Inside Delivery Freight in Kentucky: Curbside, Threshold, Inside, and White-Glove Explained

LTL freight delivery isn't one service, it's four tiers of progressively-more-involved final-mile service. Declaring the wrong tier at booking creates either receiver frustration (freight stuck at the curb) or unnecessary cost overhead. Horizon Pack and Ship recommends the right delivery tier based on the receiver's environment so freight lands where it needs to without surprise rebills.

The four delivery tiers

Tier	What's included	Typical KY cost added
Curbside (standard)	Driver offloads to flat surface within reach of truck	Included in standard LTL
Threshold	Driver brings freight just inside first doorway	$50-$100
Inside delivery	Driver brings freight to specific room/area	$75-$175
White-glove	Inside + unpacking + assembly + debris removal	$200-$500+

Each tier is an accessorial on the BOL. Pricing varies by carrier; the table above is typical for Kentucky LTL lanes.

Curbside: when standard LTL is fine

Curbside delivery is the LTL default. The driver gets freight off the truck to a flat surface near the truck and the delivery is complete. Works well when:

• Receiver has a loading dock (driver backs to dock; pallet rolls off).
• Receiver has a forklift and operator on-site.
• Freight is lightweight and on a small pallet jack that one person can move from the curb.
• Commercial location with parking lot or driveway access.

If your receiver fits any of these, curbside is fine and saves money. For residential or no-dock commercial, upgrade.

Threshold: the lightweight upgrade

Threshold delivery means the driver brings freight just inside the first doorway. Saves the receiver from having to wrestle freight from the curb, but doesn't require the driver to navigate the building interior. Best for:

• Residential with a front door near the curb. Driver carries (or pallet-jacks) to inside the front door.
• Small commercial spaces without docks. Office suite, retail storefront, small warehouse.
• Quick handoffs. Receiver wants to move freight further but doesn't want it on the curb.

Liftgate is almost always needed alongside threshold for residential delivery (getting freight from trailer height to ground level).

Inside delivery: placed where you want it

Inside delivery means the driver brings freight past the doorway to a specific room or area you designate on the BOL. Best for:

• Heavy or awkward freight that the receiver can't move themselves.
• Multi-floor buildings where the destination is upstairs and there's an elevator.
• Accessibility-restricted recipients (elderly, disabled, etc.) who can't move freight.
• High-end commercial environments (hotels, hospitals, retail) where curbside freight is unacceptable.
• New furniture or equipment going to a specific room where the receiver will install or use it.

The specific delivery location must be on the BOL: "inside delivery to receiving room on first floor" or "inside delivery to suite 200 via elevator" or similar specificity. Vague instructions lead to mis-placement or re-attempts.

White-glove: the premium tier

White-glove includes everything in inside delivery plus:

• Unpacking from carton or removing blanket wrap.
• Basic assembly if the item requires it (legs on a desk, bed frame parts, similar).
• Placement at the final use location (not just the room, the specific corner or wall).
• Debris removal of all packing materials.

White-glove is usually offered through specialized delivery providers rather than standard LTL carriers. Some LTL carriers partner with white-glove providers; the result is the same level of service whether direct or partnered. Best for:

• Furniture deliveries to consumer residences (often included by furniture retailers).
• High-end office furniture installations.
• Medical equipment installations.
• Hospitality fixtures and FF&E (furniture, fixtures, equipment).
• Retail store fixtures and visual merchandising.

For furniture-specific delivery context, see furniture freight from Kentucky.

Combining inside delivery with other accessorials

Inside delivery is usually one of several accessorials on a residential or no-dock commercial delivery. Common stacks:

• Residential + Liftgate + Threshold: ~$200-$350 added. Standard residential delivery without inside placement.
• Residential + Liftgate + Inside delivery: ~$275-$450 added. Residential with placement in specific room.
• Residential + Liftgate + Inside + Appointment: ~$325-$525 added. All above plus scheduled time window.
• Commercial + Inside delivery: ~$75-$175 added. Commercial address with no dock or where receiver wants placement.

For broader accessorial mechanics, see liftgate, residential, and inside delivery accessorials.

How Horizon coordinates delivery tier

• At the BOL quote, we ask about delivery-side environment.
• Recommend the appropriate tier based on receiver's actual needs.
• Declare specific accessorials on the BOL with carrier-specific codes.
• Coordinate with white-glove providers when standard inside delivery isn't enough.
• Confirm tier and appointment time (if applicable) with receiver before pickup.

For broader accessorial context, see accessorial guide. For BOL field details, see Bill of Lading explained. For the regional context, see the Kentucky Freight Hub pillar.

Need a freight quote? Request live LTL and truckload rates at freight.horizonpacknship.com. We quote across the major motor carriers from the Kentucky I-65 corridor.