Tool crate shipping and logistics

[Cory]

It's going to be ridiculously expensive.

I cannot find a published cost per pound for Shepard to handle (move from drayage site to expo floor) a tool crate in FIRST's documentation. In the past it has been $55/100 lbs in FIRST's documentation, but Shepard has tried charging us $100/100 lbs. After 3 years of Shepard arguing with us and ultimately refunding the difference since FIRST had published $55, I am pretty sure they have figured it out, didn't publish the wrong number, and it is $100/100 lbs.

That would have worked out to over $2,000 for us each year (we bring a lot of stuff). Keep in mind that is JUST to move the crate 5 miles from the drayage site to the venue. That doesn't include the cost to ship it from CA to the drayage site and back.

For reference last year Shepard quoted us $2800 each way for ground shipping on a 2000 lb crate, plus $1100 in handling fees (likely $2,000 this year). Had we used them and not our own carrier, the total cost would have been almost $6,000.