
Our primary parcel carrier. Day-definite ground with a delivery-date commitment, plus a full ladder of air services with morning and end-of-day options.
Parallel network to UPS with matching limits. We route to FedEx when its transit to your ZIP is a day shorter, when a residential Saturday delivery helps, or when you ship on a FedEx account.
Used for light, compact orders such as small laser-cut brackets, shims, and hardware, and for PO boxes, military, and territory addresses. Lowest cost on small packages, but weight tops out at 70 pounds.
Xeon’s freight policy applies when any single part weighs 50 lbs or more, the order totals 200 lbs or more, a part is longer than 94 inches, or a parcel’s length plus girth exceeds 100 inches. Girth is twice the sum of the two smallest outside package dimensions. Carrier limits still apply to the selected service; a carrier’s maximum parcel allowance does not override Xeon’s freight policy. See Quality & Shipping for the policy and a package-measurement example.
Boise is well placed for the West and about as far as you can get from the Northeast. These are the typical UPS Ground and FedEx Ground transit days we see from our ZIP code. The carriers publish exact transit maps by origin ZIP; use the table for planning and trust the tracking date for commitments.
| Ground transit | Typical destinations | Parcel zone (approx.) | When to upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 business day | Idaho, eastern Oregon, northern Nevada, northern Utah | Zones 2 to 3 | Rarely needed. Ground beats air on price and matches it on date. |
| 2 business days | Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, Montana, western Wyoming | Zones 3 to 4 | Only for a next-morning need; otherwise Ground equals 2-day air. |
| 3 business days | California, Colorado, Arizona, eastern Wyoming, western Dakotas | Zones 4 to 5 | 2nd Day Air saves one day; overnight saves two. |
| 4 business days | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico | Zones 5 to 6 | 3 Day Select or Express Saver is often the best value. |
| 5 business days | Great Lakes, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Florida | Zones 7 to 8 | 2-day air is common for prototypes; ground for production. |
| 3 to 7 business days | Alaska and Hawaii | Zone 8 plus surcharges | Air services are frequently the only practical option for time-sensitive parts. |
Parcel zones are distance bands from the origin ZIP, numbered 2 (local) through 8 (farthest contiguous). Zone drives the rate more than weight does for light packages. Transit days reflect typical carrier maps for a Boise origin and are not a guarantee.
Parcel carriers bill on the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, which is the box volume in cubic inches divided by a divisor, currently 139 for UPS and FedEx daily rates. A 24 by 24 by 6 inch box weighs 25 dimensional pounds even if the aluminum panel inside weighs 6. We pack tightly and nest parts to keep dimensional weight down, but a large, flat, light part is the case where LTL can be cheaper than parcel even under 150 pounds. The planned production guide shows how consolidating releases changes that math.
Choose UPS, FedEx, or USPS and a service level to color every state by typical business days in transit from our dock. Choose FedEx Freight, Uber Freight, or Amazon Freight to see LTL and truckload transit by distance band. Then enter a destination ZIP code, or click any point on the map, for the distance from our dock, the transit estimate, and the delivery commitment for that service.
When an LTL or truckload service is selected, each colored band is a straight-line distance range from Boise. We use seven bands, from 0 to 100 miles out to 1,500 to 2,000 miles, because LTL pricing and transit both scale with distance and with how dense the carrier's lane is between the two terminals. Great-circle mileage is not road mileage, and a pallet does not travel in a straight line: it goes to a Boise-area terminal, to one or more break-bulk hubs, then to the destination terminal for final delivery. Each hand-off adds a day or a fraction of one.
