Less-Than-Truckload shipping is a popular transportation choice for most small and medium-sized businesses. Basically, this haulage option is designed to deal with loads that cannot fill an entire truck or be classified as parcels. LTL shipping is favoured because it is relatively inexpensive compared to options such as hiring an entire vehicle for your goods. Moreover, there are diverse accessory services like inside delivery, non-commercial delivery services and liftgate assistance. Unfortunately, the LTL transportation costs can still be relatively high, particularly for small and start-up businesses. So consider using these tips to lower these cumulative costs.
Reduce Accessorial Costs
Accessorial charges in LTL shipping are designed to compensate the carrier for additional services beyond the basics. In simple terms, if you make any special requests for your goods in terms of pickup, delivery as well as loading and unloading, you will be charged extra fees. The payment allows your carrier to cover for the inefficiency caused, the equipment used and the labour required to fulfil your request. You can reduce these expenses by limiting your requests for accessorial services. For example, if you have a home-based business, consider picking up your load from the central commercial areas because residential deliveries will incur more costs. In addition, do not allow your carrier to include accessorial services that you have not approved for each shipment.
Avoid Classification Penalties
There are regulations and rules imposed on LTL shipping, and failure to comply will lead to financial penalties. You should understand these shipping requirements imposed by your transporter so that you can avoid paying unnecessary fees. One of the crucial aspects in LTL shipping is the classification of each load. The categories are based on different factors, including the freight weight, volume, handling challenges and potential liability. If you choose the wrong freight class, the carrier will have to make modifications. This will increase the cumulative costs for the services. You can avoid the financial losses by checking and conforming to the current classifications.
Optimise the Packaging
The shipment packaging can affect the total transportation charges because the size will determine the base rate. An optimal packaging product should match the volume of the goods for accurate transportation rates. Ideally, you should engage a packaging specialist to design your perfect containers. However, if this is not an option, choose a product that increases the pack density and provides protection against potential damage.
Finally, you should consider engaging a third-party logistics manager and comparing different LTL rates before engaging an ideal transport company.
Share21 September 2015
Hi, my name is Lisa, and I have travelled by sea, rail and road. That in itself isn't unusual, but my travelling companion is – my dog. I have learned through my experiences everything you need to know about transporting a dog (or another animal). Want to learn how to calm your dog on the road? Want to learn how to convince a ticket agent to sell your pup a pass? Want to learn other tricks regarding transporting dogs and pets? Then, you have come to the right place. I love to write, but I love to help people and animals even more so I hope you find these posts useful.
