How to Choose the Best Trucking Company for Your Freight

• Mar 11- 2016
• Transportation and logistics

When choosing a trucking and transportation company, a lot of small to medium-sized businesses look at the quote and only the quote. The quote is an excellent starting point, but it is important that you take a look at what you are getting for that price. That way, you can get a North American trucking company that isn’t just affordable, but provides the types of services you need to ensure that your freight makes it to its destination intact and on time.
Time in Business

Checking the amount of time a company has been in business is a good place to start. New companies are still trying to figure out how to deliver merchandise as quickly as possible without damaging or breaking it, while established companies have already figured out the techniques they need to use to get to the destination quickly and safely. In addition, established companies are more apt to have solid training programs in place that help their employees with everything from safety to efficiency. Trained employees know how to safeguard loads and get them to their destinations on time, so this is critical for your business.

Manpower and Equipment

You also need to check on the company’s manpower and equipment. A good company has the staff and equipment needed to load and deliver equipment in a timely fashion. On the other hand, if a company doesn’t have a lot of staff or the right equipment, you can expect to pay extra, since it will take them longer to do even the simplest of tasks.
This is especially true when it comes to loading the freight. Two loading options provided by companies are palletized and loose. A lot of businesses like to go with palletized freight because it is quick to load and secure. If you choose the palletized option, the company needs to have access to a fork truck or a similar piece of equipment, or they won’t be able to load it.

Other companies prefer loose freight. You can get a lot more into the truck with loose freight, since it can be stacked. However, because it has to be loaded manually, it requires a lot of manpower. If a company doesn’t have much manpower, you will be expected to pay extra to compensate for the time it takes to load everything.
Make sure the company you choose can handle your loading needs, whether you require equipment or manpower.

Load Size

Load size is also important when you’re choosing a trucking and transportation company. Some companies only allow for full-size loads, while other allow for partial loads. If you are going to need both sizes of loads, choose a company that offers both, or you will have to switch back and forth between companies to get all of your needs met.
Choosing the right trucking company will make your job much easier. Once your freight is in the right hands, you can focus on other tasks without having to worry about your load getting to its destination safely.