Time to read: 3 min.

The shipping market is just like any other competitive industry. Sellers supply a service that buyers need. The supply and demand of the shipping industry literally keeps the world moving. What do you do to make sure your loads are shipped when demand is fierce but supply is low? Here are five bold steps to becoming truly irresistible to your logistics providers.

Be Flexible

Offering flexibility in both your shipping times by requesting night pickups or off-peak days and in your available delivery windows can make it easier to a carrier to take your shipment and also may result in you getting a better price for your load.

Reduce Driver Dead Time

Drivers lose time for all sorts of reasons including poor transportation infrastructure and road congestion, making everyone’s shipments less productive. It’s important to be creative about how your carriers’ drivers work in order to avoid dead time. Two effective strategies to consider is establishing a drop and hook program or setting permanent delivery or pickup appointment times.

Use Customized Contracts

A customized contract with an established 3PL that expands over time sets freight costs over time, saving time and money and making forecasts more accurate. It will also forge a long term relationship that will be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Optimize Driver Experience 

A best practice is to optimize driver referrals by being known as a good company to pick up from or deliver to. The easiest way to do that is to optimize your facilities for drivers and then start an online referral campaign. This includes having plenty of bathroom facilities and always being transparent with your loading and unloading procedures.

Have a Plan for Dock Delays

Never make a driver idle in a never-ending truck line. That is a formula for lost productivity and bad feelings. Mitigate the risk with a specific plan to address any issue that delays a driver and always make sure to keep an open line of communication with your logistics provider so there are no surprises on either end.

Following the five best practices highlighted in this blog will give you a competitive edge above other shippers who are not paying attention to the situation and are not working to reduce the impact on their vendors. If you want to learn more, please download our free ebook in the following link or contact an expert today.