There are multiple questions that every business needs to ask when looking into LTL freight company. Does the carrier I am looking haul to where I need products to go? Do they have a good safety record? Do they arrive on time and reliably?
The quality of an LTL freight company varies widely. Currently thousands of LTL freight carriers operate in the United States. It can be hard to investigate every one of these LTL freight companies. So what is the best approach for company who looks to expand their business this way?
A trusted freight broker site like www.ltlfreightcenter.com typically has already investigated the LTL freight company. Using an expert in the field is the best approach. Plus, it doesn’t cost you more money in man power hiring someone just to handle your logistical needs. So how do you choose from the long list of LTL freight companies even after the broker has given you a list?
Finding an LTL Freight Company
Look at the track record of each one before you go with pricing. This information can be found from dot.gov and be priceless information. This means for you that the likelihood of deliveries being late due to safety related reasons goes down as well as damaged merchandise.
The other important things to look at are endorsements and insurance. Many material types now qualify as hazardous materials such as computer monitors, lead bars, and consumer electronics. If you choose a long term provider that doesn’t have these endorsements this means that you run the risk of not being able to ship merchandise effectively.
All ltl freight carriers have to have insurance for their shipments. If you have expensive cargo or not insurance play a big role in case anything does happen. You don’t want to have a carrier that is under covered when things go wrong since you may not get the cost of the merchandise back.
Ltl freight carriers vary widely in service and coverage. You can only truly expand your business when the LTL freight company you work with provides the service you truly need. If you need to supply companies nationwide, then you need to find a company with nationwide services. There is an easy route for any company to do this. Find a reliable and efficient freight broker to help you negotiate with future LTL carriers.