5 LTL freight shipping secrets that save you money now Part 3 By Michael Rogers shipping expert
Michael Rogers
June 05, 2008
www.4way.com
This column is the third in a five-part series designed to give you the inside scoop on shipping. I´m passing these little-known secrets on to you to help you save money and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Insider Secret #3: Beware of Hidden Charges
Have you ever had a car dealer quote you a low price for a standard car, but then charge you more for upgrades such as a stereo, automatic transmission and rust protection? Many trucking companies take a similar approach, tricking you into thinking they have the lowest price by quoting the bare-bones shipping, and then hitting you with the accessorial charges later.
To avoid getting surprised by extra charges, make sure you tell the carrier specific details about your shipment and put the information in writing. Your checklist should include:
The specific size and actual dimensions of boxes or pallets.
The total weight of the shipment, including pallets if used.
Is the shipment palletized? Some carriers charge more for non-palletized shipments because they require more time to load onto the truck.
The transit time required from pick-up to delivery. As you would expect, "rush jobs" cost more.
Is a lift gate required for pick-up or delivery? In other words, can the truck pull right up to a dock or will the shipment need to be lifted onto the truck from the ground? You can and will be charged more when lift gates are required.
Is the pick-up or delivery in a residential area or on a construction site? Some carriers have surcharges for delivery to these types of locations.
Is this a hazardous materials shipment with special requirements? Again, this may require special equipment for shipping that can cost more.
What size truck is required? Do the loading or unloading locations have special requirements with regard to the size or height of the truck?
Is an inside pick-up or delivery required? For example, will it be delivered to the third floor of an office building? If so, the carrier needs to know this in advance and will charge more for it.
Does the shipment require any special handling, such as refrigeration, or will it need to be shipped with a tarp if on a flatbed?
Will the shipment need to be stored?
Relaying this information to the carrier allows you to make sure that they don´t hit you with extra charges later.
Look for Insider Secret # 4 next month or visit www.4way.com to download our ground-breaking whitepaper.
4 Way Logistics, Inc. is a non-asset-based 3PL that provides multi-modal transportation services. Based in San Ramon, Calif., 4 Way Logistics offers a broad array of transportation options to move freight, including truckload, LTL, intermodal, air, ocean, and heavy-haul projects.
This column is the third in a five-part series designed to give you the inside scoop on shipping. I´m passing these little-known secrets on to you to help you save money and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Insider Secret #3: Beware of Hidden Charges
Have you ever had a car dealer quote you a low price for a standard car, but then charge you more for upgrades such as a stereo, automatic transmission and rust protection? Many trucking companies take a similar approach, tricking you into thinking they have the lowest price by quoting the bare-bones shipping, and then hitting you with the accessorial charges later.
To avoid getting surprised by extra charges, make sure you tell the carrier specific details about your shipment and put the information in writing. Your checklist should include:
The specific size and actual dimensions of boxes or pallets.
The total weight of the shipment, including pallets if used.
Is the shipment palletized? Some carriers charge more for non-palletized shipments because they require more time to load onto the truck.
The transit time required from pick-up to delivery. As you would expect, "rush jobs" cost more.
Is a lift gate required for pick-up or delivery? In other words, can the truck pull right up to a dock or will the shipment need to be lifted onto the truck from the ground? You can and will be charged more when lift gates are required.
Is the pick-up or delivery in a residential area or on a construction site? Some carriers have surcharges for delivery to these types of locations.
Is this a hazardous materials shipment with special requirements? Again, this may require special equipment for shipping that can cost more.
What size truck is required? Do the loading or unloading locations have special requirements with regard to the size or height of the truck?
Is an inside pick-up or delivery required? For example, will it be delivered to the third floor of an office building? If so, the carrier needs to know this in advance and will charge more for it.
Does the shipment require any special handling, such as refrigeration, or will it need to be shipped with a tarp if on a flatbed?
Will the shipment need to be stored?
Relaying this information to the carrier allows you to make sure that they don´t hit you with extra charges later.
Look for Insider Secret # 4 next month or visit www.4way.com to download our ground-breaking whitepaper.
4 Way Logistics, Inc. is a non-asset-based 3PL that provides multi-modal transportation services. Based in San Ramon, Calif., 4 Way Logistics offers a broad array of transportation options to move freight, including truckload, LTL, intermodal, air, ocean, and heavy-haul projects.
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