Service area

Our core drop-trailer footprint is a 400-mile radius from Charlotte — that covers most of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, and eastern Kentucky. For larger loads we partner with vetted regional carriers and can ship anywhere in the continental US.

Core zones

• Zone A (≤ 100 mi): Charlotte, Gastonia, Concord, Salisbury, Rock Hill, Statesville
• Zone B (100–250 mi): Raleigh-Durham, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Columbia, Greenville SC
• Zone C (250–400 mi): Atlanta, Knoxville, Richmond, Roanoke, Wilmington NC
• Zone D (400+): Nationwide via carrier partners — quoted per load

How pricing works

Delivery charges depend on three things: quantity, zone, and whether we can balance the route with an inbound pickup. A 24-tote delivery to a customer in Columbia SC with an empty-tote pickup on the return is essentially free to run — we pass that savings through as a "matched route" discount.

For one-way-only deliveries, we quote by zone. For recurring fleet customers we set up a schedule and flat rates.

Loading standards

• Totes are stacked two-high on drop-trailers (never three — we've seen what happens)
• Load straps at every row, inspected at origin and destination
• Dunnage between rows when mixing 275 and 330 gallon
• Valve outlets capped and covered for transport
• Seal number photographed at origin and emailed to receiver before the trailer moves

Appointments and receiving

For drop-trailers, we coordinate a drop window with your receiving team. You have up to 24 hours to unload; we'll pick up the empty the next day. For live unloads, we schedule a 2-hour window and the driver waits up to 90 minutes at no charge.

Matched-route program for sellers

If you have empties to sell and you're receiving reconditioned totes on a regular cadence, we can set up a matched-route schedule. Every delivery is paired with a pickup, you pay net-of-return, and carbon per unit drops substantially. This is a favorite with fleet customers.

Loading diagrams: how many totes fit?

Tote count per load depends on the vehicle, stacking, and whether you're mixing sizes. Here is the practical math for the vehicles we use:

All tote counts are for empty totes. Full totes (2,400 lb each for 275 gal) are weight-limited: a 53' van carrying full 275-gal totes is limited to ~18 units by GVWR.

Weight limits and compliance

• Federal bridge formula: Interstate loads are limited to 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight. Our loaded drop-trailers typically weigh 12,000–18,000 lb (trailer + empty totes). For full totes, weight compliance is critical and we calculate every load.
• Axle weight: We distribute totes evenly front-to-back to comply with per-axle limits (typically 20,000 lb on tandem axles). Heavy totes go over the axles; light ones go at the ends.
• Overweight loads: If your load of full totes exceeds 80,000 lb GVW, we split it into two shipments. We will never overload a trailer — the fine is $1/lb over the limit and it is not worth it.
• Hazmat: We do not transport RCRA-listed hazardous waste or DOT-regulated hazardous materials. Empty totes with trace residuals of non-hazardous chemistry are acceptable. Totes with UN/DOT hazmat shipping labels require the sender to provide a shipping declaration.

Insurance and liability

• Cargo insurance: Our drop-trailers and box truck carry $100,000 per-occurrence cargo insurance. This covers damage or loss of totes during transport.
• Auto liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit, as required by FMCSA for intrastate carriers.
• General liability: $2,000,000 aggregate. Covers third-party claims arising from our operations at your facility.
• Certificates of Insurance: Available on request. Most customers who require a COI get it within 24 hours of asking.
• Carrier partners: For loads moved by our third-party carrier partners (Zone D / nationwide), insurance levels match or exceed ours. We provide the carrier's COI with the shipment confirmation.

Tracking process (human-powered)

We don't have a GPS tracking portal. Here is what we do instead — and why our customers tell us it works better:

1. Order confirmation: You receive an email with the scheduled pickup/delivery date, estimated arrival window, and the name of the driver.
2. Origin photos: Before the trailer leaves our yard (or your facility for pickups), the driver photographs the load and the seal number. You receive these by email.
3. In-transit updates: For deliveries over 200 miles, the driver or dispatcher sends a midpoint email confirming ETA. For local deliveries, this step is skipped because the truck is an hour away.
4. Arrival confirmation: When the trailer arrives at your dock, the driver emails a photo of the delivery location and the seal. If it is a drop-trailer, you have 24 hours to unload.
5. Completion: After unloading, you email us confirmation and any notes. We close the load in our system and issue the invoice or receipt.

Total emails per load: 3–5. Total phone calls: zero. Total confusion about where your totes are: also zero.

Freight cost estimator (ballpark)

Exact freight depends on route, quantity, and whether we can balance the load. These are rough estimates for planning purposes:

• Zone A (0–100 mi): $0 – $8 per tote (often free with matched routes or orders of 25+)
• Zone B (100–250 mi): $8 – $18 per tote
• Zone C (250–400 mi): $18 – $35 per tote
• Zone D (400+ mi): $35 – $75 per tote (carrier-dependent)
• Single-tote delivery (local): $45 – $75 flat (we use the box truck)