Full truckload freight (FTL) management may be challenging in today’s tight market. Shippers want to maintain high customer satisfaction, increase performance, and stick to their budgets. This is why companies are looking for ways to secure truckload freight capacity and get top-performing carriers. If you are trying to optimize your FTL freight management, there are some best practices that can boost your truckload freight performance.
Carrier base
The key to having more opportunities in terms of freight capacity is having a wide pool of reliable, high-service level truckload carriers. It’s more likely to find capacity for your freight requirements when you have a variety of carriers to choose from. By partnering with a network of carriers available. Another option is partnering with logistics providers who can give you access to thousands of regional and national carriers.
Increase lead time
Lead times play a crucial role in the performance of your truckload freight. First, a longer lead time increases your opportunity to secure the best transportation option. You will lose in terms of service, equipment, and costs. Apart from that, having more room to book the truck means you will have more accuracy. Of course, with more accurate information certainty on delivery dates becomes your norm. With a lead time of 5-6 days or more, it is possible to decently arrange shipments. But, the longer the time between an order and the deal, the greater the chance your shipment will be on-time, successfully delivered, and provided with all the required services.
Use a TMS or the help of a transportation provider
It’s impossible to manage and optimize freight transportation without properly customized software. A robust transportation management system gives you immense opportunities. It allows you to monitor and analyze past and current shipments. Additionally, you can forecast and make plans for future ones. Your truckload freight can be completely managed within a TMS.
Using this tool, you can find carriers in your area, schedule shipments, save the data, track and monitor freight performance, and identify gaps and possibilities for optimizing any process that you can find. In general, the key to having high-performing full truckload freight is advanced and well-thought planning.
While a transportation management system gives you deep insight into your freight transportation process, widening your carrier network and increasing lead time could potentially extend your operational performance and save on costs.
If you combine these best practices for full truckload, your next freight shipment will go much easier than in the past.