In the realm of LTL shipping, transparency refers to the process of communicating relevant information regarding a shipment to shippers, carriers, customers, and any other stakeholders involved in the supply chain. Transparency is critical to building trust and forming lasting relationships in the LTL industry. Supplying accurate data to relevant parties allows them to react to changes and adjust strategies in both the short and long term. Supply chains are constantly changing and adapting to market conditions. If shippers and carriers do not have a transparent relationship, it can be very challenging to avoid freight management errors, operational delays, and miscommunications that hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of an LTL freight relationship.
Transparency is vital in all types of business relationships, but it is particularly important in the LTL freight industry. Because LTL involves complex logistics to move multiple shipments at once and may require various real-time adjustments during a shipping relationship, all supply chain stakeholders must be made aware of the details surrounding a shipment.
For shippers, transparency means communicating accurate information regarding the shipment being transported to the carrier. The precise weight, dimensions, freight class, and load description must be recorded and submitted when the quote is obtained. LTL carriers are consolidating multiple shipments onto a single truck and working with razor-thin capacity margins and timetables. Because of this, the information provided by the shipper must be accurate to avoid overloading the trailer, losing a shipment during a terminal consolidation, or missing a pickup or delivery due to miscommunications between drivers and warehouse workers. Shippers must also provide any additional information necessary to complete the shipment, such as required accessorials or special handling instructions, to avoid delays or missed pickups/deliveries.
For example, a pickup location may fall well outside the usual carrier route and doesn’t have the space to accommodate a standard 52-foot LTL trailer turning around and positioning itself for loading or unloading. If those details are not passed on to the carrier, the driver may arrive at the location and be unable to complete the pickup. This will result in a missed pickup, subsequent delays, and possible additional accessorial charges added to the freight bill for a remote or difficult location. In this case, everybody loses. The shipper doesn’t get their items on time, the carrier is forced to scramble to accommodate the unexpected circumstances in order to complete the delivery, and the manufacturers, retailers, or customers further down the supply chain are unable to do business until the product arrives.
Additionally, carriers need to be transparent about delivery times, capacities, and policies regarding additional fees that may occur, such as fuel rate surcharges and accessorial charges. They should create, maintain, and provide an organized invoice that clearly shows their prices and procedures to the shipper. This offers transparency and a shared document from which both sides can operate and negotiate, which can help avoid conflicts that may arise from a lack of communication.
Providing this information allows shippers to prepare their warehouse, organize space and staffing, and plan their budget properly. It is also important that carriers communicate any apparent discrepancies or inaccuracies that can be resolved before the shipment is made so adjustments can happen before a missed pickup occurs. Providing thorough information upfront helps build trust, and a commitment to visibility and transparency throughout the freight transportation process is crucial for limiting costly supply chain disruptions.
The best way to achieve higher levels of transparency is through technology that aggregates and organizes the necessary data for all parties and puts it in a place where everyone can access and utilize it. Working with a qualified, trusted, and tech-savvy 3PL like Koho gives shippers and carriers the ability to employ powerful digital technology in their shipping arrangements. The third-party logistics experts at Koho have the LTL shipping platform and tools to provide centralized communication and information sharing that benefits everyone.
Through Koho’s online platform, shippers and carriers can enter, store, and locate all the relevant information needed to complete a shipment in one easily accessible location. Koho’s shipping experts will review the information submitted about a shipment at the time of the quote to ensure no details are missing. The platform will also automatically produce a complete bill of lading with all the relevant shipping data, ready to print and present to the LTL driver. This gives carriers full transparency regarding the characteristics of a load and its pickup and delivery locations, allowing them to prepare their drivers and terminal staff accordingly.
Koho also provides online tracking on their platform so shippers and recipients can follow their cargo throughout its journey, be adequately prepared for deliveries, and receive real-time updates on any delays or problems along the route. This allows supply chain members to be better informed and better prepared to adapt to unforeseen issues, which avoids the stress of scrambling to make last-minute changes and explanations to unhappy customers.
Koho’s messaging feature provides a centralized place for all communication regarding a shipment to occur between relevant parties. No more relying on outdated phone calls or email threads that exclude supply chain links or are too slow to be effective. Instead, Koho’s messaging feature provides a single location where anyone from the shipper or carrier team can transmit important instructions, details, or guidance about a shipment before or after it is in progress. Shippers also have direct access to the LTL freight pros at Koho through the platform, giving them genuine LTL experience and expertise at their fingertips to help resolve any issues that may arise.
Using a tech-conscious 3PL like Koho is the best way to promote visibility into the status and details of your shipments, provide transparency between all members of your supply chain, and build trust in your shipping relationships. To get the most out of your shipping budget and make your LTL freight experience as efficient as possible, contact Koho today.
