If you are running a business that manufactures things and requires exporting produced goods to other states or countries, you will definitely need one of the best freight forwarding companies. Choosing the right partner for this work is necessary to ensure the success of a business. In addition to this, it has a direct impact on your customers’ experience, costs, and others. This is why you have to be a little conscious while exploring the options around and deciding on the best one.
How to choose the best freight partner?
In case you are not sure about the factors that you will need to consider, this blog post is for you. Here, we are going to throw some light on the aspects that you should keep in mind while choosing from a wider range of options. So, let us begin.
Understand your specific shipping needs
- Type of products/goods: Check and determine the type/nature of your products or goods that you want to ship. Are they oversized, hazardous, fragile, or perishable? Based on the product type, you can go for the cargo services. For instance, ODC service will be needed for oversized or odd-shaped goods.
- Weight and volume: Assess the weight and volume of the goods/shipments. Keep in mind that this has a direct impact on the truck type that you will need. Based on these, you can choose from the parcel services,
- full truckload or FTL, or less than truckload or LTL.
- Frequency of shipping: How often do you want to ship your goods? The answer to this question will help you decide between occasional and dedicated shipments. So, be clear with this factor.
- Final destination: For this, you will need to see if you want to ship goods within the region or country or internationally. Since global freight services include certain complexities and additional paperwork, you will need to understand everything.
Assess different options of freight services
- FTL: Most reliable freight forwarding companies provide “full truckload” or FTL services for larger cargoes. These shipments usually fill the whole truck, provide reduced handling, and faster shipping.
- LTL: This is particularly suitable for smaller deliveries. Here, you will not require filling the whole truck. It is considered a cost-effective solution for those who have moderate or smaller shipping volumes.
- Air freight: As the name suggests, goods are transported through air cargo. This is quite a fast and particularly an ideal option for time-sensitive or high-value goods, but it is quite expensive.
- Sea freight: This is quite a pocket-friendly option for businesses. They can transport heavy shipments through it. However, the goods should not be perishable or time-sensitive.
- Rail freight: When larger quantities need to be transported over longer distances, you can consider rail freight services. This is faster than sea freight and cost-effective than air/road transport.
Consider your budget and overall cost
- Compare services: Request different freight forwarding companies to share their quotes in detail. Now, compare each to find the most suited option. While requesting quotes, make sure they include potential fees, like customs duties, handling fees, fuel surcharges, etc.
- SLAs: Refers to Service Level Agreements. SLAs can help you understand the services that are offered by the company. While reviewing this, do not forget to check the handling procedures, delivery times, compensation for damages and delays, etc.
- Hidden costs/fees: Some money-minded companies do not disclose hidden fees in their quotes, but charge them during the final payment. Therefore, you are advised to check the potential additional and hidden costs. These can include the costs of insurance, storage, or demurrage.
Learn about the reputation and reliability
- Company’s reputation: Before you finalize anything, collect details regarding the market reputation of the company you are planning to work with. For this, you can consider industry ratings, testimonials, reviews, and others. A company with a proven track record can offer trustworthiness and positive experiences.
- Experience: Even though experience is just a number, it can give you the confidence that the chosen company knows how to handle a specific type of cargo safely and deliver the consignment on time. A company with relevant knowledge and experience can ensure seamless operations and reduced risks.
- Network coverage: Make sure you are choosing a company that has a wider network of routes. Here, you will need to choose from the freight forwarding companies that have a robust coverage within and outside the nation.
Customer support and services
- Communication: Clear communication is the basis when you need a company to deliver your goods safely and on time. You should choose a company that offers real-time updates with proper tracking. Along with this, they should have a responsive customer support team for any assistance.
- Tracking abilities: Whether you need updates on the delays or need details regarding the safety-related concerns, a good freight partner always offers real-time tracking of the shipment. This is specifically needed if you want to enhance customer satisfaction and security.
In a nutshell
Along with the pointers discussed above, you should also consider regulatory compliance, insurance coverage, and the safety record of the shortlisted freight forwarding companies. Keep in mind that careful and mindful considerations of the budget, needs, additional safety requirements, etc., are needed when you are looking for the best company. Or, you can consider the BSA Logistics for the most trusted, scalable, flexible, and budget-friendly freight services.
