Do you have a truckload shipment ready to be sent out? Looking to expedite the process of obtaining a quote for that truckload shipment? One way to quickly and efficiently get your truckload shipment on its way is to have all the information necessary before calling PartnerShip for a quote. Below is a list of tips to follow before picking up a phone or shooting out an email about your truckload shipment.

1.       Know the Basics – Where is the shipment picking up and where is it going? Are appointment times necessary – does the shipment need a specific pickup or delivery time/date? How many pieces, what type of packaging is being used, and what is the weight of the shipment? All of these questions need to be the answered before getting a truckload rate.

2.       Equipment Type – Truckload shipments can have many different requirements - dry van, flat bed, refrigerated, to name a few. Determining the correct option for your specific shipment is an important part of the truckload shipping process and can affect variables like carrier availability. Need more help determining which equipment your shipment requires? Check out our truckload equipment options post for more information.

3.       Commodity – What are you shipping? A basic description of the contents of your shipment is enough to get you an accurate rate on your pending truckload shipment.

4.       Value of the Shipment – It is important to know the value of the goods you are transporting. Even though most carriers have cargo legal liability coverage, typically these policies have limits of $100,000 per trailer; there is no longer any federal requirement for motor carriers to carry cargo insurance. If we know the value of your move, we can ensure the carrier that moves your load has adequate coverage or even obtain additional coverage if necessary. The good news is that PartnerShip has a stringent carrier on boarding process ensuring the safe, most reliable carriers. All of our partner carriers are fully insured with industry standard cargo coverage.

Keeping these tips in mind when obtaining a truckload shipment quote will help ensure quick and accurate quotes.

Do you have a truckload shipment you would like to quote today? Visit PartnerShip.com/TLQuote for a free, no obligation quote today!

Truckload shipping is the movement of large amounts of freight - usually exceeding 10,000 lbs and enough to fill an entire semi-trailer. Every shipment is different and needs the proper equipment to ensure a safe and efficient trip from pickup to delivery. Determining the correct option for your specific shipment is an important part of the truckload shipping process and can affect variables like carrier availability. Below is a list of some of the more common equipment choices, what they are, and how they are used.

Dry Van – This is the most common form of truckload shipping and is the option best used with standard packaged freight that does not need to be temperature controlled. The typical 53-foot van trailer can haul 44,000 pounds or up to 26 standard sized pallets of cargo.

Flatbed – Flatbed trailers are used to haul shipments of large, heavy, and oversized loads that cannot easily fit within a dry van. While flatbed shipping may sound straightforward, there are different options within the flatbed category that can throw you for a loop – single-drop, double-drop, and stretch trailers, to name a few. The PartnerShip team of shipping experts is here to make recommendations based on your flatbed shipping needs.

Refrigerated – Often referred to as “reefers”, refrigerated shipments require temperature controlled trailers. This equipment is often used to haul perishable food, beverages, medicine, plants, or even sensitive equipment. The refrigeration unit on the truck keeps the cargo at the exact temperature specified by the customer.

Chances are that your truckload shipment fits into one of the categories of equipment above. If your shipment falls outside of the above options, our team of dedicated representatives and our truckload brokerage department stand ready to help you find the best option for your shipment. We’ve been helping companies with their shipments for 25 years and we have a wealth of experience transporting all commodities and materials at all weights and sizes. We were even named one of NASTC’s best brokers!

Do you have a truckload shipment you’d like to get a quote for today? Visit PartnerShip.com/TLQuote to get a free quote on your dry van, flatbed, or refrigerated shipment today.

All of us here at PartnerShip would like to congratulate Polly Gordon, our truckload brokerage manager, on a very important achievement. This past weekend, Polly earned her certification as a Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) through the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). Polly put in a lot of hard work and dedication into earning this certification. It will serve her well as we take our growing truckload brokerage services to an ever expanding customer base.

The CTB Program was developed by the TIA to increase the professionalism and integrity of property brokerage, meet the educational needs of brokers, and expand basic knowledge of the brokerage and transportation industry through a rigorous certification program. Certification provides an additional edge in the competitive transportation marketplace. It demonstrates to customers that you have the knowledge base, professional integrity, and professional commitment best suited to meet their transportation needs.  The CTB is considered one of the most valuable credentials you can earn in your brokerage career. Visit the TIA website at www.tianet.org to learn more.

If your reading this article and you are a shipper with truckload shipping needs, please let us give you a quote on your next full or partial, dry van, flat bed, or refrigerated truckload shipment. We promise that Polly and her team will find you the right carrier and the right rate to fit your need.

By Scott Frederick

Business Overview

Midwest-based anti-bacterial soap and cleaning products manufacturer with strong growth secures large customer on the West Coast.  Their customer is now placing full truckload orders on a monthly basis.  

Business Challenges

The soap manufacturer tries to use LTL carriers to fulfill its West Coast orders but encounters issues with double-stacking damage, expensive shipping rates, and poor delivery service. They switch to a broker-based solution but the carrier selected for service lacked the professionalism they wanted for their product delivery, and does not provide exclusive use of the trailer. Current annualized shipping cost for this monthly truckload move is over $50,000.  The shipping coordinator also wears many hats and does not have the luxury of time to talk to numerous carrier representatives in person or over the phone. She has a preference for quick, business-direct email communications.  

PartnerShip Solution

PartnerShip reviews the soap manufacturers' truckload shipping needs.  The PartnerShip truckload brokerage manager researches current carrier agreements and national load boards to find a low-cost, reliable, and safe carrier option. PartnerShip negotiates new rates on shipper's behalf, saving them over $100 per load.  The PartnerShip account representative — respectful of the shipping coordinator's time — details the proposal in an email. All follow-up communications are also email-based as preferred by the shipping coordinator. 

Additionally, the shipper is signed-up for the PartnerPerksâ„¢ customer loyalty program where they can earn up to $100 in gift cards per quarter (they are currently using the gift cards to help fund their internal employee-wellness program).   So far the soap manufacturer is saving nearly $2,000 annually on this one, monthly truckload move to the West Coast. They are also pleased with the carrier and driver that are routinely handling the move, and service has been perfect. They especially appreciate the regular email updates on the status of the load — from pickup to final delivery. Their West Coast customer has even increased its orders!

If you'd like to create a successful truckload case study of your own, request a FREE shipping analysis or a FREE truckload rate quote from PartnerShip today.

By Scott Frederick