In the realm of LTL shipping, transparency refers to the process of communicating relevant information regarding a shipment to shippers, carriers, customers, and any other stakeholders involved in the supply chain. Transparency is critical to building trust and forming lasting relationships in the LTL industry. Supplying accurate data to relevant parties allows them to react to changes and adjust strategies in both the short and long term. Supply chains are constantly changing and adapting to market conditions. If shippers and carriers do not have a transparent relationship, it can be very challenging to avoid freight management errors, operational delays, and miscommunications that hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of an LTL freight relationship.
Transparency is vital in all types of business relationships, but it is particularly important in the LTL freight industry. Because LTL involves complex logistics to move multiple shipments at once and may require various real-time adjustments during a shipping relationship, all supply chain stakeholders must be made aware of the details surrounding a shipment.
For shippers, transparency means communicating accurate information regarding the shipment being transported to the carrier. The precise weight, dimensions, freight class, and load description must be recorded and submitted when the quote is obtained. LTL carriers are consolidating multiple shipments onto a single truck and working with razor-thin capacity margins and timetables. Because of this, the information provided by the shipper must be accurate to avoid overloading the trailer, losing a shipment during a terminal consolidation, or missing a pickup or delivery due to miscommunications between drivers and warehouse workers. Shippers must also provide any additional information necessary to complete the shipment, such as required accessorials or special handling instructions, to avoid delays or missed pickups/deliveries.
For example, a pickup location may fall well outside the usual carrier route and doesn’t have the space to accommodate a standard 52-foot LTL trailer turning around and positioning itself for loading or unloading. If those details are not passed on to the carrier, the driver may arrive at the location and be unable to complete the pickup. This will result in a missed pickup, subsequent delays, and possible additional accessorial charges added to the freight bill for a remote or difficult location. In this case, everybody loses. The shipper doesn’t get their items on time, the carrier is forced to scramble to accommodate the unexpected circumstances in order to complete the delivery, and the manufacturers, retailers, or customers further down the supply chain are unable to do business until the product arrives.
Additionally, carriers need to be transparent about delivery times, capacities, and policies regarding additional fees that may occur, such as fuel rate surcharges and accessorial charges. They should create, maintain, and provide an organized invoice that clearly shows their prices and procedures to the shipper. This offers transparency and a shared document from which both sides can operate and negotiate, which can help avoid conflicts that may arise from a lack of communication.
Providing this information allows shippers to prepare their warehouse, organize space and staffing, and plan their budget properly. It is also important that carriers communicate any apparent discrepancies or inaccuracies that can be resolved before the shipment is made so adjustments can happen before a missed pickup occurs. Providing thorough information upfront helps build trust, and a commitment to visibility and transparency throughout the freight transportation process is crucial for limiting costly supply chain disruptions.
The best way to achieve higher levels of transparency is through technology that aggregates and organizes the necessary data for all parties and puts it in a place where everyone can access and utilize it. Working with a qualified, trusted, and tech-savvy 3PL like Koho gives shippers and carriers the ability to employ powerful digital technology in their shipping arrangements. The third-party logistics experts at Koho have the LTL shipping platform and tools to provide centralized communication and information sharing that benefits everyone.
Through Koho’s online platform, shippers and carriers can enter, store, and locate all the relevant information needed to complete a shipment in one easily accessible location. Koho’s shipping experts will review the information submitted about a shipment at the time of the quote to ensure no details are missing. The platform will also automatically produce a complete bill of lading with all the relevant shipping data, ready to print and present to the LTL driver. This gives carriers full transparency regarding the characteristics of a load and its pickup and delivery locations, allowing them to prepare their drivers and terminal staff accordingly.
Koho also provides online tracking on their platform so shippers and recipients can follow their cargo throughout its journey, be adequately prepared for deliveries, and receive real-time updates on any delays or problems along the route. This allows supply chain members to be better informed and better prepared to adapt to unforeseen issues, which avoids the stress of scrambling to make last-minute changes and explanations to unhappy customers.
Koho’s messaging feature provides a centralized place for all communication regarding a shipment to occur between relevant parties. No more relying on outdated phone calls or email threads that exclude supply chain links or are too slow to be effective. Instead, Koho’s messaging feature provides a single location where anyone from the shipper or carrier team can transmit important instructions, details, or guidance about a shipment before or after it is in progress. Shippers also have direct access to the LTL freight pros at Koho through the platform, giving them genuine LTL experience and expertise at their fingertips to help resolve any issues that may arise.
Using a tech-conscious 3PL like Koho is the best way to promote visibility into the status and details of your shipments, provide transparency between all members of your supply chain, and build trust in your shipping relationships. To get the most out of your shipping budget and make your LTL freight experience as efficient as possible, contact Koho today.
