Make the best of your free time as a Freight Agent and learn how to connect with customers while on social media.

Has this ever happened to you? You have 5 minutes free – who am I kidding? You are a Freight Agent; you don’t have 5 minutes free! Let’s say you’re on hold or waiting at the doctor’s office. You decide to pass the time and scroll your Facebook feed for a minute. Twenty minutes later, your name is called, or the other person picks up the phone and you didn’t realize that you had spent that entire time on social media! 

It happens to everyone and if it happens to you, it’s happening with your colleagues, your customers, and potential customers. So, using that time to see what your neighbor had for dinner last night may not be beneficial to your Freight Agent business, but using that time to connect with customers can be amazing for your business.

As your Freight Agent Support at Trinity, anytime we find something that could be beneficial to our network of Freight Agents, we do everything we can to help educate them in that area. And we know more people are connecting with customers through social media. So, at our recent Agent Sales Conference, we invited a social media expert to talk to our Trinity Freight Agents about building their social media presence and how to connect with customers.

TIPS ON HOW TO CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA FROM AN EXPERT

Chances are, if you’ve consumed any logistics content online, you’ve heard of or seen the name, Blythe Brumleve. Blythe is the owner of Digital Dispatch and the Everything is Logistics website. She has a podcast by the same name, Everything is Logistics, and has been a regular content contributor to many sites outside of her own, like Freightwaves.

Blythe joined our Agent Sales Conference for an engaging, informational, and actionable session on building your personal brand through social media.

If you’d like to connect with customers and colleagues through social media, check out some of the takeaways that I got from her session.

Start With One Platform

There are so many social media platforms available! And each one has different algorithms and audiences. When starting to build your personal brand, it’s best to choose one platform to focus on first to grow your knowledge so that you can engage consistently. Among logistics professionals, LinkedIn is most often the platform that has the best organic reach.

Establish Your Why

The reason behind WHY you want to post and engage through social media is as important as WHAT you post. It drives everything you do! Posting for the sake of gaining followers isn’t going to drive your business forward. But posting to create value for your current and potential customers is a great way to drive your business forward!

Make a Great First Impression

Your profile is your first impression to the viewer. Take time to include a professional-looking headshot and banner photo. Also, let your customers know who you are and what you do through your tagline and information space! When they see a great post and follow it through to your profile, you want to establish yourself as someone they want to get to know.

Consistency is KEY

Like sales prospecting, being consistent with your social media outreach and follow-up is essential.  Build some time into your workday or week to focus on your LinkedIn page. Post consistently and engage with those that like or comment on your post. Also, make sure to follow others in your field to engage with them by commenting and asking questions. Just because you aren’t face-to-face doesn’t mean that it must be one-sided!

Provide Value to Your Connections

 People want to connect with people they trust. So, show your customers and colleagues that they can count on you for the information they need. Show up consistently with informative and relevant information to establish yourself as a subject matter expert! 

Be a Student Yourself 

This is one of the biggest lessons that I can give for so many areas of your life! But it applies to social media as well. Make sure to follow people and pages that will help you stay fresh and current with information in your field as well as information on how to stay current on social media and marketing trends. Following someone like Blythe Brumleve is a great place to start! She has an amazing podcast, and social posts, and is a great supporter of other content creators to help you build your list.

Keep Connecting with Customers Simple

It may seem complicated sometimes, but as Blythe highlighted during her session at our conference, the phrase “Keep It Simple Stupid” is the best motto to keep in mind. Keep it simple, consistent, and relevant. Don’t expect to go viral on day one, but if you maintain consistency and establish yourself as a subject matter expert in your field, you’ll see the value in connecting with customers through social media.

TRINITY LOGISTICS HELPS KEEP YOU ON TREND WITH HOW TO CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS

At Trinity, we understand running your business is hard work, which is why we have an entire Support Team to help your Freight Agent business succeed. This includes assisting you with your personal brand building and marketing, as we consistently work to provide you with new marketing material and content to share on your social media.

Go ahead and choose to get in touch with a Trinity Freight Agent Representative today so you can start receiving world-class support and education to get ahead of your competition. Call 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below to begin your conversation with Trinity.

Optimized load planning is fundamental to improving your service and revenue.

Could your company be wasting money on a logistics strategy that doesn’t work? Efficient load planning is more critical than ever and a key performance area for any supply chain. Ideally, you want to be able to move your product to your customers while maintaining desired service levels in the most efficient way. Logistics optimization strategies such as improving your load planning processes can be an effective way to reduce freight costs by as much as 10 to 40 percent.

