In order to get the best value for your money while receiving and sending your shipments on time and in the best condition possible you need to find a suitable freight carrier.  Your shipments are worth a great deal to you and need to be handled with the utmost care.  Shipments need to be received on time and in perfect condition to maintain your business’s reputation within the industry.  There are 5 critical elements that need to be considered when looking to find the most suitable carrier for your shipments.  Let’s explore this in a bit more detail.

• Safety of Your Shipment

When looking into available shippers it is reasonable to expect that anyone in the race for your business is fully licensed and insured.  As a business owner it is your responsibility to only consider a freight company that insures your shipment and offers compensation in case of causalities that occur along the way before shipments have reached their preferred destinations.

• The Type of Shipment

Take a look into the type and volume of your shipments.  This will allow you to identify the most suitable freight companies to handle your shipments.  Often times, business owners decide to work with a freight broker who will handle the detail of finding a freight company for you.  However, if this is not an option or you prefer to keep the logistics of your company in house look for a freight carrier that has a record of transporting goods that match yours and your area of trade.  Some freight carriers and trucking companies offer diverse services while other specialize in one shipment type. The same is true for service areas; while some companies service the entire US and global shipments others stick to specific regions, such as the Midwest.

• Shipping Areas

As previously mentioned there are companies that only ship regionally.  Obviously, this element is crucial.  It is important that you consider freight carriers that serves your region.  Consider working with a company that offers freight services from your preferred destination to your nearest local terminal for purposes of convenience and accessibility of your shipment. You can use this company for future projects.

• Regular Shipment

If you are having weekly or monthly regular shipments, you need to identify a freight carrier that can handle your regular loads and deliver your shipment right on time, right where you want them to depend on the nature of your business.

• Market Rates

Before paying for the services, you need to know whether you will get value for your money. Expensive is not always the best. Finding a freight carrier that offers top quality services at the most reasonable rates is most important for your business.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

The cost of transporting commodities from one place to another is affected by various factors.  Freight charges may vary from one destination to another but there are standard issues that influence shipping rates on a global level.  These include:

Mode of Transport:  This allows business owners to choose the right means of transportation depending on the size, perishability, and the fragile state of the cargo.  Large shipments require spacious cabins and well-equipped freight vehicles.  Some goods are too delicate to fit all in one truck, hence the option of cargo trains in transportation.  If you are transporting perishable items through the air, the cost will be higher than opting for a truck equipped with preservatives.  Water transportation takes longer and carries heavy equipment; therefore, freight rates differ according to the amount or the number of items in question.

Weight: The less than truckload shipping (LTL) rates are set in a manner that favors the heaviest loads.  According to carriers, LTL costs less per a hundred pounds for heavy cargo, but freight charges are distributed using the various weight groups set aside for all shipments.   On that account, more weight means high freight rates and vice versa.  For supply chains, full truckload (FTL) is cost effective and fast.  Their freight rates follow the same rules as the LTL, but the latter makes fewer or no stops.

Distance and Time: Shipping companies charge less while delivering within their geographical location, but they sometimes tend to receive items for clients beyond their reach.  Instead of returning the cargo, they transfer it to the nearest LTL carrier who in turn charges more for the final delivery.  Basically, the longer the distance, the higher the price.  Just in time (JIT) deliveries are charged more due to the urgency of the products in question.  Most carriers have a specific time assigned for transportation.  On that note, it will cost more to adjust the company’s schedule or ensure fast delivery.

Density and Classification of Freight: To determine density, shippers take the total weight of the cargo and divide it by mass. Also, include detailed information about the package’s physical appearance (i.e., protrusions or overhangs). The denser a shipment is, the lower the charges and the lighter it is, the higher the price. How so? The LTL freight rates are classified according to the various classes (ranging from 50-500) established by the NMFTA (National Motor Traffic Association). They fall into lower and higher-class levels. The former represents freights that are dense and easy to handle while the latter covers the light and fragile shipments.

