Not all shipments are created equal. Truck sizes, however, are unable to alter themselves based on the size of the load they are to carry. This can lead to a lot of wasted space within a truck when a shipment fails to fill up the container.
A partially empty trailer is simply part of life for many freight companies. It can be inefficient, but the shipments need to get to their destination regardless of how much else is in the container at the time.
This leads to companies sending out multiple smaller shipments in order to meet their demands. However, freight companies in Nashville, TN have other options to address this eventuality.
Freight consolidation works to directly address the concerns that come along with this problem. This is the practice of taking multiple smaller shipments and combining them into a singular shipment.
This is done by grouping shipments that are to be sent to destinations near each other. But what does freight consolidation do for a company?
Here are 7 benefits you can expect from freight consolidation:
- Cost Savings
- Reduced Risk
- Meet Demands
- Prompt Delivery
- Sustainability Practices
- Better Customer Relations
- Streamlined Shipping Processes
1. Cost Savings
A business needs to keep their costs low. This is an essential tenet of a successful business. And sending out multiple small shipments raises the overall cost of shipping. But combining all of these smaller shipments into one big one will bring down this cost and save the business quite a bit of money over time.
Each shipment is going to have a minimum cost. Getting a truck on the road and the gas it takes to get to the destination are going to be almost the same whether the truck is full or half empty. Combining shipments reduces the amount of times this minimum cost will have to be paid.
2. Reduced Risk
And just how every shipment is going to have a minimum cost, each shipment is going to have a risk of being lost or damaged. Accidents are going to happen. And the more you put yourself in a situation that has a potential for an accident, the more accidents you are going to experience.
Freight consolidation reduces the overall amount of shipments that are sent out. This will, in turn, reduce the opportunities for an accident to interrupt or thwart the delivery of an item.
3. Meet Demands
Your customers and vendors want to get their items on time and in good condition. And chances are, they aren’t going to want massive amounts of one particular thing. This would usually necessitate a series of shipments in order to account for the variety of orders. Multiple shipments open you up for delays, losses, and potentially disappointed customers.
Freight consolidation allows you to address and meet these demands with a singular shipment. Package everything together and get it all taken care of at once.
4. Prompt Delivery
It’s much easier to keep track of your deliveries when there aren’t as many of them. Things can slip through the cracks when our attention is divided between multiple considerations. Consolidating your shipments makes it much easier to track them and give realistic projected delivery dates.
This also translates into faster deliveries as your attention can be focused on processing the orders and getting the product out the door.
5. Sustainability Practices
Many companies are placing a greater importance on reducing their carbon footprint. There are many methods a business can use to diminish their impact on the environment while still performing the necessary functions of their operations.
Freight consolidation is a great way to accomplish this goal while also gaining the numerous other benefits. Less shipments going out means less emissions from trucks. This helps to reduce your company’s carbon footprint while still ensuring your customers and vendors get the items they need.
6. Better Customer Relations
Prompt and efficient shipments mean your customers and vendors will be much happier with your services. And as we all know, a business without customers isn’t really a business at all. And anything that makes them happier will only serve to benefit your business overall.
Freight consolidation helps your shipments to get into the hands of consumers faster. And consumers like it when they don’t have to wait too long.
7. Streamlined Shipping Processes
Your shipments are a huge part of your business. It’s an action that will be repeated multiple times. This repetition is going to magnify any problems within the process. One small error can become a large issue after it becomes magnified through repetition.
Conversely, positive aspects become solidified over time. And the benefits they provide will also become magnified. You just have to ask yourself if you’re magnifying problems or solutions?