A practical guide to factory pickup, mixed supplier loads and choosing road, air or sea freight from Italy to Iran.
Start with the packed shipment, not the purchase order
A supplier invoice describes what you bought, but it may not describe what the carrier will collect. Ask each Italian supplier for the final package count, gross weight and external dimensions after packing. Separate loose cartons, pallets and wooden cases. A machinery shipment with a projecting part or an uneven weight distribution needs a different loading review from standard palletized goods.
Coordinate every factory separately
For collections in Milan, Turin, Bologna or elsewhere in Italy, provide the full address and postcode, warehouse contact, opening hours and cargo-ready date. If two suppliers give different ready dates, decide whether to wait and combine the goods or move them separately. Confirm that the supplier has the equipment needed to load the vehicle and share any booking-reference or appointment requirement before scheduling pickup.
Compare FTL and LTL on the same basis
For road freight, a dedicated truck and a consolidated load should be compared using the same packed dimensions and delivery scope. State whether other cargo can be placed on top of your pallets. Ask whether the proposal includes collection from every supplier and whether there are intermediate handling stages. A lower rate with a different collection or handling scope is not an equivalent offer.
Separate urgent parts from the main order
If one spare part is needed urgently and the rest of an order can wait, request an air option for that item alongside a road or sea option for the main consignment. Give the dimensions and weight for each part of the shipment separately. The forwarder can then review suitable options without assuming that the entire order must use the same mode.
Include the inland legs in a sea comparison
For containerized cargo, compare the complete movement from the Italian supplier to the agreed point in Iran. Ask which pickup, loading, port handling and onward transport items are included. Any proposed port, carrier, connection and estimated timing should be confirmed for the actual shipment; a route description on a website does not reserve capacity.
Send one clear collection brief
Bring the supplier details, packing information, preferred pickup window and destination together in one request. Attach available cargo photos and identify any special handling needs. Keep the commercial delivery term and the requested freight scope explicit so the offer can distinguish transport arrangements from tasks retained by the seller or buyer.
For a shipment-specific review, send your origin, destination and packing details through the quote form.