| Zone band | Typical LTL transit | Example destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 100 mi | 1 business day | Treasure Valley, Twin Falls, Ontario OR | Often direct from the origin terminal. Same-day possible by arrangement. |
| 100 to 250 mi | 1 business day | Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Bend, Tri-Cities | Regional carriers are strongest here. |
| 250 to 500 mi | 1 to 2 business days | Salt Lake City, Spokane, Reno, Portland, Seattle | Dense lanes; next-day is common to Salt Lake and Portland. |
| 500 to 700 mi | 2 business days | Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Las Vegas | One hub hand-off is typical. |
| 700 to 1,000 mi | 2 to 3 business days | Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Albuquerque | Southern California is a high-volume lane and often runs at the fast end. |
| 1,000 to 1,500 mi | 3 to 4 business days | Dallas, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Chicago | Two hub hand-offs are normal. |
| 1,500 to 2,000 mi | 4 to 5 business days | Houston, Detroit, Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus | Book Priority-level service if the date is firm. |
| 2,000+ mi | 5 to 6 business days | New York, Boston, Charlotte, Miami, Washington DC | Quoted per lane. Guaranteed options are worth the premium on the East Coast. |
We book palletized freight three ways. FedEx Freight is a single asset-based LTL carrier with its own trucks and terminals. Uber Freight and Amazon Freight are digital freight platforms that quote a lane across a network of partner carriers and their own capacity, which lets us compare rates and transit for the same pallet in minutes. On most orders all three are checked and the best fit for your lane is booked.
One of the largest LTL networks in North America, with terminals covering all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Two speed tiers on the same trucks, plus a residential delivery program for heavy items.
A brokerage and logistics platform that returns instant quotes across dozens of LTL carriers and a large truckload carrier network. It lets us see several carriers' rates and transit for the same pallet and pick by lane rather than by habit.
Amazon's shipper-facing freight service. It opens the trailer capacity Amazon built for its own network to outside shippers, with instant online quotes. Shipments do not need to be going to an Amazon facility.
For a firm delivery date to a commercial dock, FedEx Freight Priority is usually booked directly because a single asset carrier with its own terminals has the fewest variables. For everything else, the lane is quoted through Uber Freight and Amazon Freight and compared on total cost including accessorials, the carrier's on-time record on that lane, and the transit window. Regional LTL carriers surfaced through the platforms frequently beat national carriers on price and speed within about 700 miles of Boise. East of the Rockies the national networks are more consistent.
Parcel shipping is simple: a box, a label, a scan. LTL has a few more moving parts, and most of the surprises people hit on a first freight shipment come from these five.
Parts are stacked, separated, banded, and stretch-wrapped on a GMA-style pallet. Long parts go on a custom skid or in a crate. Height is kept under about 72 inches so the pallet can stack and fit a liftgate.
A density-based rating that drives the rate. Dense steel plate classes low, around 50 to 60. Light, bulky aluminum enclosures class high, 125 or more, and cost more per pound. Packing tighter lowers the class.
The BOL is the contract and the shipping document; the PRO is the carrier's tracking number. Both are emailed when the pallet is picked up. Keep them until the freight is inspected and signed for.
Note any visible damage or shortage on the delivery receipt before signing. A clean signature makes a later claim very hard. Photograph the pallet as it comes off the truck.
| Accessorial | When it applies | What it does to cost and transit | How to avoid or plan for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liftgate delivery | No dock or forklift at the destination | Adds a fee and may require a specific truck, which can add a day | Tell us at quote time. If you have a forklift, say so; it is cheaper than a liftgate. |
| Residential delivery | Home, home-based business, farm, or any address a carrier classes residential | Higher rate, appointment usually required, transit often plus a day | Ship to a commercial address with a dock if one is available. Otherwise plan for it. |
| Limited access | Schools, military bases, construction sites, storage units, churches, mines | Fee plus possible delays for site access | Provide gate instructions and a contact phone number on the BOL. |
| Delivery appointment | Receiver requires a scheduled window | Fee; delivery waits until the appointment is set | Give us the receiving hours and contact so the carrier can schedule on the first call. |
| Inside delivery | Pallet must go past the dock or door | Fee and driver time | Have a pallet jack or forklift ready at the dock instead. |
| Reweigh / reclass | Carrier measures a different weight or density than declared | Rate is corrected after the fact | We weigh and measure every pallet before it ships so the declared class matches. |
Anything longer than a standard pallet needs a custom skid, may be classed as over-length, and excludes some carriers' liftgate trucks. If a part can be made in two pieces with a joint, freight often drops sharply.
A bent enclosure ships as air. Flat panels with hardware installed stack densely, class lower, and are less likely to be crushed. Where the design allows, have us ship flat pieces and fasteners.
Finished parts are interleaved with foam or paper and never banded directly. That adds a little height per layer. Bare mill-finish steel can be stacked tighter.
Once an order is heavier than about 150 pounds or more than three or four boxes, a single pallet is usually cheaper, safer, and easier to receive. Splitting releases into many small shipments is the most common way to overpay for freight.
