Forms

Build a database of your shipments. You can do this by requesting a monthly service report in excel from your carrier(s) or third party. Just about every major carrier requires specific shipment data from you before they offer pricing.

All carriers move freight at reduced levels of liability, especially if the shipment moves on a spot quote. Most coverage on spot quotes is limited to $1 per pound. If your shipment is worth more than the coverage, the carrier will only pay up to the limit of liability specified in the quote or in their rules tariff.

Ask a carrier or third-party logistics provider to provide you with the National Motor  Freight Classification (NMFC) number for your product. Most freight is now classified based on density.

Many companies have little or no supply-chain experience. Often they give the task of managing transportation to the person in charge of shipping. That person usually makes many mistakes on the way to becoming competent. Why not shorten that learning curve by talking to someone who has worked in the industry for many years?  Why do you think most established organizations have hired professionals who have advanced degrees in supply-chain and logistics?

Freight costs can eat up a significant percentage of your profit dollar, both in pure and administrative costs. Sending out broadcast emails for quotes can initially be effective in helping to benchmark truckload and large volume shipment costs, but not using that information to build a database to draw from will actually add costs in the long run. It is better to develop a database and use the technology available to save money on both the administrative and actual costs of transportation.