While this sounds great, load planning can be a very manual and time-consuming process. A transportation management system (TMS), specifically one that includes a freight optimization tool, is one way to analyze and take your load planning process from hours of manual work to minutes through automation and technology.

COMMON LOAD PLANNING TMS MISCONCEPTIONS

Before we dive into how a TMS can help you with your load planning, perhaps you’ve thought of one of these common misconceptions.

A TMS Optimizes on Its Own

First off, not all TMS platforms are the same. Some may not even offer load planning tools. It’s also important to see what kind of support is offered, as having an expert available can help provide you with more insight than the software alone.

The Optimized Load Plan Will Be Perfect Every Time

Technology is a great tool to make your logistics processes more efficient. The word to remember here is “tool”. Even a TMS with a freight optimization tool can overlook certain opportunities for freight consolidation, so it’s important to always treat your transportation technology as an aid to your load planning process and not as a full replacement for it.  

BENEFITS OF OPTIMIZED LOAD PLANNING

• Cost Savings
• Higher profitability
• Improved logistics performance
• Improved logistics collaboration
• Improved customer service

HOW A TMS HELPS OPTIMIZE YOUR LOAD PLANNING

A TMS is a powerful tool for optimizing your load planning. A TMS provides you visibility into your entire logistics process. This allows you to monitor performance and create efficient plans. It helps you with your forecasting and planning so you can find cost-saving options. A TMS can help give you a clearer picture of your entire freight network by housing all your transportation information in one system.

Now, there is a lot of transportation management software out there. To gain the most benefit for your load planning process, you’ll want to make sure you select one with a freight optimization tool.

WHY WOULD I NEED A FREIGHT OPTIMIZATION TOOL?

Anyone who has gone through the process of figuring out how to reduce shipping costs for each of their loads knows how much of a pain it can truly be. The process starts with tracking down all your open shipments, deciding what loads should be moved together, and then building, rating, and tendering those loads manually. For those who have not implemented a TMS, this is usually done with paper and pencil or an Excel spreadsheet.

Many factors go into optimizing shipments, including the number of pallets and weight of each shipment (taking trailer size into consideration), delivery availability for locations, and special services needed.

Perhaps one of the most important dynamics of building a shipment is delivery deadlines. It’s imperative to take note of whether a truck can deliver to single or multiple locations and arrive on time, factoring in the drivers’ hours of service (HOS) and loading and unloading times.

In sum, it’s a like a complex jigsaw puzzle made up of your freight, and trying to figure it out alone can be difficult.

HOW CAN A FREIGHT OPTIMIZATION TOOL HELP ME?

The freight optimization tool in a TMS will take your list of open shipments and consolidate them into loads based on the criteria specified by you. The software’s criteria encompass ship and delivery date flexibility, maximum weight per shipment, the maximum number of pieces, the number of picks and drops, driver hours, and more.

You’re also able to choose which carriers you want to include for consideration. Once these parameters are set and the optimizer has been run, you also have the capability to auto-create loads in the TMS based on the optimizer’s results.

The optimizer tool accomplishes in minutes what usually takes a person hours to calculate and configure, with the likelihood of saving money in the meantime. The top benefits here translate to both time and money saved. Gone are the days of sitting at your desk for hours with a calculator and a headache.

In summary, our TMS (and other similar products) allow you to enter all your shipments, whether it’s 20 or 1000, and will automatically calculate the most efficient way to route your shipments by combining smaller shipments into multi-drop truckloads, keeping other shipments separate, and configuring the way it all gets routed across the country. The results of the freight optimization tool include the reported cost savings and a detailed report of the loads proposed.

START OPTIMIZING YOUR LOAD PLANNING WITH TRINITY’S TMS

Logistics optimization never ends. It is a continuous process only limited by your time, technology, and commitment to improvement. And ensuring your company has access to a best-in-class TMS is the key to starting that process and finding efficiencies.

Discover how Trinity’s TMS, including its freight optimization tool, can improve your logistics processes, like load planning, helping you offer better customer service and reduce costs while increasing revenue.

