Are you a business that relies on shipping? Do you sell a lot of products that need to be distributed and shipped to customers, all over the world? Many businesses around the world rely on shipping services for everyday business logistics. The single increase of shipping costs or an increase in fuel costs can put a significant strain on a business?s income. If you are one of the many businesses that rely on shipping services, keep these money saving shipping tips in mind.
Compare the different shipping services
There are many shipping services to choose from today. At first thought, you might think that a service like UPS is too expensive. However, you also might find that UPS shipping services tend to offer pretty good business discounts. Get shipping cost quotes from each of the services and then compare them. Find one that meets your business needs best, both in terms of price and shipping abilities. You will also want to consider the type of product that you are shipping. The USPS, for example, does not allow shipping of liquids, such as pharma logistics.
Always attempt to fill an entire truck
Filling an entire truck for shipment is going to get you the best discounts. Sending off a truck at less than a truckload filled, not only wastes valuable space on the truck but also costs you more in fuel, per order. When you fill the entire truck, you can distribute the shipping costs between each order, thus bringing down the cost of shipment, and increasing the amount of project per each order. If you are consistently unable to fill your shipment trucks, consider partnering with another growing business. In 2013, trucking transported nearly 15 billion tons of cargo. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that by 2040, that number is expected to increase to 18.79 billion tons. There are many businesses that require shipping services. Use that to your advantage.
Avoid overweight freights
While filling the truck to full capacity is financially smart, you also do not want to overfill the truck. Overfilling a truck can slow down its speed and increase the cost of the fuel. It can also overwork the driver, thus eventually reducing the overall efficiency of the shipment. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 5.9 million commercial motor vehicle drivers operate in the U.S. Shipment drivers have many opportunities for employment, so it is never a good idea to overwork them.
Create a plan for expedited shipping needs
Expedited freight is always going to be more expensive. When you are rushing a shipment, you are even less likely able to fill the truck completely. If you are outsourcing your shipping needs, you are also encouraging the driver to rush move the order. Before you receive your first expedited shipping order, create a plan for how you will handle it. Will you cover the costs if the order is at a certain amount? Will the buyer cover the expedited shipping costs? Most businesses pass on the increase in shipping costs to the buyer, but it is important to find what works for your specific product or service.
Understand specialty freight needs
Many different types of products are shipping daily. Currently, the three most valuable commodities moved by the U.S. freight transportation system include machinery, electronics, and motorized vehicles. However, valuable items are not always heavy and large. Pharma logistics, for example, are expensive transports. Pharma logistics also tend to have more unique of shipping needs. Most pharma logistics have to be temperature controlled and require specified shipping speeds. Consider the type of product you are shipping, as it will significantly affect the type of shipping that you choose.
The United States relies heavily on expedited shipping services. People want products conveniently and fast. As a business, it can be difficult to keep up with the costs and speed requirements of shipping services. Yet, it is a very important part of business success. It is important to evaluate your shipping needs, the specific products that you are shipping, and how you will handle special shipping needs.
