Saving on Shipping
Do you need a freight shipping quote? Businesses and companies everywhere in America need to send massive amounts of products, so that customers get the items they need and your business can thrive. Yet freight shipping can put a serious dent in your ability to make a profit.
Before you start shopping around for the best freight rates, know what your needs are. Are you just looking to make one shipment, or are you going to need regular pick-ups and drop-offs? If your shipping is sporadic, searching for the cheapest carrier based on the specifics of each shipment is a good way to trim corners.
However, if you've got regular shipments going in and out, researching each possible destination and size of each shipment would take more time than it is worth. At that point you need to find a reliable freight carrier which, over all, gives you the best deal.
Another important consideration is whether you need to send as many shipments. Can shipments be consolidated? Sending fewer, larger shipments can provide great value and reduce freight costs.
Make sure that you know what sorts of things you need in order to avoid incurring extra charges. Each carrier varies, so go over the services and problems which could end up costing you more money and eliminate the possibility of seeing them on the bill. For example, if the delivery site doesn't have a dock, having the driver get the shipment into the building adds a major chunk to the fee? Having someone at your company do that is a big savings.
Figuring out small business freight can be hard. Small businesses don't have the same resources to find the best freight shipping rates. A small business owner's best bet is to be organized and get creative.
Did you know that full-load shipping can be cheaper than partial-load shipping? Check the prices for both options, even if your load is small enough to fit a partial load. Be accurate with your size and weight estimates. Discrepancies can mess up the process—and that is a mess-up you'll be paying for.
While shipping companies have insurance to cover damages to your products during the commute, you aren't going to be able to collect on that after the shipment is delivered and signed for. While you can't unpack everything while the driver waits, you can look over the boxes and make sure none of them are damaged.
To facilitate the process of checking over shipments for damage, use colored shrink wrap for your pallets. If something would happen during the shipping which would necessitate redoing the shrink wrap, the company will use clear plastic. Using colored shrink wrap will allow you to easily spot pallets that need a closer examination before signing for them—and save you money in the process.