Common Carriers Basics

Find out what you need to know about common carriers

Common carriers offer you transportation of people or goods by providing its licensed, regulated service to the general public. Because they are regulated and offer their services to the general public, they cannot discriminate. Common carriers must also prove to their regulator that they are able to continue to offer their services.

Whether they are common LTL carriers, common carrier freight companies or other public transportation common carriers, they usually follow a defined and pre-published route, according to a preset schedule (e.g. a bus route, a train schedule or a daily flight plan). Common freight carrier companies such as FedEx or UPS also follow such schedules for their normally planned pick up and delivery routes in addition to their additional business deliveries. This route schedule also applies to smaller, lesser known trucking common carriers that may be a great fit for your supply chain needs.

To find out more about common carriers basics:

1. Begin with defining common carriers.

2. Consult federal sources on common carrier services.

3. Take advantage of common carrier truck sites and portals.

 

Start with definitions on common carriers

See what the definition and explanation information on common carriers is. If you are looking to use the services of one of the many common carriers, understand the general information on using their services before making first contact.
Try: The Lectric Law Library's Lexicon offers definition and historical information on common carrier companies. Answers Corporation offers a brief description of their own, but goes on to offer multiple definitions from different sources.

Look at federal regulation of common carrier services

Find out how the federal government oversees common carriers. Also look at other government resources on common carriers.
Try: Check out common carrier tariffs from the Federal Maritime Commission. Take a look at their extensive question and answer section. Take a look at the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations from the National Archives and Records Administration. Review such subjects as "Procurement of Common Carrier Transportation" and "Accounting for Common Carrier Transportation."

Use trucker resources sites for common carriers

Trucking carriers can take advantage of the many resources sites available in the industry. Truckers are great at consolidating information into one area, so there are many portal sites that offer a wealth of information to help those in the common carrier trucking industry.
Try: Etrucker.com is the common carrier's journal resource for the latest news and information. Find fuel prices, road conditions, routing, permit information and more. Trucking Resources offers a portal of information for common carriers ranging from journals, bulletins, directories to catalogs, associations and more.

 

• When making initial contact with potential companies that offer common carrier services for transportation of goods, have your list of questions ready. Discuss pricing, including fuel surcharges. Talk about who does the loading and unloading. Some companies will save you money if you take care of the loading and unloading, and they just do the driving. Also ask for a list of references that you can call to discuss. Follow up with that list to ensure satisfaction in terms of pricing and customer service.

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