Freight carrier companies have become indispensable in today’s commerce dictionary.
There are plenty of options. From low-cost, local carriers to international carrier companies. But what do you need? How will you know that this freight carrier will be able to handle all your shipping needs?
There are a number of questions you need to ask yourself before venturing out to find the right carrier
for your business.
– What kind of products are you mostly to ship?
– What is your frequency of shipping?
– Do you ship to local addresses or international zip codes?
– If you are shipping to international addresses, how often do you do it?
– Do you have delicate/sensitive goods?
– Does your shipment need full care -meaning, are they pharmaceutical or medical products that require a certain care condition during shipment?
Once you have finished asking the questions, it is time to throw the ball on the other side and ask questions pertaining to the carrier.
– What is the track record of this carrier?
– Do they have trained staff?
– Are they are able to handle sensitive material?
– Are they well-versed with the zip codes I have in mind?
– How do they determine their pricing?
– Do they have fixed-rate shipping?
USPS (United States Postal Service):
FedEx and UPS are using the services of USPS like there is no tomorrow. USPS specialises in ground delivery. USPS is also extremely reasonable compared to FedEx and UPS.
Bandwidth of the carrier’s staff and facilities:
The ultimate delight for you would be your customer’s satisfaction. You don’t want to choose a carrier that is not going to
take care of your package and mess it halfway down now, do you? Every carrier says that they have well-trained and experienced staff, but are you able to cross-check that claim?
Tracking:
Any respectable carrier company will have a tracking system set up on their website. But how accurate and real-time is it? Have you checked it? Customers are known to track their orders on a regular basis. And especially during peak seasons like festivals and important days, where everybody is ordering something or the other, the delivery will be super hustled. The carrier should be able to provide accurate tracking and timely updates for the shipment.
Whether it is local or international shipping, the shipping carrier you pick must be an angel for your business and not a devil. Little things make a difference. Find out what details your carrier company is willing to offer and make sure
you have it checked. Pay a physical visit to the logistics facilities of the carrier. Take a look for yourself and see if they really are all that they tell you they are.