There are some things that cannot be shipped through normal means, so they have to be shipped by freight. To qualify as freight, the shipment must be a bulk shipment weighing over 150 lbs. If you have a lot of bulk shipping that is consistently heavy, this type of shipping is for you. However, with shipments that large, it gets tough to handle. Consider the following four tips on shipping freight.
Get an Automated Management System
If you are sending out a lot of freight shipments, you need to be prepared to deal with a lot of moving parts to get your shipment where it needs to go, especially if you are using land, sea and air to get your shipments out. As it would be incredibly difficult for you to monitor all of the shipments on your own, you would benefit from getting a transportation management system to help control all of the aspects of your freight shipments. Such systems can be customized to fit your needs, and will allow you to have a lot more time to focus on the other aspects of your business while all of the shipping needs are met from processing the order to getting it to your client’s doors.
Prepare to Pay More For Extras
Unfortunately, when it comes to shipping freight, you really need to prepare to pay more for extras such as paying for a shipment that is oversized or overweight, or for expedited shipping. More extras might include things that do not come with your average shipment. For instance, if you require refrigerated shipping because the items that you are shipping are perishable, you need to expect to pay more to get packaging that can accommodate what you need, as well as when it comes to renting a van that is capable of keeping your shipments nice and cold. Basically, the more extras that you want to include in your shipment, the more you will have to pay for it. If it is going to be common to need extras, you will need to factor that into your budget and make sure you watch the market for price increases on those services.
Keep an Eye on Your Inventory
Delays happen often enough to be concerning, and if you are frequently experiencing delays, you need to plan accordingly. If you do not have a large inventory, but if you want to keep everything in stock in case you get a big order, you will have to plan things very carefully. Make sure you know which products tend to run low so you can make or order a lot of them before you find yourself scrambling around to fill the orders or have to tell customers that the item they want is not in stock. If you source the materials from somewhere else to make your products, ensure that you have enough in stock to make what you need.
Have a Plan to Deal With Damages
As unfortunate as it may be, damages happen all of the time, and not all of them can be prevented. Because of this, you need to have a plan to deal with potential damages. Require customers to let you know if they have anything damaged upon receipt, and require that pictures of the damaged merchandise be included in their report. After that, you can assess what would be considered fair compensation for the current situation and act accordingly. For instance, if there is a damaged item, you can either refund your customer or send a replacement.
While shipping freight is ideal for people who are constantly filling bulk orders, there are always problems that come with shipping in such a manner that do not occur as often with normal shipping methods. However, there are ways around the problems as long as you pay attention. Keep these tips in mind so you can figure out the best way to conduct your freight shipping processes.