It is common to make mistakes when organizing a shipment, especially if you are new to the shipping industry. Additional shipping charges can emerge unexpectedly and confuse you. Knowing how to prevent them is vital, so your logistics budget avoids unwanted shipping costs.
What are the additional shipping charges?
New shippers often mistake freight classification, weight, measurements, and shipment details, which could result in additional charges on transportation. It can seriously affect your supply chain budget and make shipping operations way more expensive than they’re supposed to be.
Frequently, your expenses may rise due to the imprecise shipment data or lack of communication with other supply chain members. If your cargo needs special handling and you haven’t informed the carrier previously, unwanted shipping costs may emerge. It’s equally important to cooperate with a responsible shipping provider that prioritizes meeting your logistics needs at a reasonable price.
Nobody wants to deal with unwanted shipping charges on their shipment. GoShip is here to help customers avoid unwanted shipping charges and get a positive logistics experience.
How to avoid unwanted shipping costs?
Shipping can be one of the most time-consuming but necessary parts of a company’s strategy. Here are the reliable ways for business owners to avoid unwanted shipping costs.
Correct measurements and weight
This is why most additional charges occur. Shippers should always use proper length, width, height, and weight measurements for their shipments. If you are not accurate on the weight or dimensions of your shipment, there’s a risk of fitting into the wrong freight class. The shipment freight class is a determinant for logistics pricing formation, so try to be as precise as possible.
The precise measurements rule especially applies to moving large items. Sometimes, you can disassemble your oversized items (i.e., furniture) and ship them according to another freight class. It can make your delivery more affordable and prevent extra expenses.
If your load is on a pallet, you must take the pallet itself into consideration when measuring and weighing your shipment. Although shipping pallets can add to your freight volumes, they’re sometimes necessary. Besides fixating all parts of your cargo correctly, pallets also facilitate loading/unloading.
Accurate pickup and delivery locations
Be accurate when scheduling a shipment to make it easier for you, the carrier, and your LTL provider. The mistaken mileage often leads to driver confusion when searching for the location of the pickup or delivery facilities. Eventually, the shipping prices increase due to extra miles number and fuel surcharge.
Try to escape additional costs by optimizing the shipping route and providing the carrier with maximum accurate location data. It will speed up the whole logistics process, and your freight will reach its destination on time. Besides, you’ll better understand what transportation routes are the most optimal to take for your future shipments. This analysis helps skip heavy traffic situations and other supply chain disruptions.
Additional shipment services
Understanding what assistance your transit requires before finalizing the plans for that shipment is essential. Does it need a liftgate? Can a truck easily fit in front of your business facility? These are critical questions to ask yourself to avoid unnecessary shipping costs.
Special services can include residential delivery/pick up, inside delivery, hazardous goods transportation, liftgate service, and many more. If your LTL shipping partner provides them, these services often cause additional costs. It’s vital to mention the required services in your shipment information from the beginning.
Including all necessary shipment details
If your freight needs special attention or handling, it is essential to leave some instructions and notify your shipping provider. For example, shipping hazardous goods requires carrier services to perform all the physical operations carefully so they don’t provoke chemical threats. When moving fragile items, communicate handling demands with your carrier to ensure the goods’ integrity and safety.
Note all the special instructions in your paperwork so everyone handling the cargo knows and can plan the shipment accordingly. Besides, if you’ve previously discussed the directions with the carrier, there’s no possibility of paying unwanted shipping costs.
Preventing additional costs with GoShip
Partnering with a professional shipping provider makes it possible to arrange a smooth shipment while avoiding additional charges. Supply chain experts are ready to consult you on the shipment organization, considering your logistics budget and individual business needs. At GoShip, you can quickly compare the carrier rates and choose the most suitable service. GoShip is an easy-to-use shipping platform that allows you to book your shipment online through the digital portal. Check out our website, and get a free LTL quote in a few clicks!