Getting the right capacity, irrespective of the trucking services you are looking for can be challenging. The main reason the capacity in LTL tends to be tight is the shortage of drivers.
Additionally, there is a surge in the popularity of LTL service rising the prices for truckloads have continued to climb. In other instances, LTL carriers end up having too many loads than they can manage, hence missing some of the appointments.
Therefore, this article will highlight five tips to help you find capacity with LTL companies in 2022.
What Are 5 Tips for Finding Capacity with LTL Companies in 2022?
Go for reputable carriers
If you are going for carriers offering lower prices, have it in mind that many of your competitor shippers are always applying the same criteria. This will result in delayed deliveries if the carriers have a lot of cargo to deliver. At some point, you have to ignore prices and focus on the quality of the job.
When you work with a more recognized, customer-oriented LTL provider, you may go deeper in the pocket but, in the end, have an assurance of the quality of services to expect and timely deliveries.
Distribute your LTL shipments across various carriers
Early on, people thought that it was wise to have all your cargo ferried by one reputable carrier. However, due to bids, RFQs, and technological advancements, shippers can now save costs by dividing freight among various carriers.
At some point, you might find that there is no single carrier with the capacity to take all your items at once. Therefore, you will have to be forced to distribute your loads among different carriers to ease the work.
Diversify your freight with regional carriers.
Don’t discount the importance of the regional carriers. These carriers can deliver great services to their customers at very competitive prices. Your cargo will not face missed appointments because they have a smaller service region than larger LTL carriers. As a result, you will enjoy consistently scheduled deliveries at all times.
Contact LTL company earlier on time
You can try to contact your carrier in advance, providing them with your load details. This tip may help you if the carrier does not have missed appointments that have to be attended. Contacting LTL company in advance helps them plan your shipment and fix them in their schedule.
However, this strategy might fail to work if the carrier has a lot of loads that need to be attended to within the next few days. The carriers plan their schedule daily, prioritizing appointments that were not attended. Regional carriers can be the best to reach using this tip because they don’t have a lot of loads to work on.
Evaluate trailer drop contracts
The most effective method for securing LTL space is to simplify things for your carrier. Drop trailer agreements are one of the best options to consider. You or your 3PL supplier will load your pallets into a trailer with such a contract. When the driver comes, he needs to sign the bill of lading, get the pre-loaded trailer, and leave.
Conclusion
Although securing capacity with LTL companies in 2022 can be challenging, you can evaluate drop trailer contracts, contact LTL in advance, distribute your shipment, or seek a reputable LTL.
