Ordering a freestanding tub or a full shower enclosure online feels routine right up until the confirmation email mentions "freight delivery." If you're used to a courier dropping boxes on the porch, freight is a different world — bigger trucks, appointment windows, paperwork to sign, and a few jobs that land on you. None of it is complicated, but knowing what's coming keeps delivery day smooth and protects you if something arrives damaged. Here's what to expect when a bathtub or shower ships freight to your home in Canada.
Why tubs and showers ship freight, not parcel
Parcel carriers are built for boxes one person can carry, with hard limits on weight and dimensions — and a bathtub blows past both. Even a light acrylic tub is bulky and awkward once crated, and cast iron or stone tubs can weigh several hundred pounds. The same goes for large shower bases, glass door panels, and complete shower enclosures.
So these items move by LTL ("less than truckload") freight instead: strapped to a pallet or inside a wooden crate, travelling terminal to terminal on transport trucks. That's why every step looks different from a courier drop-off.
| Parcel delivery | Freight delivery | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical items | Faucets, shower heads, drains, small sinks | Bathtubs, shower bases, enclosures, large vanities |
| Notice | Tracking number, no appointment | Carrier phones you to book a delivery window |
| Where it's left | Porch or front door | Curbside or end of driveway, lowered by liftgate |
| Signature | Often not required | You sign the bill of lading on delivery |
| Your job | Bring the box in | Inspect before signing, then move it inside yourself |
Step one: the appointment call
Freight doesn't just show up. Once your tub reaches the terminal nearest you, the carrier phones the number on your order to book a delivery appointment — usually a window of a few hours on a weekday. This is the most common place freight deliveries stall: if the carrier can't reach you, the shipment sits at the terminal — and after enough days, some carriers charge storage.
Two habits prevent all of that: use a phone number you actually answer at checkout, and pick a window when you (and your helpers) can be home. If a full-size transport truck can't easily reach you — narrow street, long rural laneway — say so on that call; carriers can often send a smaller truck with notice.
What "curbside with liftgate" actually means
Standard residential freight service is curbside with a liftgate. The liftgate is the hydraulic platform on the back of the truck that lowers your pallet safely to the ground — essential, because there's no loading dock at your house. Curbside means exactly that: the driver gets the crate off the truck and to the curb or the end of your driveway.
Just as important is what it doesn't include. The driver won't carry the tub into your garage, up the front steps, or into the bathroom. They won't unpack it, and they won't take the crate away. Some carriers offer paid upgrades like inside-the-threshold or white-glove delivery, but the default — and what flat-rate freight covers — is curbside.
Inspect before you sign — the bill of lading is everything
This is the part people skip, and it's the part that matters most. Your signature on the bill of lading (BOL) is a legal acknowledgment that the shipment arrived in the condition noted. Sign it clean, and a later damage claim becomes much harder. So before the driver leaves:
- Count the pieces. A tub with a filler, drain kit, or shower door hardware may arrive as multiple cartons. Check the count against the BOL.
- Walk all the way around the crate. Look for punctures, crushed corners, forklift holes, broken boards, or a pallet that's been re-wrapped.
- Photograph everything — on the truck if you can, then on the ground from every side. Photos win claims.
- Write any damage on the BOL before signing. Be specific: "crate crushed on left corner, possible damage to contents" beats a checkmark in a damage box.
- If the damage is severe, refuse that piece. A visibly smashed crate can go straight back on the truck; note the refusal on the BOL and contact us right away.
Drivers are used to this — a careful two-minute inspection is completely normal, and no legitimate driver will pressure you to sign blind.
Getting it inside is on you — plan the muscle
Once the pallet is on your driveway, the move inside is your project. A few things make it painless:
- Have at least two helpers for an acrylic tub, and more (or professional movers) for cast iron or stone. Brands like Victoria + Albert and Cheviot build gorgeous, dense tubs — the weight is part of the quality.
- Measure the path first. Doorways, hallway turns, stair landings. Sometimes the crate fits nowhere but the tub itself does, so uncrating in the garage is the right call.
- Lift, don't drag. Sliding a tub across concrete on its rim or a glass panel on its edge is how delivery-day damage happens after the paperwork is signed.
- Time delivery ahead of your plumber. Having the tub on site a few days before install day means you're never paying a trade to stand around waiting for a truck.
The crate itself — lumber, foam, strapping — is yours to dispose of. Keep all of it until the piece is inspected, and ideally until it's installed; a crated tub is far easier to store safely in a garage than a bare one.
How flat-rate freight keeps this predictable
Real-time freight quotes swing wildly with fuel, lane, and season, which is why some retailers surprise you at checkout. We handle it differently: oversized items like tubs and shower bases ship at a single flat freight rate, shown clearly at checkout, with curbside liftgate service included — no surprises after you order. Smaller items on the same order still ship the normal parcel way, so a tub filler ordered with your tub doesn't get dragged into freight pricing.
If you're still choosing the fixture itself, start with our guide to the best freestanding tub brands in Canada, browse the full freestanding bathtub collection, or — if a shower is the project — make sure the pan fits your drain location with our shower base sizing guide before anything gets on a truck.
Frequently asked questions
Will the freight driver bring my bathtub inside the house?
No. Standard curbside liftgate service ends at the curb or the end of your driveway — moving it indoors, unpacking, and crate disposal are up to you. Inside or white-glove delivery exists as a paid upgrade in some areas, but never assume it; plan for curbside and arrange helpers.
What if I find damage after the driver has left?
Report it as soon as possible — ideally within a couple of days — with photos of the packaging and the damage. Concealed-damage claims are absolutely still possible, but they get weaker with every passing day and are far stronger if your BOL already notes any exterior scuffs or crush marks. This is why you photograph the crate on arrival even when it looks fine.
Do I have to be home for a freight delivery?
Yes. Freight is delivered by appointment and someone needs to be there to inspect the shipment and sign the bill of lading. If nobody's home, the delivery is rescheduled, and repeated missed appointments can trigger terminal storage fees — so book a window you can genuinely make.
Why did my faucet arrive in days but my tub is taking longer?
Different networks. A faucet moves through a parcel system built for speed and volume. Your tub moves terminal to terminal on freight trucks, then waits for a booked appointment at the end — that appointment step alone typically adds a few days versus parcel. It's the trade-off for moving something a courier physically can't — normal, not a red flag.