Whether you are a carrier seeking an operator, an operator seeking a job or you are just someone keeping tabs on the industry, find out the latest expedited freight news and trends to keep abreast of what is happening in the field. Stay on top of the latest industry news, learn what your owner/operator opportunities are, read truck and equipment reviews as well as discover carrier profiles to fit your need.

Use expedite freight news sites to see who is pairing with whom. Find out what new websites are being launched and how that affects you. Follow the analysis trends to see where the industry is heading. Discover how technology is improving expedited transport standards. All of the latest news and trends can have an impact on how you conduct your business. Stay on top of the latest information to keep ahead of the curve.

To make the most of expedited trucking news and trends:

1. Register for an online expedited transportation newsletter.

2. Visit a expedited freight services news site.

3. Read an online publication devoted to expedited transportation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use news sources for expedite trucking companies

Take advantage of expedited trucking and information to seek out people to partner with, job information, vehicle information, news, trends and more.

I recommend: Find out the latest news from ExpeditersOnline.Com. You can also use their site to find jobs, trucks, locate classifieds and more. Register for the ExpediteNow.Com HotShot e-Newsletter.

Visit a expedited transport event

Go to an expedited transport seminar, workshop or trade show to learn more about the field or to find resources for your business needs. Finding an event in your city or region will offer you the most cost effective option if you don't have to pay for overnight lodging.

I recommend: Find facts and answers at Expedited Trucking Seminars. Visit the Expedite Info Center at one of the next industry trade shows to find resources on the expedited freight industry.

Read one of the expedited trucking online publications

Print versions of expedited shipping magazines often offer expedited transport online magazines as well that you can access many of their articles at no charge

I recommend: Read today's latest trucking headlines from Land Line Magazine. Express Trucking News is an online publication for expediting professionals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Expedited freight seminars and workshops are great for beginners or for continuing education in the field. Trade shows events can help you network, stay abreast of the latest word-of-mouth information, see the newest products and find out about the latest technology. They are usually an investment to go visit, but the payoff is in the information learned (they also generally have workshops or seminars), the connections made, and the cost savings that you might be able to implement for your business over the long run.

Because time is money, expedited transport of your raw materials or final product may be a necessary part of fulfilling your business commitments and goals. You can expedite freight from city to city or from coast to coast.

You have to find a reliable company, though, that you can entrust your materials with that not only can deliver on time, but also offer you efficient, cost effective, safe transportation of your goods.

To find the right expedited freight company for you:

1. Start your search online for companies that expedite freight.

2. Increase your comfort level with a company by not only asking for references but by discussing their safety record with them as well.

3. Decide on a company that not only meets your budget needs, but also one that you feel confident that will deliver the professional level of service that you are expecting.

Action Steps
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Use an expedited trucking search engine

You can easily find an expedited trucking carrier directory, carrier profiles and rate quotes online.

I recommend: Check out Expedite Companies for a directory of carriers, or you can sign up with ExpediteLoads.com for free, unlimited use and instant access to over 800 trucking companies and thousands of freight drivers looking for loads.

Find a specialized expedited transport company

Companies like Computer Transportation Services (CTS) focus in a small market area for greater customization of services for their expedited freight. Rich Logistics also covers select areas for their expedited transport.

I recommend: CTS is the company for you if you are trying to ship computer equipment, medical equipment, semi conductor equipment, copiers/documentation imaging equipment, or test equipment. They also are available to you for general freight. When looking for expedite trucking companies, if you need to transport automotive materials or electronics, Rich Logistics is a great place to start. They offer you not only a means to transport your expedited trucking materials, but they also offer you a place to warehouse your load as well.

Consider a trusted name

You don't have to settle for an expedited freight company that you found online and know relatively little about. FedEx and UPS offer you expedited transportation backed by names that you can trust.

I recommend: FedEx offers you two expedited freight services. The first service that you can choose from is their Surface Expedite Exclusive Use, which is a non-stop, door to door shipping in exclusive-use vehicles that is reliable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The second choice that you have through FedEx is their Surface Expedite Network, which offers you time-definite deliveries within a one-hour window. UPS offers you palletized time critical trucking, backed by a day-definite on time guarantee.

Pack it right

Safety should be one of your number one concerns when entrusting your gear with expedite trucking companies.

