Freight Help Center
This guide explains the public freight workflow from quote entry through booking, pickup scheduling, document access, and final shipment summary. Read it straight through if you are new to the flow, or jump to the section that matches the page you are currently on.
Understand The Split Before You Start
Freight is the easiest flow to misunderstand if you skip the basics. It splits in two different ways:
- first by quote mode: LTL or FTL
- then by the carrier that wins the booking: Estes or Uber Freight
That means the quote page you start on is based on shipment type, but the booking page you end up on is based on the carrier attached to the rate you selected.
What You Should Have Ready
Freight rates are only useful when the shipment description is honest and complete. Before starting, keep these details ready:
- origin and destination addresses
- whether each location is business or residential
- shipment weight and dimensions
- unit count and unit type
- freight class for LTL, or equipment type for FTL
- any special requirements such as liftgate, appointment, hazmat, reefer temperature control, or overlength handling
If even one of those items is guessed loosely, the quote may still load, but the booked shipment may not match what the carrier expects.
LTL Quote Flow
The public LTL quote page is a guided wizard. Each step is meant to progressively reduce ambiguity before rates are requested.
Step 1: Origin And Destination
This step defines the route and whether either side behaves like a residential stop. Customers normally fill in:
- Address
- Address Line 2
- City
- State
- ZIP Code
- Location Type
The route should be treated as operational data, not just billing information. If the wrong location type is selected, accessorial needs and final carrier expectations can drift.
Step 2: Shipment Details
This step describes what is actually moving. The page typically asks for:
- Handling Units
- Unit Type
- Total Weight (lbs)
- Length (in)
- Width (in)
- Height (in)
- Linear Feet (optional)
- Classification
- Description (optional)
Customers should not leave class or dimensions vague if they know them. LTL pricing and carrier acceptance depend on physical shipment accuracy.
Step 3: Ship Date And Services
The third step adds timing and special service needs. This is usually where customers set ship timing and expand grouped accessorial sections.
The grouped layout is helpful because it keeps the form shorter at first, but it also means customers need to actively open the relevant category if they need liftgate, appointment, hazmat, or overlength service.
Step 4: Review And Get Rates
The review step summarizes the route, units, class, weight, and special services before Get Rates becomes the next action. This is the last clean chance to fix the shipment definition before live carrier pricing is requested.
Once rates load, customers can compare carrier names, service levels, totals, transit estimates, and detail drawers. The correct next action is Book This Rate on the option that actually matches the service need, not just the cheapest visible row.
FTL Quote Flow
The FTL flow looks familiar at the top, but it is solving a different problem. Full-truckload customers are defining trailer and movement requirements, not an LTL class-based shipment.
Cargo And Equipment Details
Customers should expect to enter or confirm:
- Trailer Type
- Item Description
- Total Weight (lbs)
- Number of Packages
- Package Type
- optional dimensions
If Refrigerated Reefer is selected, the form reveals reefer-only inputs such as minimum and maximum temperature, precool temperature, and temperature mode. Those are not optional cosmetic fields. They are required to describe a real reefer move correctly.
Scheduling And Special Requirements
FTL also asks for timing and trip requirements, such as:
- Pickup Date
- Delivery Date (optional)
- Appointment Required
- Hazardous Materials
- Protect from Freezing
- overlength or handling requirements
Customers should use these flags before booking, not in notes after the fact. If the need is operationally important, it belongs in the quoted request.
Booking Pages
The booking page is picked by carrier, not only by mode. That is why two customers quoting similar freight can land on different booking screens if their accepted rates came from different carriers.
Estes Booking
Estes booking generally moves through four stages:
- Review
- Contacts
- References
- Pay & Submit
The review stage is intentionally read-only. Customers should use it to verify the carrier, service level, route, item details, and special requirements before typing anything into contacts or references.
The contacts stage gathers shipper and receiver details. Estes expects complete contact data, and the pickup window is especially important because the page treats it as required for a valid handoff.
The references stage is where customers add business-facing context such as PO numbers, internal references, and any instructions that belong with the booking record.
The final stage does not unlock submission until payment is complete and the required acknowledgement has been accepted.
Uber Freight Booking
Uber Freight keeps the same general idea but typically presents a lighter sequence. Customers still review the selected rate first, enter shipper and receiver details next, and then move into payment and final submission.
The practical rule is the same: if the review stage is wrong, stop there and go back. A booking form is not the right place to repair a bad quote choice.
Pickup And Documents
After booking, the pickup page becomes the operational checklist. This is where customers confirm the actual pickup request and retrieve shipment documents.
Customers can usually access actions such as:
- Download BOL
- shipping labels when available
The pickup form itself normally asks for:
- Preferred Pickup Date
- Preferred Time Window
- Pickup Contact Name
- Pickup Contact Phone
- Pickup Contact Email
- Requested By
- Special Pickup Instructions
If a pickup date is in the past or a required contact field is missing, the page should not let the request move forward as if it were ready.
Freight Summary Page
The summary page is the public proof that the shipment was booked and that the supporting details were saved. Customers should expect a confirmation hero, a reference pill, shipment cards, payment information, and action buttons for follow-up documents or communication.
Customers should save the visible reference here, because that is the fastest path for later support or operational questions.
Validation And Troubleshooting Notes
The most common public freight blockers are:
- incomplete origin or destination data
- missing LTL weight or class information
- reefer-only temperature fields that were not filled after reefer equipment was selected
- payment still incomplete at the final booking stage
- past pickup dates or incomplete pickup contact data
- stale or expired recent quotes
If the page shows a summary error instead of a booked shipment, confirm the customer is using a valid UMV reference from a completed quote or booking state before escalating to support.
Screenshot Walkthrough
LTL Quote Screens
FTL Quote Screens
Summary Edge State
Need More Help?
For public freight issues, email support@u-movers.com with the route, carrier if known, and the UMV or quote reference from the rate or summary page.
Freight FAQ
What is the difference between LTL and FTL in this flow?
Use LTL for shared-capacity freight and FTL for dedicated truckload moves, reefer shipments, or trailer-specific moves.
Why did my quote send me to a different booking page?
Because booking is carrier-specific. Estes quotes go to the Estes booking flow, and Uber Freight quotes go to the Uber booking flow.
Do I still need pickup scheduling after I book?
Yes. The pickup page is where the BOL and pickup request are finalized. The quote alone is not the final shipping document.
What details matter most for an accurate freight quote?
Weight, handling units, freight class for LTL, trailer type for FTL, and the correct accessorials all materially affect pricing.
Why is my reefer quote asking for extra fields?
When Trailer Type is set to reefer, the flow requires temperature information so the carrier can rate and service the load correctly.
Why is the booking submit button disabled?
The booking pages do not enable submit until payment succeeds and the terms checkbox is checked.