[Eric O]

Although shipping charges can be annoying and a high additional cost added to every teams already stretched budget, I think the rules are spelled out clearly in the manual. Like all the other rules this year, read the shipping rules!. There are things that must be in the crate and things that don't have to be. I believe the charges are also discussed right in the manual. Don't forget that rules change from year to year, so when you get the manual tomorrow, make it someone’s job to learn the shipping rules. Also, for non-robot items (since I am assuming the rules for robot shipping will be similar this year), a U-Haul trailer is relatively inexpensive to rent if your mentor has a vehicle that can tow. A 6'x12' trailer is only $30/day, unlimited mileage. We are all lucky to have fed-ex pay for some shipping, and I think by building lighter crates and only putting in the necessities, teams can avoid the hundreds in overweight charges.

-Eric

Edit: As I downloaded my manual today, I noticed that Part 4: "Robot Transportation" was one of the non locked sections. FIRST has provided 22 pages worth of information on just shipping the robot and some of the details are definately new.