Many businesses, especially small businesses, are constantly looking for ways to make shipping more efficient and cost-effective. Many believe that shipping expenses are fixed costs that cannot be changed, but that is not the case. There are many different ways to reduce the costs that you should know about to make sure that you are using the resources you need to save money and time when shipping. Here are 5 ways to save money on shipping. After all, the bottom line is your most important asset.
Know Your Shipment
You need to be exact when calculating the weight and size of your shipment. Estimating the weight or size of your shipment can cause you to be charged additional fees that will only make the cost of your shipment increase.
Consider Consolidating Your Freight
There are many times that money can be saved if you consolidate smaller orders into one shipment. Normally, smaller consolidated shipments could be shipped as LTL instead of paying for a full truckload. Consolidating shipments can save the shipper money and time on their shipment.
Choose the Correct Freight Class
Choosing the correct freight class is essential to save money on shipping. At times, freight classes are negotiable with carriers, making it possible to reduce shipping costs. If you are unsure about what freight class your shipment falls into, check out our LTL Freight Shipping Guide.
Use Proper Packaging
Many carriers have liability policies in case your shipment becomes damaged. Attaching freight to a pallet or using proper packaging and wrapping can help you avoid damage to your shipments. If you are shipping something made of glass or delicate material, you should make sure that you have enough cushions inside of the package to avoid damage during the shipping process. Make sure to note when you have a fragile shipment by adding labels to your shipment that are visible and easy to read on the outside of the packaging. Here’s our guide on “How to Safely Pack and Prepare LTL Freight Shipment” to learn more about best shipping practices and save money on shipping.
Determine the Net Cost
There are many factors that determine the net cost of your shipment, including the weight, height, distance, delivery time, and accessorial service options. Accessorial fees will vary with different carriers, so it is important to quote your shipment with all of the accessorial charges when you are choosing a carrier. Don’t get caught up in reviewing the freight or discounted rates. There are additional fees and charges that will factor into the final cost of your shipment. If you have LTL shipping needs and want to make sure that you’re not overpaying on your shipments, get a quote through GoShip.com today. Save money on shipping today!
Use a Dependable Online Shipping Platform
Use a reliable shipping provider to save money on shipping. A reliable provider has an extensive network of carriers across their service region (GoShip has 55K+ carriers). They will also advise you on the shipping mode that best suits your freight to prevent you from overpaying for the excessive trailer space.
At GoShip, we prioritize shipping efficiency and affordability. We will connect you to many experienced carriers and help you with your shipment from quote to delivery. Start saving money on shipping today!
How to Find the Right Shipping Partners
Despite the tips mentioned above, if you do not know how to choose the right shipping partners, you might still end up overspending.
Plus, getting help from the wrong company can also put you at a higher risk of damage. The last thing you want is to open your email or website and find rows of disgruntled clients asking for a replacement or refund.
So here are some of the best ways to choose the right shipping partner for your business:
Consider the Goods You’re Shipping
Hazardous goods, perishables, breakables, and other types of goods need their own specific mode of transportation. When it comes to shipping, there is no one size fits all.
A flatbed may be perfect for your large furniture but is the worst option for a farmer’s fruits and vegetables.
So before you even hop on any calls, think about all the goods you’re transferring and find out what their ideal type of freight is.
Read About Their Customer Services
Like it or not, the freight company you decide to work with is now an extension of you as the business owner. Bad customer service can make or break your relationship with your clients.
You need to work with a shipping company that has a track record of excellent customer service.
But it’s not just your clients that you need to treat with professionalism, the shipping company should be able to extend the same courtesy to you.
You want a freight company that is easily reached and will quickly notify you if there are any new changes such as delays and permit issues.
Shop Around
Don’t go for the first freight company you find. Yes, even it came highly recommended by a close friend.
One freight provider might work perfectly for another company, but not for you. So always keep a list of prospective couriers and do a thorough check of each one.
See if their services and rates fit well with your own needs and budget, and don’t forget to get a quote from each company you call up.
Once you have the quotes, use the data to cross-compare with other freight providers and make a decision from there!
Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask couriers questions about how they track cargo, how often they give updates, how many times they’ve had delays or even hard-hitting questions such as whether or not they have delivered damaged goods or the one time they made a delivery to the wrong location across the country.
How the representatives of these companies reply should be enough to determine if that freight provider is worth the risk or not.
Shipping with GoShip
Trusting a freight company like GoShip is one way to keep your shipping costs low. Experts in the industry will handle all your logistics, tracking, loading, unloading, and more.
All you will have to do is focus on growing your industry and finding more techniques to create and foster long-lasting relationships with all your clients. Stop stressing about your deliveries. GoShip will handle all of the heavy lifting.