It’s essential for individuals and businesses that have never worked with logistics service providers to know what the transaction involves. A freight carrier has its own policies to uphold, and figuring out the details may not be as easy as hiring a moving company or having your parcel shipped across the world.
It’s normal for freight shipping beginners to feel confused at first, as many will usually have numerous concerns in mind to address. As such, it’s good to let the logistics company know about them before you finalize your deal and begin shipping your cargo.
Before you hire a logistics service, make sure to know some of the basic information about them to help you understand what you’re getting into.
Freight Shipping and Parcel Shipping Are Different Methods
Before anything else, it’s vital to know that freight shipping isn’t the same as parcel shipping. The thing about parcel shipping is that the package involved usually weighs below a hundred and fifty pounds. Also, the items to be handled do not require the aid of a forklift or liftgate, and calculating its density does not indicate your final expense.
Meanwhile, freight shipping involves dealing with cargo that weighs over a hundred and fifty pounds. It can be packaged using a pallet or a crate, and a logistics firm calculates the cost through its density and freight class. When it comes to moving freight shipping cargo, using a forklift or liftgate is necessary. Depending on the client’s needs and a logistic carrier’s services, they can accommodate special requests like using a temperature-controlled truck to keep the cargo safe.
A Freight Business Is Not the Same as a Moving Company
Before you hire a logistics trucking company, you have to make sure that the services you need involve freight cargo and not helping you pack your stuff to move to a new location. However, depending on your agreement, estimated quote, and requested services, a freight business can offer such special assistance when necessary.
Usually, freight carriers will offer curbside pickup and delivery, but you can ask for accessorials or the additional services you would like to attain from them. Since shipping cargo is considered a commercial business, the deliveries are handled from one loading dock to another. But when a shipment doesn’t involve a loading dock, that’s the only time the company will leave the freight on the curb.
Accessorials come in additional fees, such as requiring the use of a liftgate or forklift to load and unload your cargo. If you have the funds to provide for it, it’s best to hire a logistics firm to assure you they will watch over your cargo at all times.
The Pickup Date Is Only Estimated, Not Guaranteed
When it comes to standard cargo deliveries, shipping logistics firms cannot guarantee a precise pickup date, except when you request to have an exact schedule of the pickup and delivery. Unfortunately, not all freight companies can cater to precision pickups.
However, if you’re okay with estimated pickup dates, take note that you will have a quicker time getting your cargo picked up if the logistics service is dealing with a commercial business rather than a residential or home-based firm. The only reason for that is because the freight industry focuses on commerce!
As a result, companies tend to acquire better treatment from logistics management than at-home business customers who need cargo services. If you want to increase your chances of having your delivery picked up and managed accordingly, it should come from your business side rather than the personal side.
Conclusion
Now that you know freight shipping is different from parcel shipping and that a freight business isn’t the same as a moving company, you can further determine if you need to hire a logistics company. Take note that they can only offer estimated pickup dates unless you request special services. When you’ve decided to go ahead with your cargo, it’s best to call a reliable logistics company to provide you with professional shipping solutions.
Are you looking for the best logistics company to manage your upcoming deliveries? RJS Logistics is a logistics transport company that ships fresh produce, grocery items, beverages, machinery, farm equipment, and more. We also offer refrigeration, job-site deliveries, expedited deliveries, and load consolidating, to name a few. Get in touch with us today to avail of our services!
