Truck Load Basics

Book by the truckload to save extra cash

Save on shipping costs by booking your freight by the truckload. Truckload companies can help small and large shippers move their goods through the supply chain from point A to point B by offering experience, industry knowledge and the equipment to manage truckload freight.

If you are uncertain where to start, you might also consider the help of truck load brokers to help you manage the task of finding the right TL freight carriers for you. Whether you choose to have someone help you or you decide to go it alone, the truckload companies that you consider have to not only be dependable, but also professional and insured in order to properly handle your goods.

To find out more about truck load basics:

1. See what services the popular truck load carriers offer. Use that as a point of comparison with other lesser known companies.

2. Check out truckload posting sites.

3. Discover how fuel expenses affect your full truck load rates.

 

Check out popular TL freight carriers

Start with the most sought after TL trucking companies to see how they do business. Compare their prices and services as your starting point as with their volume of business they can often give you the best price breaks.
Try: Use Hoovers to find out the most viewed truckload carrier company names and links. Large freight companies like Fed-Ex and UPS are also helpful sources of information of truckload services as well.

Check out truckload postings

Whether you are looking for loads or drivers, seek out truck load posting sites to pair up with the right person or company for you. Posting systems will help link drivers looking for loads to carry with companies seeking out drivers to haul for them.
Try: Boards like Direct Freight Services allow drivers to search for loads and for businesses to post available truck freight. Trulos is another truck load posting system. Through this site, drivers can also view available truckloads.

Look at fuel surcharges for truckload freight

Understand how fuel costs are figured into your full truck load rates. Find out how much of the expense is passed through to you versus absorbed by the freight company.
Try: Companies like Atlas are great for transporting the shipment if you want to handle all loading and unloading of the materials. Atlas also has a helpful site to help consumers understand fuel costs as well. Also check out the fuel surcharge resources available through A. Duie Pyle.

 

• Make sure that your delivery time table is discussed with your truck load provider. If you need same day or overnight delivery, make sure that is in writing and that everyone is on the same page as far as your expectation as a client. If your truck load carrier does not meet those expectations, then it is time to start talking about a discount taken off of the back end of your invoice.

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