Freight vs Parcel: What Happens When a Truck Part Is Delivered
Big panels travel differently to small hardware. Here is what actually turns up, and what we handle before it does.
The short answer
Most truck body parts are too large for a parcel courier, so they travel as freight on a pallet. On an order from us that changes very little for you: shipping is free to all 50 states, we book and pay for the transport, and the part arrives 1 to 7 business days after we dispatch it. The one thing worth doing is checking it over when it lands and telling us within 48 hours if anything is wrong.
Which ships which way
| Ships freight, on a pallet | Ships parcel |
|---|---|
| Truck beds | Brackets and mounting hardware |
| Front and rear bumpers | Trim pieces |
| Tailgates | Small components |
| Seat sets | Handles and latches |
What actually happens
You place the order
There is no shipping to work out and nothing to add at checkout. The price on the listing is the price delivered, to any of the 50 states.
We process and dispatch
1 to 2 business days from the moment your payment clears. Larger parts are palletised and collected by a freight carrier; small hardware goes out by regular courier.
It travels to you
1 to 7 business days. A tailgate crossing a couple of states lands at the short end of that; a truck bed going to the far coast sits at the long end.
You check it over
Look at the part before you fit anything. If something is wrong, photograph it and tell us within 48 hours.
If something is wrong when it arrives
Freight damage is rare, but it is time-critical, so it is worth knowing the four steps before you need them.
- Photograph it where it sits, before it is moved or unwrapped any further.
- Call (915) 321-4525 or email sales@steelcreekoffroad.com within 48 hours.
- Do not fit a damaged part. Fitting it, even briefly, ends the return.
- Leave the carrier to us. Chasing a freight company is our job, not something we hand back to you.
The full procedure and the reporting window are on the
shipping and delivery page.
Why large parts sit at the longer end
A freight shipment shares a trailer with other loads and moves between terminals rather than running direct. That is
why a bracket can reach you in a couple of days while a truck bed takes most of the week, and why weather or a busy
terminal can move the date by a day.
What it does not change is what you pay. Freight or parcel, heavy or light, near or far: shipping is free.
Making delivery day easy
- Give a phone number you actually answer, in case the carrier needs to reach you.
- A bed, a heavy bumper or a seat set is not a one-person lift. Have a second pair of hands ready.
- Say up front if the address is awkward for a large truck to reach.
- Or collect from the yard in El Paso. Call ahead and we will have it pulled and waiting.
People also ask
Can I collect instead of having it shipped?
Yes. Call ahead so the part is pulled and ready, and bring something capable of carrying it. Collection is free, the same as delivery.
Does freight cost more than parcel?
No. Shipping is free on every order to all 50 states, whichever way the part travels. There is no freight surcharge and nothing is added after you pay.
How will I know when it is coming?
We email you when the part is dispatched. If you need it by a particular date, ask us before you order and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Do I need to be there when it arrives?
For a large freight item it helps, because someone has to take it off the truck. If that is difficult for you, call us before you order and we will work out the best way to get it to you.
Related guides and parts
Shipping and delivery policy
Timings and the damage procedure.
What used parts cost
What drives the price of a used panel.
How it works
The whole process end to end.