February 7, 2020 3:12 am
Published by Writer
Residential LTL shipping contains more complications than the usual business-to-business LTL shipping. There is no reliable front desk at which to leave shipments for pickup, and no loading dock, and sometimes people may forget to have a shipment ready. For that reason, some freight companies charge an extra fee, but you can often avoid it if you make this easier for your driver. Here are five tips for smooth residential LTL in Houston, TX: Schedule ahead: Scheduling ahead offers two advantages. One, you know what time the delivery driver is arriving, so you can be sure to be home and have your shipment ready. This makes it easier to avoid forgetting about the service. Two, delivery drivers often have to... View Article
January 24, 2020 3:12 am
Published by Writer
LTL stands for “less than truckload.” It is the most common method of freight shipment ordered from freight companies due to its cost-effective nature. Unless you are running a major retailer in Houston, TX, chances are you will be hiring freight companies to handle your cargo via LTL. Here is an overview of the history of LTL and why it is becoming the most popular shipping option. A product of deregulation LTL shipping arose after the trucking industry was deregulated in the 1980s. Before, the freight companies had to file tariff forms well ahead of shipment and face challenges from competitors. This often led to delays, since these complaints required investigation. Meanwhile, cargo was often left unmoved, or a freight... View Article
December 11, 2019 4:47 am
Published by Writer
There are plenty of ways to save money on LTL shipments beyond just renegotiating rates with your carriers. In fact, many strategies are more effective than rate renegotiation. You’re only going to be able to get those rates down so far—those carriers have margins to think of as well. If you’re looking to engage in smarter LTL budgeting in Houston, TX, here are a few examples of some of the strategies you can employ to save money: Protect your packaging: One of the areas in which companies quickly lose money in their LTL shipping is by dealing with damaged freight. To avoid this damage, make sure you’ve protected the packaging as much as possible. Use the proper packaging materials and... View Article
November 27, 2019 4:47 am
Published by Writer
One of the ways you can remain competitive as a business owner is to focus on developing an efficient and reliable supply chain. When that supply chain is cut off or inconsistent, it can have some significant negative effects on your business. Part of your supply chain involves choosing the correct shipping modes. Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is one of the best methods of shipping for owners of small businesses in particular, because it allows them to get their shipments to their destinations on time and on budget. Rather than renting space in an entire truck to carry less than a truck’s worth of supplies or products, you can share space in a truck with other shipments to make it more... View Article
November 6, 2019 4:25 pm
Published by Writer
A “reefer” is a refrigerated shipping container such as a truck, railroad car or ship. Reefers keep temperature-sensitive cargo cool during transportation. If you ship goods that require climate control, like perishable food items, reefers are a good choice for LTL shipping methods in Houston, TX. The benefits of reefer shipping If you ship temperature-sensitive cargo, hiring a reefer is a must for your LTL (less-than-truckload) shipping. The best thing about LTL shipping is that you don’t have to worry about filling the entire truck, so you can work with other businesses that are shipping goods in the same temperature range to fill a truck together. If you run a small farm and don’t produce truckloads of produce, you can... View Article
