Manage Freight in Less Time with These Four Tips

LTL trucking is a challenge for small businesses in Houston, TX. Small Business Trends reports that small companies spend an average of two hours per freight piece on managing the shipment. If you send five loads a week, you will likely spend more than 10 hours ensuring they arrive safely at their destination. Fortunately, there are better ways to manage freight and save time. Here are four tips to help you cut your freight management time in half:

• Standardize shipments: Packaging is a big time-waster. Unless you move several types of products, you can likely use the same packaging for all freight. Buy supplies in bulk and wrap every shipment the same way. This approach will save you time and money that is otherwise spent fussing around with supplies and pulling random items together to create secure packaging.
• Purchase a freight scale: You can save time and money by reducing irregularities. One of the ways to do this is to purchase your own freight scale. Digital scales are affordable now, and you can buy one that handles 48” x 48” pallets and up to 10,000 pounds for only $400 to $700. Billing adjustments from freight carriers delay shipments and add steps to your freight management. If you have a freight scale, you can weigh cargo once, knowing it is accurate, and only need to follow up to confirm the delivery date.
• Choose a broker: Small business operators frequently lose time by comparing individual carrier weights. If you do this every time you have a freight shipment, it proves fruitless. Many carriers will not work with small businesses directly or offer them the best discounts. They prefer to work with third-party logistics providers or large retail outlets. Volume saves them time and money. Also, unless you ship to the same destinations every time, you may find carriers that are here for you this week cannot deliver the next week because they do not have a lane. If you have a broker, they find available carriers more quickly and can often reach out nationwide to find who works best for your shipment.
• Know your limits: Freight management is a specialty business, and you may just not have the resources to conduct it efficiently. Freight brokers and third-party logistics providers use technology to compare rates from 50-plus LTL carriers instantly and source your freight to the right one. They allow you to see the list and choose the one with the best price or quickest delivery time, depending on your needs. While you have other responsibilities at your business location, a broker or logistics specialist manages freight all day, every day. Outsourcing is often the best option for small businesses, and it may be the same for you.

Consider outsourcing freight management and spend more time on other aspects of your business. Pro Delivery LLC offers LTL trucking services in Houston, TX to help you move product and equipment more quickly and at lower cost. Call us today and learn how our services can help you.

Categorised in: LTL Trucking Company

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