Finding a reliable freight service provider is a major problem for most of the companies that export or import goods. Whether you have a small or big business, delivering your products abroad may be a sensitive issue, which sometimes cannot be handled only by your employees.
However, even if you decide to hire a freight service provider, the problems won’t simply vanish into thin air, as choosing the right one is a hard task. For this purpose, there are several steps you should not omit.
Compare the freight market
Most probably, there are plenty of companies that provide such services. Discover as many as you can and compare their prices and deals, as well as their experience. This is the first step you should take, and you should choose to contact only the companies that seem appropriate for your business.
Don’t be too enthusiastic about low prices
At first glance, you may feel tempted to choose the freight company that offers the lowest prices for their services. But keep in mind that a quality service may be a lot more profitable for your business than low pricing. If your products do not reach their destination on time or in good conditions, you may lose valuable clients. This will definitely affect your business’ income.
Search for service providers that have experience with your product type
Even though many freight companies do not hesitate to sign contracts with companies that deliver any kind of products, it is important for you to choose a service provider that already has experience in transporting your commodity type. This way, you make sure that they will offer you the best solution for shipping your goods safely and in time.
Ask if they have experience in your region of interest
No experience in making deliveries to and from your area of interest is a real problem that many business owners tend to ignore when choosing their freight service provider. The most glaring issue regarding this is the fact that they do not know the best routes. However, this is not so important as, after a few shippings, they will learn them. The main problem is that every country or region has certain rules about freight and meeting all the legalities is quite hard without previous experience. If your provider is not up-to-date with these, you risk for your goods to be returned or stopped at the customs.
Seek references from other clients
If other companies have been satisfied with a particular service provider, there are good chances that you will be content as well. For this reason, don’t avoid to search on the Internet for feedback or even ask them if they can provide references from other customers.