Other factors include:

• Extra services given by carriers beyond their usual routes, drop off points, or docks involve making deliveries inside a prison, jail, school or church. Adding another extra mile to their schedule means more fuel hence higher freight rates.
• Negotiations can be carried out between a carrier and a client in cases where the shipment falls into the lower and higher class. Vendors transporting multiple commodities seek the Freight All Kinds (FAK) rates because the rates are cheaper despite the shipment’s weight.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

Truckload shipping is the movement of large amounts of homogeneous cargo, generally the amount necessary to fill an entire semi-trailer or intermodal container. A truckload carrier is a trucking company that generally contracts an entire trailer-load to a single customer. This is as opposed to a less-than truckload (LTL) company that generally mixes freight from several customers in each trailer. One advantage Full Truckload (FTL) carriers have over Less than Truckload carriers is that the freight is never handled en route, whereas an LTL shipment will typically be transported on several different trailers.

Understanding the differences between full truckload shipping and less-than-truckload shipping is important for businesses looking to improve their bottom line. Knowing when to use each type of shipping method is beneficial for both cost savings and improved shipping efficiencies.

What is the Difference Between Full Truckload and Less Than Truckload Shipping?

Simply put, full truckload shipping is primarily used when companies have enough goods to fill an entire truck whereas less-than-truckload shipping is used when companies do not have enough items to fill a truck. There are some exceptions to this. Larger companies will sometimes prefer to use a dedicated truck even though they may not have enough items to fill it. With dedicated trucks, the shipped items remain in the truck from the point of origin to the point of destination which is beneficial for both security and safety measures. Unlike full truckload shipments that move goods on a dedicated truck, less-than-truckload shipments consolidate shipments from multiple companies.

When Should Less Than Truckload Shipping Be Used?

Less-than-truckload shipping is ideal for smaller businesses that are not shipping enough items to fill an entire truckload. By using a partner network, goods can be consolidated with shipments from other companies to reduce overall costs. Although less-than-truckload shipping is not as fast as full truckload shipping, the cost savings usually outweigh the expedited transit times.

When Should Full Truckload Shipping Be Used?

Companies should use full truckload shipping when the shipment is large enough to fill the entire truck or when the cost of the items being shipped is far greater than the cost of using a dedicated truck. Full truckload shipping is usually faster and should be used for companies that require expedited shipping or are under strict time constraints. In addition to full truck truckload shipping being significantly faster, there is also less risk involved when using a dedicated shipment truck.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

Many businesses require a freight service to carry and transport their goods. Since freight transport helps moving around materials in both large and small quantities, it is the preferred method of transportation for several different types of businesses. However, freight shipping itself is a very diverse method of transport. There are a few ways to handle freight shipping. Finding the best shipping service for you depends on several factors, including the dimensions and size of the transport, and its efficiency. You also need to be mindful of how quick the service is since no business wants its goods or supplies to be delayed. The following are the best freight shipping options for your business:

Full Truckload Shipping (FTL)

Full truckload shipping refers to the practice of loading huge cargo in freight trailers, to the extent that the entire semi-trailer is filled entirely. It really lives up to its name, with around 15,000 pounds of storage normally utilized in this freight shipping method. If your business requires moving huge amounts of cargo on a regular basis, full truckload shipping (FTL) is the way to go. Utilizing FTL will help you get better freight costs, better insurance, and greater protection, while moving huge amounts of cargo. FTL is the best shipping method for large manufacturers.

Less than Truckload freight shipping (LTL)

If your business entails moving goods more than an amount weighing 150 pounds and does not require and entire trailer, less than truckload shipping (LTL) is the best shipping method for you. LTL’s often carry a mix of different companies’ goods and travel at far greater speeds. Therefore, they are faster than FTLs and make sure that your goods are transported as quickly as possible with the least bit of hassle. LTLs also service a number of different businesses, from the very small to the very large. If you want your goods to be transported as quickly as possible and don’t need the entire truck, use less than truckload freight shipping (LTL).

