Almost all independent freight forwarders regardless of their size or experience tend to make mistakes every once in a while. All of you are well acquainted with the feeling of anxiety which comes during the seemingly long period when you wait for your shipment to reach the consignee at your selected destination. While handling a cargo, proper planning and flawless execution are of utmost importance or else your project can go downhill really fast. Today we are going to talk about some of the most common mistakes which every independent freight forwarder need to avoid.
Mistakes every freight forwarder need to avoid
-
Inaccurate estimation of weight/size
When it comes to evaluating the weight or size of the shipment, many shippers are known to make errors mostly because they use the client’s data for doing the shipping calculations. This should never be done since there is always a chance that the carrier might re-rate and re-classify the cargo once it leaves your establishment. You can also make use of the online cost calculator tools, like Globalia’s TMS: FreightViewer, which help you ascertain the cost.
-
Ditching insurance for cost-cutting
Freight forwarders should be ready for all unpleasant contingencies such as accidents, theft, or natural disasters all of which can have a disastrous effect on your project. Many freight forwarders underestimate the importance of getting their cargo insured but they don’t realize the calamity which befalls when merchandise worth thousands of dollars get lost or damaged because of the above-mentioned reasons. Having an insurance is all the more important when you’re dealing with high-value cargo.
-
Don’t go for the cheapest freight rates
While choosing a partner in another city most shippers inevitably are on the lookout for the lowest possible freight rate so as to maximize their profits. However, remember that cheap rates don’t necessarily vouch for the best quality services. So the cost shouldn’t be the determining factor when it comes to choosing a partner. Instead, you need to check out the experience of the company, its track record as well as the reviews of the services.
-
Improper packaging
Although palletizing your cargo is a time consuming process, you should not neglect it at any cost since a loose pile of cargo at the back of an LTL vehicle would spell out disaster. Pallets are indispensable especially if you are shipping out several small packages.
-
Evading road transit
Many freight forwarders tend to avoid ground transit since they consider it to be the slowest mode of transportation. Air shipments surely ensure faster movement of the cargo between cities but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the consignment will be delivered sooner. As a dynamic freight forwarder, you should carefully consider all the moves of transportation – ocean, road, rail and air before coming to an informed decision.
