Did you notice how much shipping costs rose last year? Each year, they continue to go up and businesses have to find new ways to keep freight costs down. Here are some valuable tips for cutting LTL and truckload shipping costs for your business.
1. Check with Several Carriers
When you check several different carriers, you often get lower rates. In fact, some businesses negotiate lower freight charges with large carriers. For instance, if you let one company know you are considering their competition, they might give you lower shipping fees. However, it takes a lot of time to comparison shop.
2. Get Together with Suppliers
Most suppliers ship products to you and then invoice your company for the amount owed. However, if these suppliers use your carrier shipping account, it may qualify you for volume shipping rates. Also, your supplier can’t claim extra shipping charges because you have all the information. You save two ways with this strategy. You get lower carrier rates, and suppliers cannot pad their invoices.
3. Check Local Carriers
You can sometimes get lower truckload shipping costs from regional or local carriers. For example, if you have customers on the West Coast, a company serving the West Coast may have lower rates. Do you ship to several customers in your own state or city? A local freight company is often the cheapest option because their trucks are not far away.
4. Use Carrier Packaging
Large freight companies have their own packages. When you use their cartons, envelopes, and other materials, you don’t have to worry about oversize shipping fees. This can save you ten percent or more on your truckload shipping costs.
5. Check Out Brokers
Freight brokers offer third-party shipping services. They find the lowest fees and best services for your company. This saves you a lot of hard work, as well as money.
