Cabinet deliveries go sideways when crews aren't ready for freight. Here's how to prep your site and crew to receive a pallet shipment without drama.
Most damage claims and redelivery fees on cabinet orders come down to one thing: the receiving crew wasn't ready. LTL freight (less-than-truckload) is how fully assembled cabinetry ships — it's not UPS. Here's what your crew needs to know.
What to Expect on Delivery Day
LTL shipments arrive on a semi-truck, palletized and strapped. Dogwood's standard delivery is curbside — the driver gets the freight to the curb, not inside the building. If you need the freight brought through the door, add inside delivery at checkout.
Dogwood ships fully assembled cabinets on standard pallets. A typical 15-cabinet kitchen order will be 2–3 pallets weighing 800–1,400 lbs total.
Pre-Delivery Checklist
- Confirm site access. Semis need 50+ feet to maneuver. Narrow driveways, tight streets, or job sites with staging equipment in the way cause problems.
- Have a forklift or pallet jack on site if you're receiving at a dock. If you won't have equipment, contact us before the order ships to talk through unloading.
- Have 2–3 people available. Even with a liftgate, moving pallets into a house requires hands.
- Have the BOL (Bill of Lading) number ready. This is your reference number for any claims.
Inspecting on Delivery
This is the most important step: inspect every box before the driver leaves. Once you sign the delivery receipt without noting damage, filing a claim becomes significantly harder.
Walk the pallet and count the pieces. If anything looks crushed, wet, mishandled, or missing, note it on the delivery receipt before signing and before the driver leaves. Photograph the damaged items, the outside of the box or pallet, the packaging, the shipping label, and the signed delivery receipt.
Don't install anything that looks damaged. Installed products aren't eligible for free replacement.
If Something Is Missing or Damaged
- Damaged or missing items: report within 3 days of delivery — including damage you find after unpacking, so open every carton right away.
File from your account under Order History: open the order and choose Report damage or shortage. Photos are required. You can also send one complete claim per order — your order number, a description of each item, and all of your photos — to dogwoodcabinetsllc@gmail.com or call (706) 965-2330. Keep the damaged items and packaging until we tell you what to do with them. Late or incomplete claims may be delayed or denied, so get everything in at once. Full details are on our Shipping & Claims page, linked at the bottom of every page.
Dogwood Cabinets
Helping trade professionals across the Southeast spec and order cabinetry without the friction.
