3 Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Carrier for Your Business
Are you in the process of hiring a shipping carrier for your small business?
A business’s choice of a shipping partner can mean the difference between success and failure. Whether you’re moving goods from your manufacturing plants to warehouses or from retail stores to the consumer, you need a shipping company that’s reliable and efficient.
The global cargo shipping industry handles over 10 billion tons every year, which means there are thousands of shipping companies involved. This begs the question: how do you zero in on the best shipping carrier for your business?
Read on for a couple of important things to consider before making your pick.
1. Services Offered
A shipping carrier’s job is to transport cargo from one location to another. However, this doesn’t mean every carrier will move your cargo.
Some carriers only specialize in local shipping, for example. So, if you’re looking to send your cargo abroad, such a carrier will not meet your needs.
As such, the first thing to consider when hiring a shipping service is the range of services offered.
If the goods you’re transporting need a system for packing and stacking, ensure that the carriers offered palletized delivery. In short, you specifically need to look for pallet couriers.
Or perhaps you’re a frozen food business. In this case, you want a carrier that offers refrigerated shipping.
2. Reliability
An inefficient supply chain can disrupt your business and cause huge losses. Your shipping partner is a key player in your supply chain. If they aren’t delivering your goods on time, your operations will be affected.
For this reason, it’s critical to evaluate a shipping service provider’s reliability before getting into any contracts with them. You want a carrier that honors their word. If they are offering same-day shipping, for example, they should do so without fail always.
To assess the reliability of a carrier, start by looking at its resources. Is the company well-staffed? Does it have adequate shipping infrastructure?
You can also check out the shipping carrier’s online reviews on sites like Yelp. If the carrier is largely unreliable, there’s a good chance you’ll find negative comments from frustrated clients.
3. Cost
As a shipper, you want your goods to be transported quickly and safely, but at what cost?
Shipping carriers charge for the services, but the cost will vary depending on a range of factors. When you’re in the market for a carrier, your goal is to find a company that’s affordable or within your budget.
Resist the temptation to select a carrier that’s offering the most cost-friendly service. More often than not, you pay for what you get. A less expensive carrier will likely have longer delivery timeframes and the service might be unreliable.
At the same time, you don’t want to blow your budget on a shipping service. If you have to, ensure you’re getting more value, such as expedited shipping.
Find a Shipping Carrier That Suits Your Needs
You’ve made a smart business decision to outsource your shipping needs to a shipping carrier. However, not every carrier is ideal for your business. With this guide, you now know some of the most important factors to consider before making a pick.
