Trucking in North America is big business, and finding someone to haul your product from one end of the country to the other is as simple as picking up the telephone. Freight companies in North America have become so technologically advanced that shipment scheduling, transporting and tracking is now a job for third-party brokers and the trucking companies themselves. This frees manufacturers to concentrate on production, not logistics.

North American transport services are often the product of a brokerage that coordinates shipments between manufacturers and trucking companies. Brokers provide easy access to thousands of trucks, typically charging a percentage of the line haul for their services. Shippers can also hire trucking companies with common or contract authority directly. This arrangement can be beneficial to both parties. Without the middleman, the result can be more economical shipping costs for the manufacturer with higher profits for the trucking company.

Before arranging for North American shipping, there are a few details you must be ready to provide:

1. The size and shape of North American freight you’re shipping. Can it ship on a flatbed truck, or does it require protection from the elements? Does the load require refrigeration? Is the product too wide to fit in a box trailer? Load specifics are essential.

2. The approximate weight (within 200 lbs) of the shipment including the product and any racks, containers or pallets used in the shipping process.

3. The classification of the product. Shipments that fall under Hazardous Materials regulations have special requirements for transport. In mixed loads, you must provide the exact classification of all products in the shipment.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• If customer service and on-time delivery is one of your main goals, consider finding a local trucking company to act as a contract carrier for your business. Not only will you have the advantage of pre-scheduled trucks, but the same drivers are likely to service your facility on a regular basis. This frees your shipping department from repeated explanations of standard procedures and facility directions to new drivers.