Business Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 80: Services

Freight Discounting Program

BPPM 80.28

For more information contact:
   Central Receiving and Delivery
   509-335-4529

Preferred Carriers

WSU has pricing agreements with a number of preferred freight carriers. Pricing agreements apply to both inbound and outbound freight for all WSU units, including branch campuses and research stations. Pricing agreements apply to intrastate, interstate, and international shipments.

Advantages

There are several advantages to using a preferred carrier to ship freight:

  • Cost savings
  • Improved service and tracking
  • Faster transit times
  • Less damage
  • Faster claim settlement

Discount Pricing

The pricing agreements provide discounted pricing on all shipments charged to the accounts established for WSU. In order to obtain discount pricing, departments must:

  • Request freight collect shipment.
  • Provide correct account numbers.
  • Provide the appropriate shipping address.
Assistance

Contact the campus receiving and delivery department for questions about preferred carrier pricing agreements:

Small Package Delivery Shipments

The State of Washington contracts with FedEx and UPS provide all WSU departments with discounted rates for small package delivery, i.e., shipments weighing 150 pounds or less.

Contact the campus receiving and delivery department for contract account numbers and current pricing information. See Assistance.

Less than TruckLoad (LTL) Shipments

WSU uses a third-party logistics carrier (Blue Grace) for less than truckload (LTL) shipments. Contact Fast Way Freight Management; telephone 1-800-978-1277.

TruckLoad Shipments

Blue Grace or CTX Transport are the preferred carriers for full truckload shipments.

Freight Management

Incoming Shipments

By applying the procedures below, a department obtains the lowest shipping rates available for incoming shipments.

Select Preferred Carrier

A shipment weighing 150 pounds or less may be shipped by a small package carrier such as FedEx or UPS, or by one of the LTL preferred carriers listed under LTL Shipments.

Select WSU’s preferred LTL carrier to ship single-piece shipments weighing over 200 pounds or multiple-piece less than truckload shipments.

Select one of the WSU preferred truckload carriers (Blue Grace or CTX Transport) to ship full truckload shipments.

Using WSU preferred carriers, freight service is available to the entire lower 48 states, areas in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. Contact the campus receiving and delivery department for further information about carrier shipping locations. See Assistance.

Request “Freight Collect”

To obtain discounted rates, request that the supplier ship “freight collect” using one of the University’s preferred carriers. When goods are shipped freight collect, the carrier bills WSU for shipping. Freight collect shipping costs include only the actual cost of transportation and are not included in the supplier invoice for the goods.

Charge to Preferred Carrier Account Number

Charge shipping costs to the preferred carrier account number established between WSU and the carrier.

Contact the campus receiving and delivery department for preferred carrier account numbers.

Request Delivery Address
Pullman Campus Only

In order to receive preferred carrier discounts, incoming shipments to Pullman campus units must be delivered to Central Receiving and Delivery. Central Receiving and Delivery then delivers the items to the proper departments/units. The attention line of shipping address must include department name and/or purchase order number or blanket order number.

Non-Pullman Locations

In order to receive preferred carrier discounts for incoming shipments to non-Pullman campus units, packages must be delivered to the receiving and delivery department for that campus location. The campus receiving and delivery department then delivers the items to appropriate unit.

Outgoing Shipments

The receiving and delivery department at each campus location may directly obtain the most favorable rates or may contact Central Receiving and Delivery at WSU Pullman; telephone 509-335-4529.

WSU Everett

To process an outgoing shipment, WSU Everett departments contact the WSU Everett front desk. (See Assistance.)

WSU Pullman

WSU Pullman departments complete an electronic Request for Shipment of Merchandise form and contact Central Receiving and Delivery to process an outgoing shipment (see BPPM 80.15).

WSU Spokane

To process an outgoing shipment, WSU Spokane departments complete a Shipping Request.

Contact Mailing Services for assistance (see Assistance). See also BPPM 80.15.

WSU Tri-Cities

To process an outgoing shipment, WSU Tri-Cities departments complete a Request for Shipment.

Contact Printing and Shipping Services for assistance (see Assistance). See also BPPM 80.15.

WSU Vancouver

To process an outgoing shipment, WSU Vancouver departments contact the WSU Vancouver Mailroom. (See Assistance.)

Tracking Shipments

Most preferred LTL carriers provide a website for shipment tracking. Departments may also contact Central Receiving and Delivery to track shipments.

Federal Express (FedEx)

Access FedEx tracking information at FedEx.

United Parcel Service (UPS)

Access UPS tracking information at UPS.

Damaged Shipments

Call the campus receiving and delivery department immediately for assistance with damaged shipments. Departments must file claims for damaged freight within five working days of receiving the merchandise.

Retain all packaging and documents for the damaged goods.

Complete the applicable online shipping request or contact the campus receiving and delivery department if damaged items are to be returned to the supplier. (See Outgoing Shipments and BPPM 80.15.)

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Revisions:  January 2021 (Rev. 560); Dec. 2008 (Rev. 331); Dec. 2007 (Rev. 311); Nov. 2003 (Rev. 238); May 2000 – new policy (Rev. 162).