Shipping & Lead Times for Custom Packaging Orders
At Gator Paper, most of our products are custom-made, which means production and shipping timelines depend on the product, artwork approval, order approval, quantity, and delivery location. This page explains how lead times work, how orders are shipped, and what freight services may be needed for your delivery.
Request a Shipping EstimateCustom Packaging Lead Times
A lead time is the amount of time it takes for a custom order to move through the production schedule and be manufactured. Since many of the items we sell are custom, each order must be entered into the production schedule before it can be made.
Lead times begin only after all required approvals are complete. This usually includes artwork approval, order approval, and any other details needed before production can start.
Lead times do not include the time needed for artwork approval, order approval, or transit after the order ships.
Freight Shipping for Custom Packaging
Gator Paper chooses the most practical and economical shipping method based on the order size, product type, delivery location, and packaging requirements. Smaller orders may ship by ground service, while larger or palletized orders may ship by LTL or full truckload freight.
Customers typically do not need to choose the shipping method. Our team reviews the order and selects the option that makes the most sense for the shipment.
Ground, LTL & Full Truckload Freight
Ground shipping usually applies to smaller orders, individual cases, or unpalletized shipments. These orders may ship through carriers such as UPS or FedEx, with each box receiving its own shipping label.
Ground shipping is often the most economical option for smaller orders.
LTL stands for Less Than Truckload. This means the shipment does not take up an entire truck, so it can share space with other shipments on the same carrier truck.
LTL freight is commonly used for palletized orders that are too large for ground shipping but do not require a full truck. Transit days for LTL shipments usually refer to time in transit and may not include terminal handling days.
FTL stands for Full Truckload. This is used when a shipment is large enough to take up most or all of a truck. With full truckload freight, the truck is dedicated to one shipment.
FTL can be faster than LTL because the shipment usually does not need to stop at multiple freight terminals. However, it is often more expensive because the cost of the truck is tied to one shipment.
Liftgate, Delivery Appointment & Inside Delivery Freight
Freight accessorials are additional services or fees that may apply to an LTL or full truckload shipment. These services are needed when a delivery requires extra time, equipment, scheduling, or special handling.
Common freight accessorials include:
A liftgate is equipment on the back of a freight truck that helps lower a pallet from the truck to the ground.
You may need liftgate service if your delivery location does not have a forklift, pallet jack, loading dock, or other equipment needed to unload a pallet from the truck.
Inside delivery is when the driver must move the shipment beyond the normal delivery point, such as past the door, away from the dock, or farther inside a building.
This service may create an extra charge because it requires the driver to spend more time away from the truck.
A delivery appointment is needed when the shipment must arrive on a specific day or within a scheduled delivery window.
This may be required for businesses with limited receiving hours, locations that require notice before delivery, or customers who need staff available to receive the order.
Limited access delivery may apply when the carrier has difficulty reaching or unloading at the delivery location.
This can include residential addresses, tight parking areas, restricted streets, events near the delivery location, limited dock access, or any situation where the driver has a harder time completing the delivery.
Sort and segregate is a freight service where the driver is required to unload, separate, or depalletize the shipment.
This service may result in additional fees because it requires extra labor and time during delivery.
All LTL and full truckload freight shipments require a signature at delivery. Ground shipments typically do not require a signature unless one is requested or required for the order.
Make sure someone is available to receive freight shipments, especially if the order is palletized or requires a delivery appointment.
Yes, orders can be shipped to two or more locations. However, shipping charges may apply to each destination.
If the item normally includes shipping, an additional charge may still be required when the order is split between multiple delivery locations.
No. Our docks do not allow third-party carrier pickups. Gator Paper will coordinate the shipping method for your order based on the product, order size, delivery location, and freight requirements.
This helps keep orders organized, properly scheduled, and shipped through approved carrier channels.
Custom Packaging Shipping Questions
Your lead time starts after all order details and artwork approvals are complete and the order is officially placed on the production schedule.
No. Lead time does not include shipping time. It only refers to production scheduling and manufacturing time.
No. Artwork approval happens before the lead time starts.
Usually no. Gator Paper selects the best shipping method based on the order size, product type, delivery location, and most economical option.
LTL freight shares truck space with other shipments. Full truckload freight uses the truck for one shipment only.
Yes. LTL and full truckload freight shipments require a signature at delivery.
Ground shipments usually do not require a signature unless one is requested or required.
A liftgate fee may apply when the delivery location does not have the equipment needed to unload a pallet from the truck.
Yes, but each location may have its own shipping cost.
No. Gator Paper docks do not allow third-party carrier pickups.
Shipping depends on the product, quantity, destination, pallet requirements, and delivery needs. If you are unsure whether your order needs ground shipping, LTL freight, full truckload freight, or special delivery services, our team can help review the details.
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