How to find the right freight shipping company

What to Do When Switching to a New Freight Shipping Company

There are a wide variety of LTL carriers on the market, each with different specialties when it comes to locations, routes, equipment, and transportation hubs. Certain carriers may offer better rates than others, depending on where and what you’re shipping. That’s why it’s essential to shop around and compare rates to find the best one for your particular shipment. 

If you have been using the same LTL carrier for a while, it may be time to reexamine your shipping needs to ensure you are getting the most from your shipping budget. Factors such as service area, price, performance, reliability, and customer services all play a part in whether your LTL carrier is right for you.

Different Types of LTL Carriers

Most shippers work with several different LTL providers to create the right balance of capacity and rates for their shipping needs. The number of carriers in your network will be dictated by how different those shipping needs are, shipment to shipment. Here are a few of the most common LTL carrier types to choose from, though keep in mind that each carrier’s capabilities are different, so they might not fit perfectly into a single category.

• National carriers – National LTL carriers provide coverage for the entire continental United States, from coast to coast and border to border. They typically utilize a hub-and-spoke model that relies heavily on a vast network of drivers and transportation terminals to organize and distribute shipments. National carriers tend to be best if you’re moving LTL freight long distances and want a one-stop-shop experience when booking directly. Potential drawbacks include rates and service levels not being as good in some areas as certain specialized regional carriers, and difficulty securing preferential pricing unless you ship a large volume of freight.

• Regional carriers – Regional LTL carriers are smaller shipping companies that focus on a particular area or group of states for which they provide coverage. Regional carriers are a common type of LTL transportation company that often have dense networks of hubs and drivers in their respective areas. This allows them to offer competitive pricing in the area they serve. Potential drawbacks include limited coverage, reduced capacity, and the need to coordinate with multiple carriers if you are moving freight outside the region.

• Local carriers – Local LTL carriers serve particular areas or even single states. Because they are usually smaller businesses, it can be easier to secure preferential rates and establish a mutually beneficial relationship for consistent LTL shipments. Unfortunately, their limited scope only makes them useful for LTL freight that is traveling shorter distances.

Using a 3PL to Coordinate LTL Carriers

The best way to get the most competitive LTL rates, no matter what you’re shipping or where it’s going, is to work with a third-party logistics (3PL) company like Koho. Knowledgeable 3PLs like Koho are partnered with an extensive network of different types of LTL carriers that will fit any shipping situation. In addition, Koho can leverage the high volumes of business they do with their carriers to get the best freight rates, the most significant discounts, and the most preferential capacity for shippers.

 Koho also provides an online shipping platform that lets you find the best rates on LTL freight transportation in minutes. This system saves you the time and hassle of contacting multiple carriers to try and find the best deal on your own and offers the best rates available from trusted and reliable carriers. Working with a knowledgeable, connected 3PL like Koho removes the complicated guesswork of switching to a new freight shipping company, so you can start building your carrier network today.