Whether you are learning about the logistics industry, or you are setting up your business and you need few things shipped to your location or shipped to your clients, you must have heard the phrase “dry van carriers”. As it turns out, dry vans are the most commonly found trailers for shipping jobs. Dry vans are also the most commonly used when shipping. They are usually big, which makes them perfect for a range of various shipping jobs. Additionally, dry vans are the most common type of freight transportation. They are designed in such a way to be able to haul pallets or boxes of cargo; they can as well haul any other type of equipment.
Dry van carriers provide services that meet a variety of needs; this is probably the reason they are used by almost every industry. If this is your first time of needing the service of Freight Company; you may face a little difficulty knowing what you want or which company can offer you the type of service you require. In either case, we have outlined some factors below that you need to consider when you are searching for a dry van carrier;
Factors to Consider Before Hiring Dry Van Carrier:
- Type of Products
The first thing you need to consider before hiring dry van carrier is the type of product that you want to ship to your client. Dry vans are designed to be able to haul most equipment. However, every company may have different requirements; you will need to find out the allowed shapes, sizes and kinds of products that each carrier allow in order to know which one will work for you.
Every carrier has a policy which might serve as a hindrance to you. You may like one particular carrier but it turns out that that carrier does not ship very expensive or fragile items. Hence, it is important to consider the product you want to ship before consulting the carriers.
- Location
Location is another important factor when it comes to freight transportation. Are you going to ship only within your state or to a far away state? Do you plan to ship internationally? This will involve wide and thorough consultation to find out which carrier has the best deals for far away locations.
Moreover, certain carriers are restricted to certain location. Your favorite carrier may not be able to ship to a particular location. Ask your carrier which location they cover and how they charge for them.
- Reputation
Reputation is very important when it comes to freight transportation. You cannot just pick a carrier because they offer you the lowest rate. You may end up with bigger problems if you pick a company that does not know what they are doing.
Companies with a good reputation may cost you more but will save you lots of headache.
- Tracking Services
You definitely want to keep an eye on products that you are shipping; this is why it is important you choose carriers with remarkable tracking services. Most reputable carriers have online tracking services where customers can see the present location or the status of their freight. You will need to consider choosing a company that makes it easy for you to track your freight from any location.
- Speed
When it comes to doing business, the faster a customer can receive his order, the more happy and satisfied he will be. You will need to consider how long it takes a carrier to deliver products. Some carriers offer same day shipping while for others, it will take a week or more before you receive your product.
If you are shipping across borders, you might be looking at a period of 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on the countries involved. Before choosing a carrier, make sure you compare the length of time for delivery.
- Convenience
Convenience is also another important factor you need to consider especially if you are a really busy person. You will need to consider choosing a dry van carrier that can come to your office, house or warehouse to pick up the packages. This will not only help you save time but also money and effort in traveling or even waiting in line.
- Insurance
Is your dry van carrier insured? Most big and reputable dry van carriers provide insurance for your packages. You should note that not all shipping carriers provide insurance. Ensure the carrier you choose provides insurance for your package and don’t forget to check the rates too for comparison.
You need to compare the prices to know which one is best for you; some companies have very high rates which they attribute to insurance cost.
- Live Rates
The live rate is an automatic computation of the shipment rates based on the destination, weight of the product and other details. When comparing dry van carriers, you need to consider hiring a carrier that offers this service. This will save you a lot of headache in calculating what you need to pay.
- Pricing
We save the pricing for the last because of its importance. Different dry van carriers have different pricing structure based on their own policy.
You probably want the best price for your customers. You will need to get a carrier that offers you all the factors above at an affordable price. Note that high price does not mean the best service; some carriers still offer unsatisfactory services though they charge high. Depending on your needs, you may need to check out quite a few dry van carriers before you can make your choice.