Shipment Methods



Shipping Day of the Week

We try to ship orders on Monday or Tuesday of the requested ship week. However, during heavy shipping weeks, orders may be shipped on Wednesday or Thursday to arrive Thursday or Friday. International orders are shipped Monday or Tuesday.


Federal Express (FedEx) or United Parcel Service (UPS)
  • Delivered to the Customer’s door via FedEx or UPS no later than the end of the second business day.
  • Orders supplied to Raker with incorrect addresses will incur an extra charge per box (FedEx or UPS charge)
  • Raker guarantees FedEx and UPS shipments and handles transportation damage claims.
  • Customers that utilize the Federal Express Signature Release Authorization, or waive the requirement to sign for packages shipped via UPS, impair Raker ability to resolve transportation claims and will limit Raker liability for any resulting loss.

Grower Truck

  • FOB Pricing is used for this option
  • Truck rates shown below are subject to a 50-tray minimum per Customer per shipment. Truck rates are based on the number of trays shipping on the same day for orders placed through the same Broker to a single destination
  • Truck rates are available to all domestic locations within FedEx Zones 2 through 5 (zones established from Litchfield, Michigan 49252) and zip codes within greater metropolitan Denver and Houston.
  • Truck pricing for FedEx Zones 6 and above, and all international destinations, quoted by request.
  • For truck delivery, the Customer’s facility must accommodate deliveries by a 48-foot tractor-trailer truck.
  • We will schedule truck delivery of product on carts or using a palletized Shipping Cradle (Patent Pending) System when appropriate, and/or to accommodate specific grower requests, whenever possible. Cradles must be requested if it is the desired ship method.
  • All carts and plastic Shipping Cradles are Raker property.
  • Customers are responsible for storing and working with Raker personnel to track and return Shipping Cradles and carts.
  • Customers will be charged for the repair or replacement of Raker property not returned in good condition or in a reasonable period of time.
  • A Raker representative will work with the Customer to coordinate the delivery process.
  • To facilitate the loading of trucks, changes to orders must be received by Wednesday prior to the requested ship week
  • Orders from inventory availability for which truck delivery has been requested may be held for a sufficient period to accommodate the loading of trucks (generally five days or less).
  • Raker will not hold material to utilize truck delivery if it is determined that doing so will compromise quality. Please indicate a preferred alternate shipping method if truck delivery is not possible (e.g. Air Freight, FedEx, UPS, Customer Pick-Up).

Air Freight (AF)

  • AF shipments are FOB Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). Northwest, Delta, and US Air are the carriers utilized.
  • 50-tray minimum per shipment.
  • Due to changes in the airline industry out of our control, we are no longer able to provide Redelivery to Door as an air freight option.
  • Air Freight deliveries are at the Customer’s risk. Customers must place any damage claims directly with the airline carrier.

Customer Pick Up (CPU)

  • FOB Pricing
  • Customer will be contacted by a Raker representative a week before their scheduled ship week to schedule their pick-up appointment.
  • Customer must specify when placing CPU orders whether the order should be boxed or unboxed.
  • Order changes must be received by the Wednesday prior to the requested ship week
  • CPU orders cannot be changed at the time of pick up.

Alaska & Hawaii
  • Standard terms and conditions apply plus the following:
    • If shipping restricted plants required inspection fees will be added per order (e.g. restricted to Hawaii: Festuca)
    • Federal Express is delivered pricing plus an additional cost.
    • Air Freight (see regular Air Freight Requirements)

Canada
  • Standard terms and conditions apply plus the following:
    • Raker completes all paperwork necessary for plant material to be imported into Canada.
    • Canadian pricing subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations. Prices listed are U.S. Dollars (USD).
    • An inspection fee per shipment is added to the invoice.
    • If shipping restricted plants required inspection fees will increase per order. (e.g. restricted to Canada: Ornamental Pepper, Chrysanthemum, & Montauk Daisy-seed & vegetative)
    • Federal Express is delivered pricing plus an additional cost.
    • Air Freight (see regular Air Freight Requirements)
    • Customer Pickup (see regular Customer Pickup Requirements)

U.S. Territories and Other International Destinations
  • Some U.S. territories and international destinations may require approval by Raker
  • Standard terms and conditions apply plus the following:
    • FOB Pricing
    • No Minimum
    • Broker will be billed actual cost of:
      • Freight (Raker can estimate freight cost in advance)
      • All fees for required Inspections, e.g. Phyto, and Federal fees