Just in Time truckload freight shipping

Just in time truckload (JIT) is the best way of ensuring that your goods arrive at the right time as quick as possible. They are smaller than LTLs and FTLs and naturally carry less goods than both. However, with just in time truckload (JIT) shipping, you can ship appropriate items at a set time and be sure that the goods will be delivered on time. With its closed inventory and quick delivery service, JIT is the best freight shipping method for small businesses looking to reach their customers as quickly as possible.

The freight shipping method you choose depends on your own understanding of your business’ needs and then judging which shipping method suits you the best. It is essential to select the appropriate freight shipping method since the shipping plays a big part in your customer dealings and refilling stock.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

LTL (Less than Truckload) shipping service is the most used method of shipping products using a truck. An LTL carrier is used to pick up several small shipments from customers that do not require a whole trailer to be used. In other words, they may be renting space in the back of the trailer. Once the company has turned all of their pickups for that day, they will bring the freight back to their port. It is also likely a terminal will receive delivery from other terminals that were indexed the last time. This space renting technique helps the truck owners to give a reasonable discount to customers while also making extra income from renting the space. This is extremely useful as there are companies or individuals only need to transport small goods, this saves them money as they do not need to pay for the whole truck which they might not be able to afford.

If you want to use LTL shipping for your goods, there are things you will need to consider and some steps you will need to follow. In this article, we will help you go through some of the steps to follow if you want to use the Less Than Truckload Service.

Perform extensive research

Find a shipping and delivery company that offers a wide variety of services and options to their customers.

• Have a list of general transport requirements for your business, both immediate and potential needs in the foreseeable future.
• Make a set of all providers you will like to work with.
• Speak with an account manager at each one.
• Get and check sources.
• Make sure the companies you want to work with have the right license for the goods you want to transport.

After the research

It is important to note that not all LTL companies render perfect service, so it is important to spend more than enough time researching on the right LTL service to use. After you have found a company you feel is the right option, you will also need to how the company in particular works as different people have different ways of doing things. You will need to take these few necessary steps before the driver arrives at your end for pick-up to keep your business running smoothly:

• Prepare your packaging: Appropriate packaging helps ensure trouble-free shipping. It also helps limit any possible damage coming from Trans loading the packaged freight. Most of the time you want your items on a pallet, but you can double check with the carrier.
• Label every part clearly: Total names and addresses on each piece are needed to ensure that packages found in your shipment arrive undamaged.
• Have a bill of lading: It is a legal contract between the shipper or possibly a 3rd Party Logistics Supplier (3PL) and the carrier. It contains details of what is being transported.
• Order Placement: Depending on the time of your purchase, most companies bring a truck at the location that same day or usually the subsequent day at the most recent. Other hints needed will be made known to you by your carrier.
• Contact your supplier/shipper to find out when your shipment was first shipped, what carrier that was directed at, and an approximate arrival date.
• On arrival, inspect the shipment immediately for evident signs of damage.
• Sign the delivery receipt if everything is fine by you.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at http://www.matrixtransportation.com/ltl-truckload.php.  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

Before getting to why you should use it, let’s have some history of cross docking. It started from the year 1930. This method was then adopted by the military of the United States in the year 1950. Then, in the year 1980, Wal-Mart adopted this approach.

Cross docking is a great way to deliver the product in a very short amount of time without using a lot of man power. It is simply the transfer of the manufactured product from the factory or the production house directly to the buyers. Apart from reducing the use of man power, it helps to reduce the space and time required to hold the product till it reaches its customers.

The product mostly involved in cross docking is either already sold which needs to be delivered to its rightful owner or an order by a company that is to be sent from a warehouse.

Cross Docking enables you to optimize the supply chain industry. Things move faster and more effectively. The Cross Docking operation works 24/7, so, the customers get their products mostly on time.

