A trucking company is essentially a business that provides transportation of goods by road. The most common types of cargo are food products, raw materials, and manufactured goods, but they can transport any product. During the process of selecting Los Angeles trucking companies, it’s essential to consider several factors listed below:
Cost
The cost of transporting your goods is an important factor to consider when selecting a trucking company. While it’s ideal to find a low-price option, ensure that you don’t compromise the safety and speed at which the cargo arrives.
It’s also helpful to negotiate a flat rate instead of paying by weight or size, as this allows you and the company to estimate future transport costs and keep them under control quickly. Get answers to your questions by checking out finding a reliable intermodal trucking company.
Freight Type
You should consider the type of cargo you transport when choosing a trucking company. While one company may offer cheap rates for certain freight types, it’s essential to know if they offer the correct service level for your product. For example, dry goods are generally transported at lower temperatures in climate-controlled trailers. Transporting perishable or temperature-sensitive commodities requires specialized equipment and expertise that many companies don’t have. If the transportation of your goods is dangerous or requires special handling, make sure you choose a trucking company experienced in transporting hazardous materials.
Type of Transport
When selecting your trucking company, you should also consider the company’s types of transport. Truckload carriers can often offer lower rates, but they’re not suitable for large shipments. If you need to ship thousands of units at a time, it’s better to choose a full truckload carrier that can provide dedicated routes and more frequent trips.
If most of your shipments are less than full truckloads, you should consider choosing a part-truckload carrier that will allow you to fill large trucks, the driver making stops severally to drop off to avoid hiring several, thus saving you costs.
Routes Used by the Company
The routes used by your trucking company are also essential to consider. If you have many locations, it’s ideal to find a local carrier who can quickly pick up and deliver shipments. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying extra for time lost or increased transit costs.
If possible, try to work with a single carrier like Migway for most of your deliveries instead of several to make administration more manageable and reduce the chance of damage or misdelivery.
Size of the Equipment
The size of the trucks used is also an essential factor to consider. The larger trucks can carry more cargo but can also be challenging to maneuver in smaller areas.
Therefore, if you’re located in a metropolitan area or have tight corners in your warehouses, you should look for a carrier that uses standard-sized trucks other than oversize rigs.
Type of Equipment Used
When searching for trucking companies, ensure you choose one with the right type of equipment; If possible, seek one that offers tractor-trailers and straight trucks for loading options. Also, check that each unit has appropriate safety features if there’s an accident during transit.
Reputation
It’s also important to check the reputation of each trucking company; You can get informed by reading reviews from the internet. If unsure how to do this, consider speaking with an attorney or other professional who might help.
Tracking Capabilities
The tracking capabilities of your carrier are another factor to consider. Some carriers offer live updates that give you information about the truck’s location, speed, and weather conditions along the way; This can be very helpful if you need to pinpoint when deliveries arrive.
However, others only allow you to track shipments by phone or fax, making it difficult to trace a shipment in an emergency. Before signing any contract with a carrier, make sure they offer a digital tracking option because it’s efficient for parties involved.
Licenses and Insurance
The types of licenses and insurance coverage offered by your carrier are other things to consider. Each should have a valid license and meet all federal and state requirements.
Transporters should be insured in case of an accident or unexpected damage. If possible, try working with someone who offers additional protection, such as global/international cargo insurance; This will give you peace of mind if anything unexpected happens on the trip.
When searching for trucking companies, you need to consider important things like the size of the shipments, routes taken, and the type of equipment used. Also, check for their reputation online and make sure they offer digital tracking options.