Ask any seller, and they’ll tell you they want to save time when managing freight. Smallbusinesstrends.com reported earlier this year that 42% of small business owners spend an average of more than two hours managing each individual piece of freight they ship. And we don’t need a report to know 100% of those business owners would like to use this time to be more productive elsewhere. It implies that the business owner devotes more than 10 hours to managing freight for a small business, sending out five weekly shipments. Chances are, at least half of that time is wasted.
Take a moment to think about how much time you spend managing freight for your small business. Imagine how much more you could get done for your business by cutting that time in half. Putting these tips into action will go a long way in helping you do so.
Tip 1: Save Time by Using a 3PL or Freight Broker
Are you a small business operator who spends hours comparing carrier rates alone? You’re wasting a lot of time. Here’s why:
– Carriers don’t want to take the time to deal directly with a small business. They would rather contract with third-party logistics (3PL) provider or freight brokers. Carriers prefer these businesses to book shipments for them, even at deeply discounted rates. By focusing on high-volume shippers, and offloading the rest, the carrier saves time and money.
– If you’re not shipping to the same locations every time, you’re liable to find that the carrier you booked one week can’t help you the next because they don’t have a carrier lane to your new destination. 3PLs that operate nationwide have networks of carriers to call upon, so you never have to hunt for a new carrier. They are already in the system.
– Top-tier 3PLs and freight brokers have the technology at their disposal to compare carrier rates instantly. FreightCenter (which is both a 3PL and a freight broker) extends the access of this technology to our customers. To compare rate quotes from 50+ LTL carriers, simply submit your shipping information to our instant quote system. You will immediately see which carriers are available for your load and their estimated transit time. You can also review your options with an in-house shipping agent to make sure you’re getting the service you need for the price you want. In the end, FreightCenter will help you manage your freight and save you time along the way.
Tip 2: Save Time by Standardizing Your Shipments
Unless your business is shipping many different types of products, you can probably standardize your shipments. Prices can vary depending on how you ship your item, so choosing the best shipping method is important. For example, a pallet costs less for shipping than a crate. However, a crate takes much less time to prepare than a pallet. It can be best to stick with the same packaging method while keeping the same carrier or freight type.
Tip 3: Buy a Freight Scale to Manage Freight
Nothing wastes shippers’ time or money more than calculating how much their cargo weighs without a freight scale.
Freight scales are a significant investment to any small business shipping twice weekly. Now, 48” x 48” pallet scales that weigh 5,000 to 10,000 pounds and have a digital readout are available online in the $400-$700 range. Utilizing these scales will instantly help any shipper save more time managing their freight.
If your business is shipping 100 times a year, that’s an investment of $4-$7 per shipment. Imagine the time you’ll save when you stop guessing weight and how nice it will be to no longer receive billing adjustments from carriers because the weight you entered with your shipping information was incorrect.
Save Time When Managing Freight By Working with Us
Unless you’re a freight management expert and that skillset generates revenue for your business try to spend as little time as necessary dealing with freight. Instead, try spending as much time as possible to generate revenue.
Ready to get started with your next LTL shipment? Start today by using our free freight quote tool. This tool helps shippers find the best rate available by analyzing all possible carriers and routes for their shipment. Limited info will be needed, starting with the postal codes of both the pick-up and drop-off locations. In addition, you’ll need to provide the facility types of each location and the dimensions of your shipment. This will allow you to compare LTL rates and get the best one for your shipment.
