Commercial Freight & Liftgate Policy

**Commercial Freight, Logistics & Liftgate Delivery Policy**

Vanguard Culinary Supply coordinates heavy-duty commercial freight logistics across Canada and the United States. Because industrial commercial kitchen equipment is exceptionally heavy and requires specialized transit handling, please review our standardized delivery protocols below to ensure a seamless drop-off at your facility.

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 📦 **1. Ground Freight Commercial Delivery:**
* **Curbside Transit Standard:** All heavy equipment orders (refrigerators, ranges, prep tables, and walk-in modules) are dispatched via tier-one freight carriers and include standard curbside delivery. 
* **The Carrier Drop:** The transit operator will position the freight truck at the curb or loading dock of your commercial facility. The buyer is responsible for moving the equipment from the truck inside the building.

 🛗 **2. Liftgate Service Requirements:**
* **What is a Liftgate?** A liftgate is a hydraulic platform on the back of the freight truck that safely lowers heavy crates from the truck bed straight down to the street level.
* **Do You Need One?** If your restaurant, cafe, or warehouse does not possess a forklift or an elevated commercial loading dock, **you must select Liftgate Service at checkout.** 
* **Safety Protocols:** Forcing an 800-pound industrial line off a truck bed without a liftgate or loading dock will void transit insurance and risk equipment damage. 

 🔍 **3. Receiving & Inspection Protocol (Critical):**
* **Inspect Before Signing:** Before signing the carrier’s Bill of Lading (BOL) delivery receipt, the buyer must physically inspect the crate and packaging for any signs of transit damage.
* **Notating Damage:** In the rare event of structural damage, note the exact issues clearly on the carrier's paperwork before signing, or refuse the shipment entirely, and alert our Vanguard logistics queue via chat instantly so we can dispatch an immediate replacement.