Trying to find freight capacity can be one of the most stressful parts of shipping. If you have goods to ship, but can’t find a carrier, your business will be in a tight spot. Maybe your regular carrier is booked or rates have shot up. Regardless of your unique situation, there are some ways out of this common logistics problem.
Here are six strategies that will help you secure freight capacity:
We’ll explain how these strategies work and the factors that can limit freight capacity.
We’ve already listed the strategies that shippers use to secure capacity for their loads. Now, we’ll show you how each strategy works and how you can implement them when searching for a carrier.
Building strong relationships with carriers is a great way of ensuring you always have capacity. Fortunately, there are multiple ways that you can strengthen the bond between you and your chosen transportation provider.
This includes:
Following these steps is all well and fine, but how do you establish a relationship with a carrier you’ve never worked with before? One way is to complete a request for proposal that’s offered by transportation providers.
When filling one out, you’ll be able to solicit detailed bids, communicate your transportation needs, and specify other requirements. If the carrier is a right fit for your needs, you’ll have begun a new partnership with a strategic partner that can transport your freight.
If an RFP isn’t available, carriers also offer quotes that you’ll fill out prior to shipping.
A 3PL connects you to a broad network of pre-vetted carriers and gives you access to freight services that might otherwise be out of reach. These companies have extensive carrier networks and advanced technology to help their customers.
However, not all 3PLs are reliable. You’ll need to vet your desired 3PL very carefully to ensure the one you select can fulfill your needs.
To do this, look into these aspects of a 3PL:
Some of this information is made available by 3PLs, but you might need to do some research for the others. Nonetheless, these details will give you a good idea of their reliability.
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Relying on just one or two carriers might feel easy, but it comes with risks. If one of them is overbooked or drops a lane, your shipments could be left in limbo.
An easy way to overcome this problem is by working with carriers of various capacities. This will give you more flexibility in your capacity and shipping options. There are many carriers in the U.S. that you can use. To show this, consider some data we’ve provided.Â
3PLs can help manage your relationship with many of these carriers. Here at USA Truckload Shipping, we work with over 22,000 transportation providers, many of them belonging to the 95.5% that only have a fleet of 10 trucks or fewer. With their support, we’re able to provide a variety of transportation services.
Modern freight tech tools can help you secure capacity faster and with less effort. There are a variety of tools tailored specifically to shippers that you can use to find a carrier.
These include:
​Load boards are online platforms that connect shippers with carriers, facilitating the process of securing freight capacity. By posting available loads, you’ll gain access to a broad network of carriers actively seeking freight. This helps you efficiently match shipments with appropriate transportation options.
These platforms use algorithms to connect shippers with carriers that have available capacity, streamlining the process of finding and securing transportation services. By automating load matching, you can quickly identify suitable providers and reduce the time and effort involved in traditional methods.
TMS platforms assist shippers in planning, executing, and optimizing the movement of their goods. They provide functionalities such as carrier selection, freight consolidation, and route optimization. This improves capacity utilization and will increase your cost savings.
When possible, plan your shipments ahead of time. Allowing carriers enough lead time gives them a better shot at planning efficient routes, which often results in lower costs and higher service levels.
Last-minute shipments are sometimes unavoidable, but if your business has seasonal freight or repeat shipments, schedule those loads in advance. Booking early shows carriers that you respect their time and operations. This will also help you strengthen your relationship.
Watching the logistics industry will reveal useful insights about freight capacity. There are a few factors in particular that are worth monitoring.
Each of these factors can determine a surplus or shortage in capacity. By monitoring the market, you’ll be able to anticipate changes and adjust accordingly.
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Now that we’ve talked about what you can do, it’s worth taking a minute to look at what’s outside your control. There are several common factors that limit freight capacity in the U.S. market:
These market forces are tough to control, but the strategies above can help you navigate them with fewer headaches.
At USA Truckload Shipping, we have plenty of capacity to go around. Our vast network of carriers are located across the country, standing ready to provide you with transportation services. They’re all vetted and will handle your freight with care. With their support, we can provide you with a variety of transportation services.
This includes:
Start your relationship with USA Truckload Shipping by filling out your Request for Proposal (RFP). If you have any questions about our services, then call our team at (866) 353-7178 or reach out to us on our contact page.
R+L Global Logistics
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