Stone materials are very versatile and often used in industries like construction, interior decorating, and landscaping. However, transporting stone can be a difficult task for many reasons. Stone materials can be heavy and bulky and yet surprisingly fragile at times and easy to chip or crack. Just as there are various uses of stone, there are just as many challenges to shipping it. If you’re a shipper handling stone material, bookmark this guide for all you need to know about stone transport. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Types of Stone Materials
• Uses for Stone Materials
• Packing for Stone Transport
• Equipment Needed for Stone Transport
• Oversized Stone Transport
• How to Ship Common Stone Materials
• Shipping Stone Costs
• Finding the Right Carrier

TYPES OF STONE MATERIALS

When arranging stone transport, you need to consider the type and shape of the stone material you are shipping. Stone materials can be in the shape of slabs, blocks, bricks, tiles, or crushed stone. Each shape and type of stone material requires different handling to be shipped safely and securely.

• Concrete Pavers
• Flagstone
• Limestone
• Granite
• Marble
• Crushed stone
• Slate
• Sandstone
• Landscaping stone

USES FOR STONE MATERIALS

Stone materials are used across many industries. Stone is commonly used as:

• Countertops
• Floor tiles
• Landscaping
• Roadwork
• Fireplaces
• Stairs
• Bridge construction
• Sidewalks
• Statues and decorations
• Interior Design
• Gravestones and cemetery monuments

With such a wide variety of use, it’s no surprise that stone transport often occurs across long distances.

PACKING FOR STONE TRANSPORT

Proper packing and packaging materials are very important for stone transport. Packaging stone materials the wrong way can lead to damaged product upon arrival.

Smaller stone materials, like tile, can be packed in crates with foam material for cushioning to prevent any scraping or breaking. The crate shouldn’t be too large, with minimal extra space to limit the movement of your stone product. Make sure not to stack the stone material too high or load them vertically. Using short stacks or horizontal loading will help with structural integrity.

For larger stone materials, like granite slabs, palletizing is another option, and the stone product should be wrapped around and between with cushioning to prevent scraping or chipping.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR STONE TRANSPORT

Certain pieces of stone materials will need more equipment than others.

For smaller stone material shipments, a 53’ dry van can work for most, especially those shipping less-than-truckload (LTL) and packaged in crates. Stone shipments can be loaded using a loading dock and forklift. If a loading dock isn’t available, a lift gate can be used, but this additional service costs extra and makes it more difficult to find an available truck. Generally, palletized stone shipments are not recommended for LTL unless there are plenty of packing materials wrapping the product.

If you’re shipping large pieces of stone, like granite slabs, you’re going to need to find a flatbed with an A-frame to securely hold it. An A-frame is a piece of wood or metal shaped into the letter “A” and is needed to transport stone slabs to prevent damage. Stone slabs are prone to breaking or cracking when moved horizontally, so the A-frame helps prevent any damage.

Before the granite slab or other stone material can be loaded onto the truck, the A-frame must be placed on the flatbed with a forklift or crane. When it’s ready to move, make sure that the material is secure and strapped in. Moving straps help prevent the stone material from shifting during transportation, preventing damage, and reducing any risk.

Don’t make the straps too tight because doing so could cause damage upon delivery. Everything should be checked thoroughly before transport to make sure a costly incident doesn’t happen when moving over the road.

Intermodal containers can also be an option for stone transport. Not only do these containers reduce the need for any excessive handling and thus, the chance for damage, but many popular bulk stone products used in the U.S. are mined from locations far away from the country, making this an ideal mode for global stone supply chains. When the stone material is ready to head to its destination, drayage carriers can transport the container or freight can be loaded onto a flatbed for its final stretch of travel.

OVERSIZED STONE TRANSPORT

One of the other main challenges with stone transport is it can be heavy, and sometimes oversized, like those granite slabs we mentioned earlier. Often with stone shipments, you’ll find that you need to get an oversize or overweight permit to travel on state highways.

Most often, the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) issues these permits, but sometimes they can be handled by another department, depending on the state. These permits are only good for a short window and are the only time your shipment can be on the road. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you have all your ducks in a row, so your shipment stays on schedule, and you don’t end up with a costly violation fee.

What Qualifies as Oversize?

Each state has different regulations on its specifics, but most shipments will be considered oversized if it exceeds 80,000 pounds gross weight or if dimensions exceed:

• 14 feet in height
  
• 8 feet 6 inches in width
  
• 53 feet in length
  

Overweight and oversized shipments can be more comprehensive as, besides the permits, you may need oversized banners, flashing lights, civilian escorts, police escorts, route surveys, bucket trucks, or even a road closure. It’s important that you always take the time to double-check that you’re in compliance with DOT rules and regulations for your stone transport.

Looking for one place to find all you need to know about oversized shipment regulations?

