Shipping & Freight

1. Overview

PHS Lift ships material handling equipment nationwide via vetted LTL freight carriers. Most orders ship from one of our nine distribution centers — San Francisco (CA), Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Louisville, and Charlotte — whichever is closest to your delivery destination.

We work primarily with FedEx Freight and R+L Carriers. Both are reliable, traceable, and handle industrial freight every day.

2. Lead Times

Lead times are confirmed at order. Typical ranges for in-stock units:

• In-stock at nearest warehouse: 3–7 business days
• In-stock at a different warehouse: 5–10 business days (cross-country freight)
• Non-stock or custom-configured: 4–12 weeks depending on factory schedule

Real-time stock by warehouse is shown on every product page. Lead times confirmed in writing on your order confirmation.

3. Freight Rates

Freight is calculated per order based on equipment weight, dimensions, delivery zip code, and required services (liftgate, residential delivery, etc.). We pull live LTL rates from FedEx Freight and R+L Carriers at quote time — you see the actual landed cost before confirming your order, not an estimate.

Freight terms are FOB Origin, Freight Prepaid unless otherwise specified on your order confirmation.

4. Liftgate & Delivery Options

A liftgate is a hydraulic platform on the back of the freight truck that lowers equipment to ground level. Required if your facility does not have a loading dock or forklift available at delivery.

• Standard dock delivery: the carrier backs into your loading dock. No liftgate required. Most cost-effective option for warehouses and distribution centers.
• Liftgate delivery: required if you don't have a dock. Additional charge applied.
• Residential / limited-access delivery: additional charges apply for residential addresses, construction sites, schools, etc.
• Inside delivery: carrier brings the equipment past the door (not standard). Available on request.

We help you pick the right option based on your site. If unsure, contact us before placing the order.

5. Tracking

You receive tracking information via email once your equipment ships, including:

• Carrier name and tracking number
• Estimated delivery date
• Bill of Lading (BOL) number

For active orders, contact [email protected] or call (800) 404-2311 for status updates.

6. Delivery Inspection

The most important step in receiving your equipment is the inspection at delivery. Freight carriers are only liable for damage that is documented on the Bill of Lading at the moment of delivery. Signing "clean" — meaning signing without noting any damage — waives the carrier's liability, and the damage becomes impossible to claim.

Before signing, you must:

1. Walk around the freight. Look for crushed packaging, dented frames, bent forks, leaking fluids, missing parts, scratched paint, or anything that looks off.
2. Count the items. Match the BOL to what physically arrived. Missing pallets, missing chargers, missing batteries — all count as damage.
3. Note damage directly on the BOL. Be specific. "2 pallets crushed" or "forklift mast bent, paint scratched on left side" — not just "damaged".
4. Sign and date your notation.
5. If damage is severe, refuse the shipment. You have the right to reject delivery of severely damaged freight.

The driver is required to wait while you inspect. Do not let them rush you.

7. Damage on Arrival

If you discover damage at delivery, here's exactly what to do:

1. Note damage on the BOL as described above.
2. Take at least 5 photos:
   • Damaged equipment from multiple angles (close-ups and wide shots)
   • The signed BOL showing your damage notes
   • The truck or freight container if possible
   • Hour meter reading (so we can prove the unit hadn't been used)
3. Submit a claim via our online form within 5 business days: freight damage claim form. Required for all damage claims. Upload the photos and your BOL through the form.
4. PHS Lift handles the carrier claim on your behalf. We coordinate with the freight carrier and manufacturer. You don't contact the carrier or manufacturer directly — going around us slows the process and may invalidate the claim.
5. Resolution: based on the damage, PHS Lift will arrange replacement, repair, or credit. Most claims resolve within 2–4 weeks.

No claim can be processed without: a signed BOL with damage noted, photo evidence, and submission via our online form within 5 business days of delivery. These requirements exist because the freight carriers themselves require them — we can't recover the cost from them without complete documentation.

8. Contact

Questions about a shipment or a damage claim?

📧 [email protected]
📞 (800) 404-2311
📍 San Francisco, CA

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time.