Whenever we spend money on a service, it is only natural to want to pay the least amount. But this is not always practical as sometimes going the cheap route can mean poor service. When trying to secure a good deal when shipping freight by road, here are some things you should factor in to ensure good value for money.
Off-Peak Perks
Shipping during off-peak periods can help save a considerable sum. Depending on the type of cargo, you should try to be flexible and determine what times of day, days of the week, and month offer the best savings. Fast-moving consumer goods are often shipped mid-week so the shelves can be stocked by the weekend. If your goods are not subject to such peak shopping periods, then opt for a slower time of the week when freight carriers are looking for customers.
Collaborate for LTL Shipping
When your shipment is less than the truck load, it helps to combine it with others who also want delivery to the same destination. For instance, if supplying produce to the same stores as neighboring businesses, working together to share the same delivery can help save money and improve efficiency. You will only need to pay for your share of the truck freight. You will also find that your customers will better appreciate not having to offload multiple vehicles when just one is making the delivery.
Customer Loyalty
When you provide a steady stream of business to the same
provider, you can rest assured they will do whatever they can to meet your needs, including offering discounts when possible. While shopping around different providers can help to secure good deals, you cannot be doing so every time if you ship regularly. Showing a little customer loyalty to a reliable shipper can pay off. They will work to help out in emergencies and will give priority to clients that they have established a strong relationship with.
Bulk Up Orders
The more you can ship at a go, the less expensive it will be than arranging for multiple smaller shipments. Consider offering some incentive to your clients so they will order bulk quantities. A good way to achieve this would be to offer shipping discounts on larger orders.
Package Design for Logistics
When determining the dimensions and shapes of your packaging, ensure you factor in freight requirements. Certain sizes can leave dead space that you will still need to cover in your transport costs. Consider the size of the trailers used and how you can configure boxes that will max out this space. The better the fit, the more value you get for truck shipping services.