IBC tote transport & logistics, both directions
Totes ship on their integrated 40x48 pallet footprint, about 40 totes per full truckload. We offer LTL for small lots, FTL for truckloads, and reverse logistics to collect empties you sell us or send for reconditioning — all across the lower 48 from one hub.
Loading tip: full totes are heavy and dense, so a truckload maxes out on weight; empties are light, so a load maxes out on space at ~40 units. We plan the pattern for each shipment. For exact pallet and freight-class tables, see the size chart.
Freight modes
LTL, FTL, and reverse logistics
| Mode | Best for | Typical volume | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTL (less-than-truckload) | Small orders, single pallets, tight budgets | 1–8 totes | Outbound or return |
| FTL (full truckload) | Bulk orders, best per-unit freight cost | ~40 totes / load | Outbound or return |
| Reverse logistics | Collecting empties you sell or send to recondition | LTL or FTL as volume allows | Return to Peoria hub |
How logistics works
Scheduling a shipment, step by step
Confirm the load
We lock the tote count, 275 vs. 330 gallon height, cage type, and whether totes ship full or empty — each changes the load plan.
Choose LTL or FTL
Small lots move LTL; truckloads move FTL at the best per-unit freight cost. We quote both when it's a close call.
Palletize & secure
Totes ride upright on their 40x48 pallet, banded or wrapped, and arranged to prevent shifting in transit.
Dispatch from Peoria
Loads leave our Illinois hub on lanes built to serve the entire lower 48 — often pairing outbound and return freight.
Reverse pickup (as needed)
Selling us empties or sending totes to recondition? We schedule the return leg from your dock. Start on the sell page.
Empties vs. full
Handling changes with the load
The same tote hauls very differently depending on whether it's carrying product.
Full totes weigh in near a ton apiece, so a truckload is limited by legal axle weight long before it runs out of floor space — expect fewer units per FTL. Empty totes are light, so a load fills up on cube at roughly 40 units, and reverse-logistics runs can consolidate empties from several stops on one lane. We plan each shipment accordingly and keep trucks from running empty in either direction.
Questions
Transport FAQ
How many totes fit on a truck?
Do you handle reverse logistics for empties?
What areas do you serve?
How are totes shipped safely?
Need totes moved?
Tell us the count, ZIPs, and whether they're full or empty — we'll quote LTL, FTL, or reverse freight.