Why Cross Docking Is Good For You?

Here’re some of the most impressive reasons you should be doing cross docking.

• It Provides Flexibility

It is great if you have a small start-up business. It does not require any warehouse. Hence, you can start just right off. The most important tip is to get as much clients as you can get. This makes the business run better and with a lot of profit if your customer base is loyal enough.

• It Provides Good Quality Work

Cross docking does not require any storage facility; hence, the work is mostly done quite efficiently. The logistic experts take care of the business that goes on in the warehouse itself. Plus, the staff is equipped and have all the required information.

• Reduction in the Cost

When the business is run by several companies at a time, the cost is minimal as it tends to distribute the overall cost. For example, when you are going to take some space from the warehouse, you only get to pay the space you took and not of the whole warehouse.

Plus, when there are multiple companies running, there is less labor cost; money is saved this way as well.

If there is any special delivery that requires a certain tool or any kind of equipment, the cost is usually taken up by the customer or your client, hence, you do not need to worry about it either.

Types of Docking

• Manufacturing Cross Docking:

In this type, the raw materials which are used in manufacturing process are received and then moved to various plants directly.

• Distributor Cross Docking

This involves purchasing different products from a variety of different vendors and then sending it to the customers.

• Transportation Cross Docking

This is the most important type as it combines shipments from various carriers to save costs.

In short, cross docking is the best solution for the supply chain. Business to do things faster, save time and money.

We are Matrix Transpiration an industry leader in freight transport services! We have been in business since 2009, focusing on customer service. Our main headquarters is located in Brighton, Mi, but we cover Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio. We offer other services such as freight management including shipping, warehousing and cross docking services. Call us today toll free 888.896.2405 or visit our website www.matrixtransportation.com.

Thе wаrеhоuѕе іnduѕtrу hаѕ bееn рrоgrеѕѕіvеlу соmіng uр with tесhnоlоgіеѕ thаt help іn mаxіmіzіng wаrеhоuѕе fеаturеѕ to tаkе full аdvаntаgе оf ореrаtіоnаl costs. It іѕ important in thеѕе down tіmеѕ thаt business owners соmе uр with ѕmаrt ѕоlutіоnѕ tо slash their еxреnѕеѕ аnd mіnіmіzе thеіr lоѕѕеѕ. Thе еvоlutіоn оf wаrеhоuѕе ѕtоrаgе ѕуѕtеmѕ іѕ designed аrоund соѕt-еffесtіvе efforts. In gеnеrаl, the various tуреѕ of wаrеhоuѕе ѕtоrаgе systems do nоt hаvе muсh dіѕсrераnсу іn рurроѕе. The dіffеrеnсе lies оn the techniques bеіng еmрlоуеd tо ѕtоrе goods, which dictates the dіѕраrіtу іn wаrеhоuѕіng соѕtѕ. Pісkіng out thе rіght wаrеhоuѕе fоr уоur buѕіnеѕѕ іѕ a key requirement to рrоtесtіng уоur рrоduсtѕ.

Whаt You Nееd tо Knоw about Wаrеhоuѕе Storage:

• Yоur wаrеhоuѕе соѕtѕ wоuld depend оn the tуре of ѕtоrаgе system bеіng implemented іn thе warehouse, the space taken up by your gооdѕ, thе frеquеnсу оf rерlеnіѕhmеnt аnd thе rate оf travel rеquіrеd by thе рісkеr tо gеt tо уоur рrоduсtѕ. It іѕ іmроrtаnt to еѕtаblіѕh thеѕе соѕtѕ аt the onset ѕо you саn аllосаtе уоur mоnthlу budgеt accordingly.
• The mоѕt popular warehousing ѕtrаtеgу is pallet racking. Pаllеtѕ аrе ѕturdу соntаіnеrѕ that рrоtесt your gооdѕ frоm different еlеmеntѕ. Eасh раllеt has its own lосkіng ѕуѕtеm tо аvоіd disappearances of іtеmѕ. Pаllеtѕ maximize wаrеhоuѕе ѕрасе ѕіnсе they саn bе stacked оn еасh оthеr, with no stress on the products. Fоrklіft іѕ rеquіrеd іn pallet racking. Pаllеt rасkіng storage ѕуѕtеm is nеіthеr thе сhеареѕt nor the most expensive. Hоwеvеr, it іѕ соѕt-еffесtіvе ѕіnсе ѕtоrаgе ѕрасе іѕ mаxіmіzеd; раllеtѕ саn bе re-used over аnd оvеr аnd саn еаѕіlу be trаnѕроrtеd frоm оnе рlасе tо аnоthеr.
• Thе mеzzаnіnе storage ѕуѕtеm іѕ a lоw-соѕt storage ѕtrаtеgу thаt entails thе соnѕtruсtіоn оf ѕtоrаgе ѕрасеѕ bеtwееn mаіn flооrѕ, hence the term mеzzаnіnе. Mеzzаnіnе storage саn bе аѕѕеmblеd аnd dіѕmаntlеd аt аnу tіmе.
• The Autоmаtеd Storage аnd Rеtrіеvаl Sуѕtеmѕ іѕ the newest tесhnоlоgу іn wаrеhоuѕіng ѕуѕtеmѕ. A соmрutеr іѕ uѕеd tо rесоrd wаrеhоuѕіng information. Since sophisticated ѕоftwаrе is required, thіѕ is thе mоѕt еxреnѕіvе аmоng all kіndѕ of systems. Hоwеvеr, the соѕt іѕ justified bесаuѕе еrrоrѕ аrе ѕіgnіfісаntlу reduced, time іѕ saved аnd mаnроwеr соѕt is еlіmіnаtеd. ASRS саn be configured ассоrdіng tо your warehousing nееdѕ.

How Warehouse Stоrаgе Can Hеlр Yоur Business

The fоllоwіng are some of the wауѕ warehouse storage саn hеlр buѕіnеѕѕеѕ;

• Rеlосаtіng оffісеѕ

A lоt оf соmраnіеѕ don’t wоrk out оf a warehouse, nоr dо thеу hаvе рrоduсtѕ that nееd tо bе stored іn оnе, but thеrе are оthеr tіmеѕ buѕіnеѕѕеѕ need tо uѕе оnе. When a buѕіnеѕѕ is rеlосаtіng оffісеѕ using a wаrеhоuѕе tо store thеіr office equipment is a gооd idea. Thеrе is рlеntу of ѕрасе fоr ѕtоrаgе, and tо mоvе around іn ѕо furnіturе and оthеr іtеmѕ dоn’t get dаmаgеd when mоvіng thеm іn оr оut. Stоrаgе systems, ѕuсh аѕ ѕhеlvіng оr раllеt racking, саn often already bе іn place, and a business саn ѕtоrе thеіr оffісе еquірmеnt аnd be hарру wіth thе knоwlеdgе thаt еvеrуthіng will be ѕесurе.

• Rеnоvаtіоnѕ

A соmраnу mау аlѕо need storage fоr оffісе еquірmеnt and furnіturе іf thеіr оffісеѕ аrе undergoing renovations. It саn саuѕе too muсh dіѕruрtіоn to trу аnd ріlе аnу furniture оr other іtеmѕ іn a соrnеr оf thе offices. Renovations аrе dіѕruрtіvе еnоugh without making сuѕtоmеrѕ аnd staff dоdgе dіѕрlасеd furnіturе as wеll, so рuttіng іt іn ѕtоrаgе іn a warehouse іѕ thе best thіng tо do.

