ShippingCowBest 3PL for heavy products (50 to 149 lb)
Heavy-product brands need a 3PL that handles 50 to 149 lb cartons as normal work. UPS and FedEx apply weight handling above 50 lb, while UPS's Large Package threshold starts above 110 lb. ShippingCow operates warehouses in New Jersey, California, and Texas for this range.
What changes at each weight
| Packed weight | What the carriers do | What to look for in a 3PL |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 lb | Standard parcel pricing | Any good national network |
| 50 to 70 lb | Additional Handling for weight on every UPS and FedEx package. USPS stops at 70 lb | Stock close to customers, because the surcharge is priced by zone at FedEx |
| 71 to 110 lb | The same surcharge. A dense carton still bills on its actual weight | The sweet spot for a heavy-parcel specialist |
| 111 to 149 lb | Since January 26, 2026, UPS treats any package over 110 lb as a Large Package, with a 90 lb minimum billable weight | A 3PL that prices both carriers lane by lane |
| 150 lb and up | Past the UPS and FedEx parcel limit: this is LTL freight | A freight partner, not a parcel 3PL |
Carrier rules from the UPS 2026 tariff and the FedEx 2026 surcharge schedule. See Sources.
Five checks before you sign
1. Where the stock sits. On a heavy parcel the zone is most of the bill, and FedEx lists its 2026 weight surcharge by zone. With one warehouse, roughly half your customers are far away by definition.
2. How surcharges show on the invoice. Ask for a sample invoice line. Base rate, Additional Handling, residential and fuel should be separate lines.
3. Who handles the product. Ask what share of the 3PL's current volume is over 50 lb. It tells you whether heavy parcels are their business or their exception.
4. What happens to returns. A 90 lb return is expensive to ship back and expensive to scrap. Ask whether they repair, and at what level.
5. How you leave. Get the exit terms in writing before you sign.
Where ShippingCow fits
ShippingCow is built for exactly this band: one carton of 50 to 149 lb, best at 71 to 110 lb, shipped from New Brunswick NJ, Ontario CA and Missouri City TX. Returned powered goods go to a board-level repair bench in New Jersey.
We are not the pick for products that ship in three or more loose cartons, or for anything over 149 lb.
Sources
| Source | What we took from it |
|---|---|
| UPS 2026 Tariff and Terms of Service | UPS Additional Handling and Large Package rules, including the 2026 cubic and 110 lb triggers |
| FedEx 2026 surcharge and fee changes | 2026 Additional Handling and Oversize list prices by zone, effective January 5, 2026 |
| USPS parcel size, weight and fee standards | USPS 70 lb and 130 in limits |
Rules and list prices as published for 2026, checked on Sep 25, 2026. Carrier contracts change the prices, not the thresholds.
Questions
What kind of products is ShippingCow set up for? +
Look for a provider whose normal work is one-carton products from 50 to 149 lb. ShippingCow handles that range, while products shipped in multiple loose cartons need a different operating plan.
Where does ShippingCow operate from? +
ShippingCow lists warehouses in New Jersey, California, and Texas. Ask which site would hold your stock and which customer zones it would serve.
Does ShippingCow work with the platforms I sell on? +
ShippingCow is an Amazon SPN official service provider, an Amazon FIST carrier, a Temu official partner warehouse, and a TikTok Shop official certified warehouse.
What happens if a heavy item is mis-shipped? +
ShippingCow's public rule lists mis-shipment compensation at 70% of retail or purchase cost. Ask how the provider investigates the error, contacts the buyer, and handles the return.
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