HOW TO SHIP COMMON STONE MATERIALS

Shipping Crushed Stone

Crushed stone can easily be transported using a container. A freight truck pulling an empty container can be used and loaded on site, or the crushed stone can be packed into a shipping container and then loaded onto the truck with the help of a crane.

It’s important to note that unless covered, the top of the container will still be exposed during transportation. If uncovered and depending on the kind of crushed stone, sometimes some stone material can fly out of the container during transportation, resulting in damages, injuries, or loss of product. For this reason, it’s often best to have your motor carrier cover and secure the top of the container with a tarp.

Shipping Stone Bricks and Tiles 

Unlike crushed stone, shipping bricks or tiles need more careful handling. Palletizing or banding into cubes is the best way to transport these stone materials. However, you can’t pack them the same as other products due to their ease of chipping or cracking during transit.

When packing stone bricks or tiles, it’s best to stack them with layers of cardboard or foam between the layers of the product, cushioning them and preventing any scraping, scratching, or other damage. When banding into cubes, usually the last two cubed loads are placed on rubber mats to further prevent them from shifting. 

Additionally, it’s recommended to avoid shipping these products via less-than-truckload (LTL). These stone materials are brittle and susceptible to damage from other products, but also hazardous to other items should they come loose during shipping. To keep your stone products safe, it’s always best to ship full truckload whenever possible.

Shipping Stone Slabs, Like Granite

While nearly indestructible once installed, slabs of granite and similar stone material are quite fragile during transit. Any incorrect handling can result in damage. Like glass, these stone materials will likely crack if laid vertically. Transporting heavy slabs of stone, like granite transportation, requires specialized equipment to keep them vertical during transit.

You’ll need an A-frame to hold up the heavy slabs of stone and make sure they are secured with durable straps. When properly supported, slabs of stone can be sturdy and resistant to cracking.

Shipping Irregularly Shaped Stone Products 

Let’s say you need to transport an irregularly shaped stone product, like statues or headstones. Certain products might have sharp corners that can easily chip or have smooth surfaces you don’t want to be scratched, like memorials. It can be tough to figure out how to ship these unusual stone materials.

The best option to transport these stone products safely is to order custom packaging for them, like a sturdy box with Styrofoam pieces sculpted to fit around it so your product is secured from any movement during transit.

As with shipping tile, it’s best to ship full truckload instead of LTL, so your product isn’t handled more than it should be and isn’t at risk from other products.

SHIPPING STONE COSTS

Stone transport can be more expensive to ship due to its heaviness and fragility. Any time you have a shipment that requires more attention to detail or more specialized equipment, it’s going to be more costly.

If you typically ship large volumes of stone materials often, a Request For Proposal (RFP) or contract with a carrier or logistics company can be one way to find savings versus working with the spot market.

FINDING THE RIGHT CARRIER FOR YOUR STONE TRANSPORT

Because of how delicate transporting your stone materials can be, you want to make sure the motor carrier you select is experienced. This is where cutting costs here isn’t always worth it. You also want to make sure your provider has enough insurance and that your commodity is covered should something happen.

TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF YOUR STONE TRANSPORT

Stone transport can be one of the most challenging types of freight to arrange. However, you can choose to simplify your shipments by working with an experienced third-party logistics (3PL) company like Trinity Logistics.

Working with Trinity saves you time from finding and vetting carriers, figuring out what equipment is needed, and gives you full visibility of your product’s transit, from pick up to delivery. Experience our best-in-class customer service and sit back, knowing that we’ll get your product safely delivered.

Trinity Logistics is proud to announce its recognition as a Top Freight Broker by Transport Topics for the 21^st consecutive year, ranked 17. This honor serves as a testament to the company’s continued commitment to delivering outstanding People-Centric service in the logistics industry.

Transport Topics is a leading publication in the transportation business and is well-known for its annual comprehensive rankings of freight brokerage firms. Companies are ranked based on gross revenue and services offered. 

Trinity Logistics is thrilled to have made spot #17 on the Top Freight Brokers List for 2023 as this accolade reflects Trinity’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to customers and helping them meet their unique logistics needs. With a core focus on exceeding expectations, the company has built a reputation for its integrity, reliability, and customer service.

“This recognition continues to showcase our ability to serve our shippers and carriers with People-Centric Freight Solutions®,” says Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics. “Team Trinity works hard to continually strengthen our shipper and carrier relationships, providing value to them in simplifying their processes and providing an excellent Trinity experience. Earning this recognition continues to show we are rising to the ongoing supply chain challenges and are serving our customers well. Thank you, Transport Topics, for the recognition. We’re honored to have made it another year in the top 20’s – #17!”  

