No matter what size your shipment is, you want it to reach its destination without problems. Delays, damage, or loss can affect your business and diminish customer confidence.  It’s important to understand the basic shipping processes in order to identify potential red flags.

Working With a Professional

Most business owners don’t have a lot of time to allocate to researching shipping methods. Working with an experienced professional can take a lot of the stress out of freight shipping.  Research various freight brokers and find one with a good response rate, reviews, and reputation. Working together you should be able to avoid these common shipping problems:

1) Foregoing Insurance

What happens if the shipping truck overturns, or experiences theft or vandalism? Your standard car insurance will not usually cover shipments. While the cost of insurance might seem like a lot, imagine how much it would cost to replace all your freight!

2) Not Using Pallets

Palletizing orders is an extra step is shipping prep, but leaving a loose stack of packages in the back of a truck is never a good idea. If LTL shipping is sending several small items, they should be attached securely together on a pallet. This will prevent most damage, as well as lost shipments.

3) Use the Wrong Address

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a frequent mistake that creates a big hassle. Using the wrong address, or an old address will result in your shipment ending up at the wrong location. It will need to be tracked down and rerouted. This is especially problematic if you had a deadline.
Always triple check your landing address to be sure that it’s accurate.

4) Neglecting an Inspection

Inspecting the freight upon delivery is crucial for both the customer and shipping company. Without proper inspections along the way and upon delivery, the carrier will likely believe that the damage took place after delivery. If there is suspected damage and it is noted before signing, it’s a lot easier to make a claim and recover damages.

5) Shipping Without a Broker

Freight brokers are vital in making sure your shipment cost-efficient and safe.  Brokers work hard to procure the best rates for their customers. With tools like the LTL Rateshopper, simply provide the shipping addresses and weight, and your broker will find the best rate and carrier to suit your needs.

Avoiding Freight Shipping Problems

In the rush to get your shipment out the door, it’s easy to want to bypass proper procedures.  Understand that they are in place to protect you and your product. By ensuring that you’ve provided accurate information and your shipping carrier is using smart practices, you’ll be more likely to have success.  

To learn more about smart freight shipping procedures, Contact Us.