Guides built on our own rate cards
Most pricing articles in logistics quote national averages from someone else’s survey. These guides start from the Alvy Logistics 2026 rate cards: what a car, cargo van or box truck delivery actually costs in Los Angeles, what a pallet costs to store in Valencia each month, and what an on-board courier costs out of LAX. Where we quote a range, we say what moves the number.
How to read a logistics price
Every logistics price has three parts: a base rate, a variable part tied to distance, time or volume, and accessorials for the extras. A courier delivery is a base rate for the first 20 miles plus mileage. Warehouse storage is a monthly rate per pallet or per square foot plus handling each time a pallet moves. An on-board courier is a dispatch fee plus hourly time plus pass-through travel costs. Once you know which part of a quote is which, comparing two providers gets much easier, and the guides below break each one down.
Start here
- Shipping something across town? Read the Los Angeles courier cost guide.
- Comparing 3PLs or storage? Read the 3PL and pallet storage pricing guide and 3PL vs renting warehouse space.
- Moving freight further? Read LTL vs FTL, freight class and freight shipping costs.
- Not sure who to hire? Read carrier vs broker vs 3PL.
- Booking a hand carry or a white glove job? Read on-board courier cost and white glove delivery cost.
- Shipping lab specimens? Read UN3373 specimen transport.
When to stop reading and ask for a quote
The guides give starting rates and the factors that move them, but they cannot see your freight. Once you know roughly what you need, a written quote is quicker than more reading: send the pickup and delivery points, what is moving, its size and weight, how often it moves and the timing. A coordinator calls back during business hours with a written quote that puts every charge on its own line, so you can compare it with anyone else’s. Request a quote or call (661) 344-8766, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Pacific.