Trinity’s parent company, Burris Logistics, has ranked number 35 on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Logistics Companies List and number 4 on their Top Refrigerated Warehousing List. 

To see the complete list, visit Transport Topics.  

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve.   

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.  

We are currently recognized as a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, a Top Freight Brokerage Firm by Transport Topics, and as an Inbound Logistics Top 100 3PL.  

Proper carrier selection may be one of the most important tasks for Freight Agents to keep their business safe.

I remember the first time I dispatched a driver to pick up a shipment thinking, “Wait, I just met this carrier for the first time. I’ve sent their driver to pick up a shipment for one of our top customers.”

Needless to say, I made about 10 calls to the driver, carrier, and shipper to verify everything was legit. It still boggles my mind to think that a shipper, whom I have never met, will entrust thousands of dollars in THEIR freight to a company that will then send a driver, whom they may have never met, to haul it away.

This scenario happens thousands of times daily across the U.S. and the world. Most of the time, everyone involved does what they say they will do correctly. But there are times, albeit very rarely, when one of the parties is involved for the wrong reason.

First, let me say Trinity Logistics and other logistics companies in our space get the chance to work with great carriers each day. Yet, there are still some bad actors out there. They want to involve themselves in our industry and do things the wrong way, often at the expense of hard-working and trustworthy carriers and Freight Agents.

So, Freight Agents, what can you do to protect your small business and the business of your customer, when arranging shipments with carriers? This is where having a carrier selection process is key to best serving your customer and mitigating any risk. Here are some items you should verify every time you arrange a shipment with a carrier to ensure its success.

CARRIER SELECTION PROCESS

Always Ask This Question

“What’s the name on the side of your truck?”

While this seems like a simple question, it’s the number one question that can identify a potential double-brokering situation. Now, there will be times when the name on the side of the truck doesn’t match the carrier with whom you booked the load. Leased-on drivers are a great example of this.

What do you do if the answer to this question is different from what you expected?

Well, it gives you the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to investigate. It’s far better to find out this information before versus after the shipment has been picked up. I‘ve also heard of some requiring the driver to text a picture of the side of the truck door for added assurance.

Does it Match?

Does the email and phone number match what is registered with FMCSA?

Again, there may be legitimate reasons for the phone number or email not matching the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Maybe the carrier’s contact information has recently changed for valid reasons. Perhaps it’s an owner-operator that registered with their home or office phone number but is on the road and calls from their cell phone.

In any event, it gives you a reason to pause and ask more questions to ensure you have confidence that this is the actual carrier with whom you trust to handle your customer’s freight.

Other Carrier Selection Vetting Freight Agents Should Consider

What about the stuff you can’t see by looking at the FMCSA website?

You can quickly see things like liability insurance coverage or a carrier’s operating authority history on the FMCSA website. But what about referrals – good or bad – from other logistics companies?

Luckily there are tools available to see beyond the information reported by the FMCSA. There are platforms like CarrierWatch, Carrier 411, or Highway that provide a glimpse into any skeletons that may be hiding in the closet. It’s important to note that these are pay-to-play platforms. Freight Agents that choose to partner with an experienced logistics company, like Trinity Logistics, have access to a Carrier Compliance Team that continuously monitors these comments to protect you and your customer’s best interests.

FREIGHT AGENTS, DON’T OVERLOOK YOUR CARRIER SELECTION

Carrier selection is important as you are placing your trust in them to meet your customer’s shipment needs. Doing a little bit of homework and, when necessary, trusting your gut with your carrier selection, will save you future headaches and, ultimately, protect your Freight Agent business.

TRUST OUR QUALIFIED CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS

We’re here to help your Freight Agent business succeed all around, and that includes your carrier selection. Safety and exceptional service are our highest priority, and so our Carrier Compliance Team takes care of our rigorous carrier vetting to verify that the carrier you select is qualified and experienced.

With our People-Centric Team and best-in-class technology applications at the ready, Freight Agents working with Trinity Logistics can spend less time on back-end tasks like carrier selection and more time growing their business.

Go ahead and choose to get in touch with a Trinity Freight Agent Representative today so you can start receiving world-class support to get ahead of your competition. Call 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below to begin your conversation with Trinity.

We’ve recently covered ways you can find prospects and warm up your cold calls. You’ve got your eye set on a business you can help, so, how do you go from phone calls to closing a sale as a Freight Broker Agent?