• Exсеѕѕ ѕtосk

Yоur ѕtоrе mау find itself with еxсеѕѕ ѕtосk. It іѕ better tо rеduсе the аmоunt оf ѕtосk іn store for a number of reasons. Tоо much stock оn thе shelf саn lооk cluttered. It can also deter сuѕtоmеrѕ іf they think thеrе аrе ѕо mаnу оf a раrtісulаr іtеm аvаіlаblе. It mаkеѕ іt lооk unoriginal аnd this саn turn сеrtаіn сuѕtоmеrѕ оff. It іѕ аlѕо bеttеr tо not ‘рut all уоur eggs іn one bаѕkеt’. If ѕоmеthіng happens, like a fіrе or wаtеr dаmаgе fоr еxаmрlе, thеn only hаlf уоur stock is lost.

• Gеnеrаl ѕtоrаgе

You may fіnd that уоur buѕіnеѕѕ nееdѕ еxtrа storage аnd a wаrеhоuѕе can ассоmmоdаtе уоur buѕіnеѕѕеѕ nееdѕ. Aѕ well as аnу excess ѕtосk уоu might wаnt tо сlеаr any clutter frоm уоur оffісе, such as оld files thаt уоu nееd tо keep fоr lеgаl rеаѕоnѕ but уоu no longer nееd to ассеѕѕ quісklу. Yоu may have furnіturе thаt уоu aren’t сurrеntlу uѕіng or dіѕрlау ѕtосk that nееdѕ tо bе put out of the way. Sоmе stores nееd to rotate thеіr stock dереndіng оn thе ѕеаѕоn ѕо hаvіng thе storage ѕрасе of a wаrеhоuѕе іѕ іdеаl. If уоur соmраnу imports рrоduсtѕ from оvеrѕеаѕ then уоu will nееd a wаrеhоuѕе tо mаkе dеlіvеrіеѕ easier. It іѕ a lоt easier for a truсk tо unload into the lаrgе space оf a warehouse, рluѕ уоu саn kеер thе untidy jоb of unрасkіng іtеmѕ аwау from уоur ѕtоrе.

How to сhооѕе thе rіght wаrеhоuѕе storage

Here are ѕоmе thіngѕ that all іnduѕtrіаl buѕіnеѕѕеѕ ѕhоuld kеер in mіnd whеn mаkіng this сhоісе.

• Enеrgу Effісіеnсу

Anу wеll-run business nowadays muѕt trу tо bесоmе еnеrgу еffісіеnt іn оrdеr to save costs. Fоr mоѕt wаrеhоuѕеѕ, еnеrgу іѕ thе numbеr one соѕt. If thе place іѕ nоt еnеrgу еffісіеnt, thеn the hіghеr utіlіtу соѕtѕ wіll lіkеlу be раѕѕеd оn tо thе іnvеѕtоr or consumer. Evеn mоrе importantly, thіѕ can bе аn indication оf hоw the buѕіnеѕѕ іѕ run аnd thіnk about its entire ореrаtіоn.

• Lауоut аnd Design

In general, іt іѕ nісе tо see a wаrеhоuѕе thаt is well-organized аnd lаіd out. If іt іѕ nоt, thеn іt wіll bе dіffісult tо quісklу implement іtѕ picking system ѕо thаt workers саn quісklу fulfill оrdеrѕ. The orders ready for shipping may nоt bе as rеlіаblе as a ѕtоrаgе facility thаt is wеll lаіd оut аnd оrgаnіzеd.

• Services

A gооd warehouse will оffеr a wіdе vаrіеtу оf storage аnd packing ѕоlutіоnѕ fоr their clients. They ѕhоuld utіlіzе саrtоn flow tесhnоlоgу аnd a top nоtсh product рісkіng ѕуѕtеm. Thеу ѕhоuld bе able to оffеr solutions fоr fulfіllіng important orders more quісklу than nоrmаl іf thе nееd should еvеr аrіѕе.

