Logisource: Muncie Indiana's Logical LTL Source
"RENEWING THE AMERICAN DREAM"
Savvy Business Shopper
Trucking Companies Can Move Heavier and Bulkier Freight
Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Mie-Yun Lee
Small package delivery services such as United Parcel Service (UPS) are not well equipped to handle especially heavy or bulky deliveries.
For these items, businesses may want to consider using a less than truckload (LTL) carrier. These companies specialize in shipping items that weigh between 600 and 1,000 pounds, and can be relied on for packages up to 10,000 pounds.
The LTL market is very competitive, with profitability largely dependent on delivery efficiency. As a result, LTL carriers typically operate through a hub system. An LTL carrier picks up packages from multiple customers, transports these items to a local terminal, and then consolidates goods traveling the same route.
Many LTL carriers serve specific geographic regions, which increases their chance of conveying full loads. If a shipment is sent to a location outside a carrier's normal service area, the trucking company will arrange to transfer the shipment from the edge of its service area to another LTL for final delivery. This practice is called interlining.
With so many different LTL carriers, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose. Your first consideration should be the delivery schedule and the number of times the package will be interlined. Longer shipping times and more interlining often suggest that a shipper cannot efficiently deliver your shipment. This may result in higher costs, and creates more opportunities for something to go wrong during interline transfers.
A second statistic to consider is on-time delivery. This indicates how often a firm meets its declared delivery schedule.
A good firm will typically quote on-time delivery rates in the mid to high nineties.
A final area to examine is the claims/damage ratio. This ratio measures the percentage of revenue paid out in claims for problems caused by loss, damage or theft. The industry average is 1.25-1.4 percent. You should use a company with a similar or lower ratio.
Determining delivery charges for LTL shipments is much more complex than for small packages. In addition to the weight of the shipment and the distance it must travel, you must also specify a shipping classification.
Shipments are classified on a scale from 50 to 500, according to a package's density, value, fragility and storage requirements, with higher numerical ratings indicating higher per pound transportation costs.
To learn the class of your shipment, you can consult an LTL carrier or you can purchase the National Motor Freight Classification listing through the American Trucking Association (703/838-1700).
The final cost will also include accessorial charges. These are extra charges for services such as storage, contacting the recipient or delivery to companies without loading docks.
Another option is to use a logistics-management company. These companies place shipments and negotiate discounts based on the total shipping volume of their client base.
Special Note:
Contact Logisource for you company's individual needs:
Chris Dickson
Regional Account Manager
Source Services (a Division of Logisource)
Truckload: 866-573-1431
LTL: 888-895-0799
Savvy Business Shopper
Trucking Companies Can Move Heavier and Bulkier Freight
Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Mie-Yun Lee
Small package delivery services such as United Parcel Service (UPS) are not well equipped to handle especially heavy or bulky deliveries.
For these items, businesses may want to consider using a less than truckload (LTL) carrier. These companies specialize in shipping items that weigh between 600 and 1,000 pounds, and can be relied on for packages up to 10,000 pounds.
The LTL market is very competitive, with profitability largely dependent on delivery efficiency. As a result, LTL carriers typically operate through a hub system. An LTL carrier picks up packages from multiple customers, transports these items to a local terminal, and then consolidates goods traveling the same route.
Many LTL carriers serve specific geographic regions, which increases their chance of conveying full loads. If a shipment is sent to a location outside a carrier's normal service area, the trucking company will arrange to transfer the shipment from the edge of its service area to another LTL for final delivery. This practice is called interlining.
With so many different LTL carriers, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose. Your first consideration should be the delivery schedule and the number of times the package will be interlined. Longer shipping times and more interlining often suggest that a shipper cannot efficiently deliver your shipment. This may result in higher costs, and creates more opportunities for something to go wrong during interline transfers.
A second statistic to consider is on-time delivery. This indicates how often a firm meets its declared delivery schedule.
A good firm will typically quote on-time delivery rates in the mid to high nineties.
A final area to examine is the claims/damage ratio. This ratio measures the percentage of revenue paid out in claims for problems caused by loss, damage or theft. The industry average is 1.25-1.4 percent. You should use a company with a similar or lower ratio.
Determining delivery charges for LTL shipments is much more complex than for small packages. In addition to the weight of the shipment and the distance it must travel, you must also specify a shipping classification.
Shipments are classified on a scale from 50 to 500, according to a package's density, value, fragility and storage requirements, with higher numerical ratings indicating higher per pound transportation costs.
To learn the class of your shipment, you can consult an LTL carrier or you can purchase the National Motor Freight Classification listing through the American Trucking Association (703/838-1700).
The final cost will also include accessorial charges. These are extra charges for services such as storage, contacting the recipient or delivery to companies without loading docks.
Another option is to use a logistics-management company. These companies place shipments and negotiate discounts based on the total shipping volume of their client base.
Special Note:
Contact Logisource for you company's individual needs:
Chris Dickson
Regional Account Manager
Source Services (a Division of Logisource)
Truckload: 866-573-1431
LTL: 888-895-0799
Labels: Cincinnati, Logisource, LTL, Muncie Indiana, Muncie-Delaware Chamber of Commerce: EDC, Source Services, Source Transport, Truckload
posted by Chris Dickson, F.L.A. at
6:38 PM
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