Choosing a transportation company is a big responsibility. If you choose the wrong carrier, you can have many problems with customers: even a single failure in the delivery conditions will hurt the reputation we have built over the years. Read here for basic tips for choosing a good transportation company.
Explore the market for logistics services in your region
The fact that there are many transportation companies rather than complicating things is good, since competition influences costs. Make sure you know the costs of each company, read their policies, find out how many terminals they have, and pay attention to the geography of the delivery.
To define a good transport company we recommend you to talk to the customers about the company, this will give you a rough idea of the quality of the service.
Find out if the transportation company has warehouses
The availability of owned or rented warehouses indicates that the rotation of transport is high. It also guarantees the possibility of receiving an order at the right time: the cargo can be stored in a special area for a certain period, usually from one week to one month. You can ask for home delivery if you do not wish to go personally for your load.
Find out if the transport company offers cargo insurance services
A comfortable cooperation with a transport company implies the insurance of the goods and the delivery conditions. The service is useful for both the shipper and the consignee, as all responsibility for the safety of the goods when the insurance policy is issued rests on the carrier’s shoulders. A large number of risks are excluded, but they may be different for each company. Read and study well the individual characteristics of the coverages to determine exactly if you need such a service.
Check if the order can be traced
Online tracking is a useful feature that allows you to control the movement of your cargo and stop worrying about it. Tracking is especially important for long-distance shipments.
Today many companies offer a way to track loads directly from their homepage. The main advantage over competitors, in this case, is the detailed tracking of the order. Tracking shows the current location of the carrier on the map.
Get to know the composition of the trailer fleet
Gather information about the company’s fleet in advance. This will allow you to choose the right transport for particular loads. Information on transport rules can be read in the documentation attached to the cargo.
Large transport companies try to diversify their fleet of different means of transport so that the customer can always choose. Information can be obtained from the company’s website or directly by contacting them.
Read carefully the terms and conditions of the contract
Transport companies operate exclusively on a contractual basis. Consult the model contract, it will give you a better idea of the business. The terms of the contract can be modified according to the mutual interests of both parties.
It is always possible to discuss this with the manager, especially since the quality of his responses and the general level of courtesy will determine the qualifications of the person with whom the cooperation will be carried out. At this stage, it is preferable to immediately discuss the terms of delivery and the amount of advance payment required, if any.
