Everything about ltl freight shipping

Freight shipping to be easy

LTL Shipping Booming

Finding the right carrier for a less-than-truckload transactional deal is a bit like Prince Charming looking for Cinderella. The glass slipper must fit, and it helps if she has another slipper in her pocket. In the case of transactional LTL Shipping, that means finding the right combination of rates, reliability, geographic coverage and services. When the combination seems right, a shipper may try a few transactional arrangements, like dates in a courtship, before deciding to “go steady” with a longer-term contract or end the relationship and find a more compatible carrier. 

 “Very few carriers are geared to service the small to mid-sized business shipper,” notes Ed Conaway, Executive Vice President of Sales for Con-way Freight. Among those who do—and Con-way is among them—shippers must focus on more than rates and coverage.

 “Choosing a carrier based solely on the lowest Freight All Kinds (F.A.K.) discount on frozen rates and a coverage map are old school and passé,” opines Carey Treadwell. Instead, her experiences as a shipper managing millions of dollars in spending with common carriers, and now as director of global business for Mallory Alexander International Logistics, indicates that “maybe a faster transit at a premium will lead to enhanced time to market,” which drives a quantifiable, sustainable, competitive advantage over the next nearest competitor. Shipping—even LTL—has become a strategic advantage with enterprise-wide considerations.

The first point to address for on-the-fly transactions is, “who can do the job?” Much of the answer depends upon where you are geographically and who can provide on-demand pickup, notes Pete Stiles, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at Lean Logistics.

Savvy shippers should investigate a mix of small regional carriers as well as large national shippers to develop a mix of capabilities that fits their own situation. Ensure that the size and scope of a carrier’s operations fit your needs. The ability to make one call and meet service needs throughout the region or the nation can simplify operations, providing they also meet the other requirements of reliability, fast transit times and good service. But shippers may also find they need several small regional shippers and a national carrier for long-haul shipments, and it may be more economical, too, especially when geographic depth of coverage is needed.

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