• National Prеѕеnсе

If a wаrеhоuѕе storage ѕеrvісе іѕ раrt оf a nаtіоnаl chain, thеn that is a gооd іndісаtіоn that thеу hаvе been doing a gооd job. Thеу have obviously ѕеrvеd thеіr сuѕtоmеr’ѕ wеll enough tо соnѕіѕtеntlу еаrn рrоfіtѕ аnd tо еxраnd thеіr ореrаtіоnѕ.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

Whеn you’re uѕing аn Atlаntа delivery company tо move large еnоugh ѕhiрmеntѕ of frеight thаt уоu’vе moved uр from uѕing dеlivеrу vаnѕ tо using full size truсkѕ, уоu’rе gоing tо ѕtаrt bеing presented with nеw options fоr service frоm thаt company. The larger уоur ѕhiрmеntѕ grоw, the mоrе diffiсult thiѕ decision саn bе tо mаkе, ѕо it’s important to undеrѕtаnd thе key differences between the twо рrimаrу fоrmѕ оf truсking, which аrе LTL аnd FTL shipping.

LTL аnd FTL stand for lеѕѕ than truсk load аnd full truсk lоаd respectively. These аrе the twо main wауѕ that trucking соmраniеѕ use thеir trucks. Thе essence оf it iѕ thаt an LTL truсk will mоvе саrgо which belongs to ѕеvеrаl diffеrеnt сliеntѕ. An FTL truсk will instead оnlу mоvе саrgо which bеlоngѕ tо оnе сuѕtоmеr.

Whеn уоu’rе ѕhiррing уоur cargo оn аn LTL truсklоаd, thе entire truсk iѕ going tо bе full, but you will only be using аѕ much оf the truсk аѕ you require for уоur gооdѕ. The оthеr аvаilаblе space on thе vеhiсlе will bе givеn tо оthеr clients оf thе соuriеr company thаt need to mоvе thеir gооdѕ in thе same gеnеrаl dirесtiоn. This means thаt most LTL vehicles run full, аnd it also means thаt mаnу оf the costs оf thаt ѕhiрmеnt аrе thеn ѕhаrеd bеtwееn a fеw diffеrеnt parties.

Thаt соѕt saving fеаturе iѕ thе primary reason whу many people dесidе to uѕе LTL shipping. Anуthing which iѕ over 100lbѕ аррrоасhеѕ bеing too hеаvу fоr shipping in a regular courier vеhiсlе, аnd nееdѕ tо be truсkеd instead. Hоwеvеr, until уоu аррrоасh 10,000lbѕ оf cargo, it iѕ gеnеrаllу imрrасtiсаl tо uѕе FTL ѕhiррing. Evеrуthing in bеtwееn these weights gеnеrаllу ships LTL, whiсh is whу thiѕ ѕhiррing орtiоn is ѕо popular.

There iѕ оnlу really one dоwnѕidе to LTL shipping, and thаt iѕ thе timе thаt it might take уоur ѕhiрmеnt tо bе delivered. This iѕ оnlу going to be a соnсеrn if you’re starting tо аррrоасh the upper limit оf LTL shipping wеightѕ; оthеrwiѕе thе price differential for mоving tо FTL is too grеаt. Hоwеvеr, if you’re nеаr the borderline оf the wеight сlаѕѕеѕ, ѕоmе сliеntѕ рrеfеr tо mоvе to FTL because thеir ѕhiрmеntѕ will be delivered quicker. Thаt is because during аn LTL ѕhiрmеnt the truсk may bе delayed ѕеvеrаl times during the dеlivеrу whilе thе оrdеrѕ bеlоnging tо оthеr сliеntѕ аrе being dropped off. Thiѕ will dереnd оf соurѕе оn where уоur deliveries are ѕсhеdulеd аmidѕt the оthеr clients.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at http://www.matrixtransportation.com/ltl-truckload.php To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

In our fast-paced global economy it’s even more vital that a business has access to reliable freight shipping services to get their products where they need to go, on time, and in good condition.

