When you are looking to transport your goods from one point to another, you need a transport partner who is up to par with your expectations. For you to stay ahead in business, your goods must arrive in good condition and on time, and only a handful of truckload logistics shipping companies will exceed expectations. The last thing you want is your shipment to delay because of a myriad of reasons that you cannot fathom. Even minor delays will translate to huge losses you cannot afford. To avoid these unwarranted mistakes, it is best to do vigorous due diligence on ltl freight companies before settling on one that best serves your shipping needs.
The following factors will help you in screening truckload freight companies to make sure you make the right decision.
As the owner of the goods, you know what services you need from a truckload shipping company. Make sure your transport company ticks all the boxes in your expectations list. Do you need specialty freight services, intermodal shipping, or expedited shipping services? You will find that not all companies have the capacity to meet all your needs because they are not experts in all the areas. Before engaging a company, make sure that you communicate your needs to the letter and get assurance that the company has expert knowledge in all the sectors you need.
You can get good first-hand information from a company’s website. From their website, you will be able to know the services that the company offers and for how long they have delivered the services. The most customer-oriented truckload freight companies will post informational blogs accompanied by pictures. It serves to boost credibility as reading the blogs and seeing actual pictures of their employees executing tasks similar to your needs, will demonstrate their capacity and ability.
Find out what other customers are saying about the company by reading reviews and asking around from previous customers. Due to the high profitability of the logistics and transportation industry, there are many players — all looking to get a slice of the profits. In 2015, the industry’s turnover of $1.48 trillion translated to 8% of the U.S. gross domestic product. As such, companies will go to great lengths to rack in more profits, and while some will increase their quality of customer service, others will cut corners.
However, the good thing about today’s business world is that news spread fast, especially on the internet. From the reviews and comments on social media, you can tell if a company is worth it's salt. Using your networks of the other companies in the same business, you can get solid referrals. If your peers in the industry recommend a certain truckload freight company, you will have more confidence in selecting them to handle your goods.
The logistics business is heavily influenced by technology, and companies that embrace technology advancement are always improving service delivery. A good logistics company will utilize technology to reduce the cost of operations. Remember that some of your goods will require special handling, such as refrigeration and air conditioning. Ensure that the company you select to handle your goods has suitable technology systems for your specific needs.
Tracking and freight management technologies such as TMS (Transport Management Systems) will also ensure the safety of your goods. The truckload freight shipping companies utilizing this system will be able to give you updated progress of your goods. As a result, you will have more peace of mind, as you can monitor the progress of your goods through the system.
Fundamentally, the quality of service, reputation, and capacity of a company will inform your decision. Once a company meets the bare minimum conditions, you can now consider and compare the pricing. You want to choose the company that you feel best about.
Whether you're a company looking to improve one facet of your supply chain, your entire supply chain, or simply looking for a transportation and logistics consultation, we can help.
