The process of moving cargo by land, air, or sea is known as freight shipping or transport. The items transported by train, truck, plane, or ship are known as freight.
Any shipment that meets or exceeds the criteria below is classified as freight and must be transported as such.
- Packages weighing more than 150 poundsÂ
- Packages with a combined length and width of more than 165 inchesÂ
- Packages with a length of more than 108 inches
If you are running a business and you want to have an advantage over your competition or are an individual who simply wants to cut costs, there are ways for you to save money on freight shipping.Â
Here are tips to get the best possible freight shipping rates for your goods:
Reduce the Use of Filling/Dunnage
To prevent merchandise from getting damaged during transport, shipping containers or boxes need to have to cushion with the use of filling or dunnage.Â
However, in their intention to secure a product, couriers occasionally go to the extreme. Consider investing in a minimalist packaging design that avoids the use of excessive padding.
Minimal packaging aids in the reduction of material consumption of your business, resulting in lower product costs. A minimalist design reduces handling, packaging, and transportation expenses. Every little thing counts in lowering costs but also carbon emissions.
Many freight companies employ dimensional weight pricing systems wherein shippers are rewarded with discounts for shipping in the correct box size, which reduces the box weight and box stowage. In short, one of the simplest methods to save money is to pack freight more efficiently.
Avoid a Delay in the Pickup or Delivery of Your Shipment
Make sure you’re tracking your shipments constantly. When a shipment is already scheduled for delivery or is in transit, logistics coordinators typically forget about it.Â
They get the false notion that the shipment is already on its way. The problem is this isn’t always the case. There are a number of issues that may occur and unforeseen problems can potentially increase freight shipping costs all of a sudden.Â
This includes:
- Inventory not updated with accurate codesÂ
- Missing or incorrect reference numbers are required for both loading and unloadingÂ
- Missing information on the packing listÂ
- Missing customs clearance documentation
Always be proactive in tracking shipments. It also helps to choose a courier or freight company that allows you to view your active and upcoming shipments and potential or existing issues.
Ship in Batches
If you frequently ship to or from the same area, consider consolidating your freight shipments into one large shipment. This can be accomplished by combining similar products on the same pallet.Â
Stacking or shrink-wrapping boxes of a similar size onto a single pallet instead of shipping them individually, for example, translates to huge savings in shipping costs.
Conclusion
All of the aforementioned solutions can seem self-evident; however, most shippers, even the ones that contract with reputable freight companies, ignore them.Â
They end up paying more than they should. See if any or all of the suggestions above apply to your business. If they make sense, make the changes and watch your savings grow exponentially!Â
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.Â
