Freight Glossary
Residential Delivery
Residential delivery is the delivery of freight to a home address rather than a commercial facility with a loading dock. It typically requires a liftgate, appointment scheduling, and additional driver time, and most LTL carriers charge a residential surcharge. A furniture company shipping a 300 pound sofa to a customer home is a typical residential delivery scenario requiring liftgate and two person handling.
Why it matters
Residential deliveries are meaningfully more expensive and complex than commercial deliveries. The surcharge alone can add $50 to $200 per shipment in traditional LTL, and delivery windows must accommodate the homeowner's availability. Failed residential deliveries due to no one home cost an average of $150 to $300 per attempt in redelivery and scheduling fees.
When to use it
Plan for residential delivery requirements when shipping large or heavy consumer goods, such as furniture, appliances, or fitness equipment, directly to end customers, and build the added cost into your e-commerce shipping model. If more than 30 percent of your orders go to residential addresses, negotiate a residential delivery program with your carrier rather than paying per shipment surcharges.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp's cargo van and box truck network can support residential delivery for appropriate freight types. Warp's all-inclusive pricing model eliminates surprise residential surcharge line items common in traditional LTL. The Warp driver app enables delivery scheduling and real time customer notifications so homeowners know exactly when their freight will arrive.