A working summary. Every quote states the mode and estimated transit; if you need a different service level, say so in the order notes or at checkout.
| Your order looks like | Mode | Carriers we use | Typical transit from Boise | Fastest option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A few small parts, under 5 lb, fits a shoebox | Parcel | USPS Ground Advantage or Priority Mail; UPS or FedEx Ground | 2 to 5 business days | Priority Mail Express or overnight air |
| Prototype brackets, panels, enclosures, one to three boxes under 50 lb each | Parcel | UPS Ground or FedEx Ground by default | 1 to 5 business days by region | Next Day Air / Priority Overnight; 2nd Day Air / 2Day |
| Heavier boxes, up to 150 lb each, still under 108 in long | Parcel | UPS or FedEx Ground | 1 to 5 business days | Air services, though 100+ lb air is expensive; compare with LTL Priority |
| A panel or part over 96 to 108 in long, any weight | LTL | FedEx Freight; Uber Freight or Amazon Freight partner carriers | 1 to 6 business days by zone | FedEx Freight Priority with guaranteed delivery |
| Production run, 150 to 10,000 lb, 1 to 6 pallets | LTL | Lane quoted across FedEx Freight, Uber Freight, Amazon Freight | 1 to 6 business days by zone | Priority or guaranteed LTL; partial truckload for 5+ pallets on a date |
| Large release, 7+ pallets or over 10,000 lb | Volume LTL or truckload | Uber Freight, Amazon Freight, FedEx Freight volume services | Direct truckload runs about 500 to 600 mi per day | Dedicated truckload, scheduled with the release |
| Residential address or no dock, any size over parcel | LTL with liftgate | FedEx Freight Direct or a liftgate-equipped partner carrier | Zone transit plus about 1 day for appointment | Priority LTL plus liftgate and appointment |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico | Parcel air or ocean/air freight | UPS, FedEx, USPS parcel; FedEx Freight for pallets | 3 to 7 business days parcel ground; freight quoted per lane | UPS or FedEx air services |
International shipping is available to most countries on a delivered-duty-paid basis and is quoted separately. See the shipping at any scale guide for how packaging and mode selection fit into the production workflow.
Xeon ships by freight when any single part weighs 50 lbs or more, an order totals 200 lbs or more, a part is longer than 94 inches, or a parcel’s length plus girth exceeds 100 inches. Girth is twice the sum of the two smallest package dimensions. The quote shows the shipping arrangement and estimated cost before you order. Freight shipping charges may be adjusted by a reasonable amount after shipment to reflect final carrier charges.
UPS and FedEx Ground typically reach the Pacific Northwest, Utah, and Nevada in 1 to 2 business days, California, Colorado, and Arizona in 2 to 3, the central U.S. in 3 to 4, and the East Coast and Southeast in 4 to 5 business days. The carrier's published transit map governs the actual date.
Both are LTL services on the same network. Priority is the faster, day-definite service with a money-back guarantee option. Economy trades one to three additional transit days for a lower rate and suits freight that is not time-critical.
No, but tell us if you do not have one. Without a dock the carrier needs a liftgate truck to lower the pallet to the ground, and residential or limited-access addresses carry additional fees and sometimes longer transit. We add these accessorials to the quote so there are no surprises at delivery.
Yes. Both are digital freight platforms that quote LTL and full-truckload lanes across their carrier networks. We compare them against FedEx Freight on every palletized order and book whichever gives the best combination of transit time, reliability, and cost for your lane.
Yes. Add your account number and preferred service in the order notes. Parcel labels are generated against your account and freight is booked collect or third-party billed. You are responsible for that carrier's rates and claims process.
Yes, to most countries, quoted separately on a delivered-duty-paid basis so duties and taxes are handled up front. Contact us with the destination and part list for a rate.
Note the damage on the delivery receipt before signing, photograph it, and contact us the same day. We file the claim with the carrier or platform and start replacement parts immediately rather than waiting for the claim to settle.
Service names, delivery commitments, size limits, and coverage are the carriers' published standards as of this page's update and can change. Zone transit estimates are typical for a Boise, Idaho origin and are not a guarantee. The estimated delivery on your quote and the date on your tracking link are the commitments that apply to your order.