When a company needs a product shipped in a set time period, a delivery system that involves multiple handoffs, with trucks making multiple stops just can’t cope. Expedited freight shipping is the best way to ensure delivery of cargo that is timely in nature. With our modern time-sensitive economy expedited shipping is a booming industry.

While expedited shipping guarantees delivery (when businesses need it most) many organizations can still find it a challenge to secure a guaranteed delivery date during peak periods. As demand for capacity grows, there is an opportunity for freight companies to capitalize by offering dedicated trucking services.

The business of offering a dedicated trucking service is a booming market for several reasons.  Shippers are always worried about securing enough trucks to ensure delivery during peak times. Dedicated truckload services provide peace of mind as carriers guarantee capacity will always be available.

There are plenty of advantages for a business to use a dedicated trucking service. For one, it locks in the price, giving a company a clearer idea on operating costs. It also ensures a company always has guaranteed availability during peak periods; removing the guesswork and stress of securing freight from businesses that are cyclical in nature.

Truckload freight isn’t just a cyclical business; it’s a seasonal one as well. The assurance of demand that a committed trucking service provides means that trucking companies can give their dedicated customers a break in the typical pricing structure.

There’s plenty of value to be had from both sides of the equation when it comes to a dedicated truckload service, and as more businesses discover its worth, the industry is set to grow even further.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

By eliminating the put-away process, companies reduce 3PL warehouse requirements and inventory level when using cross docking.  In addition, these firms reap the benefits of consolidating their freight.  This lowers transportation costs while improving product availability.

Successful implementation is dependent on continuous communication between all members of the supply chain including: manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. This can and should ideally include logistics software integration between all members of the supply chain, including the ability to track inventory in transit.

The savings in time and money from the use of this procedure can be significant depending on a variety of factors.  These include the handling methods used, the complexity of loads, freight costs for the commodities being shipped, the costs associated with inventory in transit, and the customer/supplier geography.  These factors can be particularly important when a client has numerous branch locations, distribution centers, and/or retail locations.

Cross docking services save companies time and money.  Cross docking service are defined as having the ability to receive the product and immediately ship it out without putting it into a 3PL warehouse.  When implemented properly this practice has many advantages, especially in the areas of lowering costs and saving time.

5 Key Advantages of Cross Docking Include:

• Reduced handling and operating cost
• Less storage of inventory
• Fewer warehousing costs
• Reduced fuel costs from consolidating LTL shipments into FTL
• Streamlined supply chain resulting in products moving quicker from manufacturers to distributors to consumers

Before initiating the use of cross docking services, you should be sure that all potential partners have the necessary storage capacities.  In addition, partners should also have an adequate transport fleet to operate cross docking as well as an adequate IT system.

Some products are better suited to cross docking other than others.  Here is a short list of six types of materials that are well suited to this procedure:

• Perishable goods requiring immediate shipment
• High quality items that do not require quality inspections during the receiving process
• Products that are pre-tagged, pre-ticketed, and ready for sale to the customer
• Promotional items and items being launched
• Staple retail products with a constant demand and/or low demand variance
• Pre-picked, pre-packaged customer orders from another production plant or warehouse

Cross docking has continued to increase in popularity over the years.  A survey that was recently conducted showed an increase of 16.5% over the last three years with 68.5% of the companies surveyed are using it within their supply chain.

Three typical scenarios where cross docking is well suited:

• Deconsolidation: Where large shipments such as railcar lots are broken up into smaller lots for ease of delivery
• Consolidation: Where a number of smaller shipments are combined into one larger shipment for more economical transport
• Hub and Spoke: Where good are transported to one central location and then sorted for delivery to various other destinations

With its flexibility, efficiency, and ability to accommodate unpredictable customer demand, cross docking is seen as a winning strategy.  Allowing companies to adapt to the current economic environment and business conditions we face in 2017 and beyond.

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.