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Curbside Delivery Explained: What “Liftgate” Means and What You Need to Prepare

When you order a large outdoor sculpture online, the delivery details can feel unclear until the truck actually arrives on your street. One term you'll often see during checkout is liftgate delivery, and it plays a key role in how a crated sculpture is unloaded from the truck. Understanding what liftgate and curbside delivery really mean ahead of time helps you plan properly, avoid surprises, and feel confident about what to expect on delivery day. What Liftgate Delivery Actually Is Liftgate delivery means the truck has a hydraulic platform on the back that can raise and lower a crated sculpture from the trailer down to street level. For many heavy sculpture shipments, this is the simplest way to unload a sculpture crate when there is no forklift on site. It is especially relevant for a marble sculpture or bronze sculpture that arrives in a secure wooden crate, because the driver is focused on getting the crated sculpture safely down to the curb, not moving it across your property. What Curbside Means in Real Life Curbside delivery means the carrier brings the outdoor sculpture to the curb or the end of your driveway, as close as the truck can safely access. It does not mean the driver will roll a garden sculpture into your courtyard or place a custom sculpture on a pedestal in your yard. Think of it as the transfer point where the freight company completes their part, and you or your installer takes over to move the sculpture to its final location. What You Should Prepare Before the Truck Arrives Before delivery day, choose a clear, flat landing spot for the sculpture crate at curbside and make sure the truck has reasonable access to your street. One detail many buyers do not realize is that liftgate platforms in the U.S. have size and weight limits, so an oversized crate or an extra heavy sculpture shipment may not be eligible for liftgate unloading. That is why it is important to confirm the crated dimensions and weight of your marble sculpture or bronze sculpture in advance, especially if you are ordering a large garden sculpture. After curbside drop off, most homeowners arrange a local forklift team or a small crane service to move the outdoor sculpture from the curb to the final location safely. Questions to Ask Before You Order A few questions can prevent most surprises, especially when you are comparing a custom sculpture from different sellers. Ask whether the sculpture ships fully crated, confirm the approximate crated weight and crate dimensions of the outdoor sculpture, and check whether liftgate service is included or optional. If you are ordering a bronze garden sculpture or a marble outdoor sculpture, it also helps to ask how delivery appointments are scheduled so you can coordinate your forklift team or crane team on the same day. Ordering a large sculpture should feel exciting, not uncertain. Once you understand what liftgate delivery and curbside delivery really mean, it becomes much easier to compare options and plan responsibly for your outdoor sculpture, your garden sculpture, and any custom sculpture you are considering. Even if you decide to buy elsewhere, knowing these delivery basics upfront helps you make a cleaner decision and prepares you for a smoother arrival.