LTL Freight & Commercial Shipping Policy

National Boiler Supply – Commercial Freight & Shipping Policy

National Boiler Supply works hard to ensure commercial contractors and procurement desks receive critical components at mechanical speed. Review our full shipping and tracking criteria below.

🚚 Free Shipping Over $99*

We offer Free Ground Shipping on thousands of eligible parts, heating controls, and standard parcel orders totaling over $99 within the continental United States.

*Exclusions apply to oversized items, heavy cast-iron boiler blocks, industrial water heaters, and commercial freight shipments requiring dedicated flatbeds or specialized Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) carrier routing.

Tracking Your Orders

Once your order ships from the manufacturer or distribution partner, an automated logistics email is sent to your registered purchasing address.

  • Tracking Parcel Shipments (UPS & FedEx): Your confirmation notification contains direct click-through tracking links. You can monitor delivery updates directly through UPS Tracking or FedEx Tracking.
  • Tracking Freight Shipments (LTL): For heavy items shipping via commercial carrier, your tracking email provides a tracking/PRO number and a direct carrier link.
  • Account Dashboard Navigation: Log into your National Boiler Supply account dashboard at any time, navigate to "Recent Orders," and view tracking details, itemized invoices, and transit updates.

Expedited Shipping

Orders placed for in-stock inventory with expedited parcel routing (UPS Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air, or 3 Day Select) are processed as quickly as possible once payment and any required verification are complete. Cutoff times for same-day departure vary by manufacturer and distribution partner and will be confirmed with you at the time of order for time-sensitive shipments.

Please Note: Out-of-stock or factory-backordered inventory cannot be expedited. If you need to confirm immediate stock levels for a critical job shutdown, contact our team prior to checkout.

Inventory Availability & Partial Order Splits

Inventory levels and manufacturer lead times can change as orders process throughout the day.

  • Split-Shipment Standard: If your order contains a mix of in-stock and backordered items, available items will ship first to keep your project moving.
  • No Extra Fees on Parcel: Backordered small components will follow via separate shipments as inventory becomes available. You will not be charged extra shipping costs for partial order split-shipments on standard parcel orders. Note: Multi-component heavy freight (LTL) orders requiring separate origin dispatches are excluded from automatic split-shipping and require a custom routing review.

Entering Valid Shipping Information

Commercial carriers maintain strict delivery guidelines. Customers are responsible for entering complete and accurate shipping information at checkout.

  • No PO Box Delivery: Because we ship via parcel (UPS/FedEx) and freight truck, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. A physical street address is required.
  • Complete Fields Required: All addresses must include a clear street layout, city, state, postal code, and business name (if delivering to a commercial shop, yard, or distributor hub).
  • Address Match Errors: If a carrier cannot locate or deliver to a shipping destination due to a typo or unmatched zip code, the buyer is responsible for original shipping costs, carrier return fees, and re-shipping charges.
  • Canceled Orders: If a parcel is returned due to an undeliverable address and you choose to cancel rather than re-ship, the order is subject to our standard return guidelines, including applicable restocking fees.

LTL Commercial Freight & Heavy Equipment

Heavy mechanical equipment—including commercial cast-iron boilers, high-efficiency condensing boilers, modular configurations, and large volume water storage tanks—ships via Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Freight Carriers.

  • Standard Delivery Limits: Basic freight shipping charges cover standard dock-to-dock commercial facility routing only.
  • Liftgate Requirements: If your delivery point lacks a forklift or raised loading dock, you must select Liftgate Service at checkout. The carrier will dispatch a truck equipped with a hydraulic gate to lower the pallet to ground level. Accessorial fees charged by the carrier due to undeclared site limitations (residential zones, limited-access routing, re-delivery fees, storage charges) will be billed to the customer. The Buyer authorizes National Boiler Supply to charge the payment method or trade credit line on file to recover these carrier pass-through expenses.
  • Delivery Window Notifications: Freight carriers will call your provided field contact number, typically at least 24 hours in advance, to coordinate delivery. Ensure your job site manager or dispatcher is available to answer this call to prevent failed delivery attempts.
  • Construction Site Routing: Deliveries to active building zones, institutional facilities, or restricted-access areas must include an active field contact number for the driver.

⚠️ Mandatory Receiving & Freight Inspection Procedures

CRITICAL CONTRACTOR NOTICE: All heavy equipment sales are executed under commercial FOB Origin terms. Legal ownership, title, and risk of loss or transit-induced damage pass to the purchasing entity the moment the freight carrier accepts the shipment and departs the manufacturer's or distributor's loading dock. Follow this receiving protocol with your crew or field technicians:

  • Count Every Piece: Verify the inbound pallet count matches the carrier's paperwork before signing anything.
  • Examine Structure Closely: Check for torn shrinkwrap, crushed corners, or shifting loads. Inspect boiler jackets, control valves, and electrical boxes for impact damage before signing the Bill of Lading (BOL).
  • Write Clear Notations: If you find damage or missing items, refuse the shipment with the driver or write "DAMAGED - [Name of Broken Component]" directly on the paper or electronic delivery pad before signing.
  • Concealed/Hidden Damage: Open and inspect your equipment within 24 hours of receipt. If you find damage hidden inside an undamaged crate, take photos immediately and alert our team. Signing the BOL clean, without written damage notations, waives your ability to file a carrier insurance or freight damage claim for that shipment, and National Boiler Supply will not be liable for replacement or transit costs in that case. We strongly recommend photographing every shipment before signing, regardless of apparent condition.

Project Timelines & Disclaimer of Delay Liability

  • No Guarantee of Delivery Dates: All shipping timelines and delivery dates provided by National Boiler Supply, our manufacturing partners, or freight carriers are approximations only. Unforeseen logistics disruptions, manufacturer backorders, material shortages, weather events, or carrier delays may occur.
  • Exclusion of Consequential Damages: National Boiler Supply sells commercial-grade equipment on an equipment-only basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, National Boiler Supply is not liable for direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from project delays, including lost profits, business interruption, job-site downtime, idle labor costs, crane or rigging rental fees, contractual penalties, or liquidated damages imposed by third parties or general contractors.
  • Project Scheduling Notice: We strongly advise against scheduling installation crews, site inspections, or dismantling existing operational systems until new equipment has been delivered, inspected, and verified free of freight damage or defects.

International Orders & Freight Forwarding

  • United States Coverage Only: National Boiler Supply ships within the United States only.
  • Freight Forwarder Rules: If you coordinate transit through a domestic freight forwarder, we are only responsible for transit to the forwarder's domestic US terminal. Once UPS, FedEx, or an LTL carrier confirms delivery to your chosen forwarder, National Boiler Supply's responsibility for the shipment ends.
  • Warranty Territorial Restraints: Merchandise purchased through National Boiler Supply is under manufacturer warranty within the United States only.

Questions About Your Shipment?

Need help with an urgent delivery, a custom freight quote, or tracking for a critical facility shutdown? Contact our team at contact@nationalboilersupply.com.