I recommend: To find out how to prepare your cargo before its expedited shipping journey, check out the packing tips on FreightBrokers.com. They give great information on how to pack your materials inside the box, to info on how to cushion the outside of the box, to spoilage and restricted items.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check out the time and satisfaction guarantees before committing to expedited freight service even if you choose a well known company like FedEx or UPS.
• •  If you work with a logistics company, check out their insurance requirements on your shipment, and be sure to insure for the full replacement amount.

Expedited trucking provides truck drivers with the opportunity to make long hauls using straight trucks. Expedited shipping offers a ground-based solution to shipping products across the country on short notice. Because of the rush, the job usually requires a two-person team.

Many drivers can use expedite freight training for other jobs in the trucking industry, so it is a good idea to determine what other types of vehicles you might drive before you pursue training. Before you start your career:

1. Get the requisite permits, such as a Class B driver's license or the license that best fits your career goals.

2. Work with expedited freight companies offering training.

3. Stay current with expedited freight companies that offer on-site training.

Action Steps
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Secure the appropriate permits needed for expedited transport

The required permits you need to work in expedited freight depend on a variety of factors, including the company you work for, the routes you plan to travel and the types of trucks you plan to drive. In some cases, a company may lease you a truck, which comes with the required permits to operate in specific states; however, the company may include the cost of the permits in the lease price.

I recommend: Expedite Info offers an article database on Getting Started in the business. It includes links on the essential requirements you need to transport products legally. Prime offers a paid commercial driver's license (CDL) program for drivers who stay with the company for a year. The company lists the base requirements, such as a regular driver's license, on its website.

Let expedited freight companies pay the bill

Expedite trucking companies often offer training for potential drivers, so it can be a good idea to see who is hiring and what training they offer before paying out of pocket for education.

I recommend: Expedite Solutions recruits independent contract drivers and provides training in the expedite transport business. It provides three levels of training, which you can review online. Expedite Recruiting.com provides profiles of expedited trucking companies and matches independent contractors to companies who are willing to train drivers.

Stay current on expedited transport training

Use online resources to stay up-to-date on the locations and types of expedited transport training available. Some companies host on-site training at various locations throughout the US, which might be more cost effective than traveling to another state to get training--especially if a training session will be in your city soon.

I recommend: Expedite News maintains a current calendar of event for expedited freight training courses and seminars. ExpeditersOnline.com offers free classifieds to help connects drivers with companies. Several of the companies advertising for employees offer ongoing expedited trucking education and training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some expedited transportation training programs are scams that take your money without delivering the promised certification. Always research a company's reputation before paying any money for training. Forums, blogs and review sites can provide information on current scams.

When you find yourself in need of expedited trucking, make sure to brush up on several key terms to help you find the right services for your business. Expedited trucking services are imperative to any company that has large shipments that need to reach their destinations under tight deadlines.

Before you seek out an expedited trucking service, make sure to familiarize yourself with the following terms: Just-In-Time, ETA Warning System, straight truck, gross weight, 49 CFR, and bill of lading.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Just-In-Time (JIT)

Just-In-Time trucking is part of an inventory control process in which items are shipped only on an as-needed basis. This method of trucking saves storage space and costs, and relies heavily on the services of expedited trucking companies.

I recommend: Copybook Solutions' Freight International glossary provides an excellent definition of Just-In-Time. You can also learn the definitions of many other expedited trucking-related terms in the site's comprehensive glossary.

ETA tracking system

An ETA tracking system uses GPS tracking to determine an expedited shipment's location throughout transit. It is a great tool for ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of your most important expedited shipments.

I recommend: Express-1 provides an in-depth explanation of its tracking system, the ETA Warning System.

Straight truck

Straight truck is a term used to describe a truck that has its cab and trailer mounted onto one chassis. Straight trucks are commonly used to transport expedited shipments.

I recommend: Go to ShipNorthAmerican Transportation's website for a definition of straight truck. The company also provides helpful links to many expedited trucking resources.

Gross weight

Gross weight describes the weight of the entire expedited shipment, including the truck, fuel and truck driver.

I recommend: Learn the definition of gross weight along with other important trucking-related terms at Expedited Services.

49 CFR

49 CFR is a federal regulation that governs the transport of hazardous materials set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you will be transporting hazardous goods, you will need to learn the rules associated with 49 CFR.

I recommend: Dangerous Goods Transportation Training explains 49 CFR in detail.

Bill of lading

A bill of lading is an important part of every expedited shipment. The bill of lading outlines the contents of the shipment in detail. Bill of lading forms can be provided by your company or the trucking company.

I recommend: TWNA provides a definition of bill of lading. The site is also an excellent resource for other trucking-related information.