Shipping Generators Freight Class Guide
Generators typically classify around Class 70, in the 15-22 lb/ft³ density range. Portable and standby generators, crated.
Calculate Generators Freight Class
Enter your actual shipment dimensions and weight below. Typical generators run 150-500 lb, but your exact class depends on your specific shipment's measured density.
Measure the full footprint including packaging, and include pallet weight in your total. Carriers will re-measure at the terminal.
Shipping Generators the Right Way
Crating Protects Engine and Control Components
Generator crates protect not just the housing but sensitive engine and electrical control components inside, so solid crate construction with the unit properly secured to a base skid matters more here than on simpler industrial equipment.
Engine and Electrical Components Drive the Density
The engine, alternator, and fuel system packed into a generator's housing add significant weight relative to the unit's overall size, which is why generators land in a denser freight class than bulkier, less mechanically complex equipment.
Forklift Access Points Speed Up Handling
Generator crates built with clear forklift pockets or skid access reduce handling time and risk at both pickup and delivery, which matters since generators are too heavy and awkwardly shaped to move safely by hand.
Generators: What Carriers and Shippers Look For
Portable and standby generators are crated industrial equipment with enough metal, engine, and fuel system components to land in a moderate freight class, but the bigger operational concern is handling equipment: crates need proper forklift access, and dense engine components inside a relatively compact footprint mean weight adds up faster than the crate's size suggests. Demand for generators also spikes seasonally around storm season, which shippers should plan for.
Why Generators Classify Around Class 70
Portable and standby generators, when properly crated, typically run 15 to 22 pounds per cubic foot, which puts most shipments in the Class 70 range under the standard density table. That density comes from the combination of an engine block, alternator, fuel system, and housing packed into a crate that still has some void space around the unit's irregular shape, landing generators in a moderate part of the freight class chart.
Crating and Handling Tips
A generator should be secured to a base skid inside its crate so it cannot shift during transit, since an unsecured unit moving inside a crate can damage both the crate itself and sensitive components like the control panel or fuel system fittings. Crates should also protect any exposed gauges, switches, or connection points that stick out from the unit's main housing.
Fuel systems should be drained or secured according to the manufacturer's shipping guidance before a generator is crated, since a full or improperly sealed fuel tank adds both weight and risk during handling and transit. Shippers moving generators regularly typically standardize crating and draining procedures to keep every shipment consistent.
Equipment and Handling Notes
Dry van is standard for generator freight, and no temperature control is needed under normal shipping conditions. Because generators are heavy for their footprint and awkwardly shaped even when crated, forklift access points built into the crate matter for safe, efficient handling at both pickup and delivery.
Common Shipping Mistakes
The most common mistake is failing to secure the generator to a base skid inside the crate, which allows the unit to shift and damage sensitive components during transit. The second is not planning ahead for seasonal demand spikes around storm season, when generator freight volume climbs quickly and capacity tightens with little advance warning.
Related Industrial Equipment
Carriers Hauling Generators
“Generator crates need real forklift access or you're stuck trying to move something heavy and awkward by hand. I check that before I even load the truck.”
“Storm season generator freight comes in waves. I try to stay ahead of it because capacity gets tight fast once demand picks up.”