Grow Faster with Flexible Ground Shipping
Partner with ground freight services experts for long-term ground distribution success
In 2020 alone, trucks in the United States carried more than 10 billion tons of goods, underlining the fact that effective ground distribution is a major component of continued growth for most organizations.
Read on to learn if ground shipping is right for your needs and, if so, how AIT will not only infuse your supply chain with adaptable distribution solutions but also offer gateway connections for international shipping via our global network.
Driving efficiency and sustainability
AIT integrates sustainable practices into every mile by:
- Collaborating with carriers to deploy electric vehicles
- Adopting renewable diesel and biofuel, where available
- Exploring hydrogen-powered solutions
- Optimizing route planning for reduced emissions
- Partnering with SmartWay-certified carriers
Shipments for any industry benefit from AIT's wide-ranging, U.S. cartage footprint and subject matter expertise. In addition, our strong agent relationships enable us to extend fast, secure transport beyond high-traffic metro areas.
For more details, explore your ground shipment vehicle and distribution timing options.
- Inside pickup and delivery
- Hazardous materials transport
- Oversized cargo
- Residential delivery
- White glove delivery options
- Lift gate service
- Merge-in-transit service
- Air ride equipment
- Intermodal transportation
- Reverse logistics
Ground Distribution shipment spotlights
December 10, 2025
When a geo-equipment manufacturer needed to move a customized Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) crawler from Hillegom, Netherlands, to a survey site near Totnes, England, they partnered with Lubbers Road Transport, an AIT Worldwide Logistics company, for a solution that combined heavy-haul capability with regulatory expertise.
The $500,000 CPT crawler, a specialized tracked vehicle designed for maneuverability across soft or uneven terrain, weighed nearly 50,000 pounds (22,500 kilograms). Its weight and compact design required precise load balancing on a semi-trailer, essentially creating an oversized “seesaw.” Lubbers deployed a robust semi-trailer with ramp plates to ensure safe loading and secure transit.
Beyond the transportation requirements, Brexit-related regulations added complexity to the project. The customer needed a partner capable of managing customs clearance for both EU export and U.K. import.
In collaboration with customs experts from AIT’s vast global network, the team provided end-to-end clearance, ensuring compliance and avoiding delays.
Speed was critical. The initial inquiry arrived Sept. 23, and Lubbers delivered a quotation the same day. After finalizing details, the crawler was collected Oct. 2 and delivered to the site by Oct. 6—less than two weeks from the initial inquiry to completion.
By listening to understand the customer and offering multiple options, our team delivered a comprehensive solution. This allowed the client to focus on their core business while trusting Lubbers to seamlessly handle the logistics.
April 25, 2025
When the customer needs to swap a cooler, AIT deploys ground transportation to pick up the end-of-life or broken unit and brings it back to our warehouse in Phoenix. There, the coolers are consolidated into full truckloads and sent to designated recycling centers in Houston and Reno, Nev. for decommissioning, recycling and, if possible, repairs.
Since the program began, the AIT-Phoenix team has delivered 12 truckloads, totaling 678 coolers, to recycling facilities. This initiative supports the customer’s can-to-cooler recycling goals, including a commitment to ensuring that harmful refrigerants and other materials are disposed of properly. The reverse logistics process also highlights AIT's dedication to minimizing waste and providing cost-effective asset recovery solutions.
April 15, 2025
Our global aerospace logistics experts recently completed an oversized shipment for an aviation customer, transporting aircraft parts and engines from the south of France to Arizona via ocean shipping between Antwerp and Los Angeles.
This door-to-door, multi-modal solution for out-of-gauge equipment included trucking from France to the Port of Antwerp, coordination to load three flat racks at the port, and securing special permits—all while ensuring the cargo was protected every step of the way, including the ocean voyage and final delivery.
With the first 1,128-kilometer leg completed in just five working days, this is far from a one-off success. Since this first shipment, our team has completed multiple additional deliveries for the same customer with high-quality results.
Thanks to AIT’s meticulous planning and seamless execution, we’re helping aerospace customers keep their operations soaring.
January 16, 2025
Our experts in Scotland mobilized quickly, arranging for both lowbed and flatbed trailers to transport the oversized cargo and additional equipment from multiple Aberdeen locations to the South Harbour seaport. End-to-end road transport wasn’t an option due to the tight timeframe and permitting challenges, so the team secured a partial sea charter. And, within a week, the shipment was on its way.
Thanks to seamless coordination and precise pre-carriage operations, just three weeks later, the 60,000-kg shipment arrived on time in Livorno, ensuring our customer’s critical project could move forward.