A few weeks ago, we held our first educational and virtual Agent Conference of 2023. We had a great line-up of sessions hosted by members of Trinity’s Leadership Team as well as our featured guest Blythe Brumleve of Digital Dispatch, and Everything is Logistics podcast.

This conference focused on winning sales and growing strong customer relationships as a Freight Broker Agent. Sessions took us through the complete sales cycle – from winning your first shipment from freight leads to moving your customer towards dedicated freight, and then providing them with full freight management services.

Let’s start at the beginning; and share some smart, simple, and practical advice on closing a sale and winning that first shipment.

FROM PROSPECT TO CLOSING A SALE

First, develop your strategy for handling freight leads. Here are some suggestions from our top sales experts on how to effectively get your prospect’s attention, work your pipeline, and turn your freight lead into a new shipping customer.

Getting Your Prospect’s Attention as a Freight Broker Agent

When initially contacting your prospects, you often don’t have a lot of time with them. For that reason, you don’t want to be too generic. Just saying you’re with a third-party logistics (3PL) company with solutions and you want to talk about their shipping process won’t get you time on the phone with them.

You need to find ways to differentiate yourself and your services, so you stand out and get their attention. So, make sure you always have a reason for making that first call! Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.

Sell Your Capacity

Let’s say you have consistent capacity within a certain area. Try to find more prospects within that region and work with the same equipment. You can sell that capacity right away on your first phone call. Let them know who else you work with within that area, that you have capacity available that you’re looking to cover, and how you can help them.

It can be as simple as saying, “Hi new customer. I work with ABC Company in your area five days a week and have more trucks and equipment available that I think will help you.”

Sell Into Your Industry Expertise

Pick an industry to focus on that you are having success with or have specific knowledge of and target those prospects. Then, by having repeat conversations with similar prospects, you’ll develop a flow using industry-specific “lingo” and your knowledge of any unique scheduling requirements, equipment types, or loading/unloading procedures for those commodities.

You can say, “Hi, new customer. I work with this industry often, and I noticed you’re in a similar industry. I know the scheduling process or loading process needed within this industry well and I think I can help you.”

Both examples give your customer a specific reason why they should have a conversation and start building a connection with you right off the bat.

Remember, the goal of your initial call is to gather information and start a conversation. Most likely, you won’t get the decision-maker on the phone during your first call. That’s okay. If you can’t get on the phone with the decision-maker, try talking to someone in sales.

We know salespeople love to talk. They know their product and their customers and often have a relationship with the shipping manager. So, you’ll be able to learn more information about the company and its current process, and any objections they may have, that you can later leverage when you finally land a call with the decision-maker at the company.

Finding the Ideal Prospects Based on Strategy

So now we have some ideas on how to approach prospects but where do we find the folks we want to call? Here are a few proven tips.

1. Use Google Maps to find prospects geographically close to current customers when selling into capacity. Look at satellite and street images to get a good idea of what’s going on at their facility and on their docks.

2. Use Google Images when selling into industries. Search images by keywords (Ex: Industrial Generators) to find out who’s manufacturing or selling the commodity you are targeting.

3. Use LinkedIn & ZoomInfo to research the companies you identify and find contact information for the people you want to call.

Working the Freight Leads Pipeline

The most important thing is to keep it simple and establish a consistent rhythm. Quality over quantity is always the best approach and makes it easier to manage. Try focusing on a smaller group of qualified prospects with high intensity and a sense of urgency in your communication to gain quick momentum in turning over new shipping customers.

This means not holding onto stale leads. You’ll find not every prospect is the right fit and that’s okay. Let them go.

A good rule of thumb with mid-size companies is that if you aren’t talking to the decision-maker within two weeks, then move on. This helps you keep up the momentum in closing a sale by removing old leads for new potential prospects.

When you finally get connected with the decision-maker at the company, use your initial conversations as a point of reference to buy yourself a few minutes of their time. For example, “I recently spoke with Holly Cooper from your sales team and came up with some great ideas to help with your freight”.

Just like in your initial call, define your reason based on facts you uncovered and sell into your capacity or industry expertise. Too many Freight Broker Agents will get to the decision maker and go back to the general 3PL solutions selling. Remember your unique connection on why you can help them.

More Quick Tips for Closing a Sale

1. Choose discipline over motivation. The reality is you aren’t going to wake up every morning feeling ready to set the world on fire! Set daily goals for yourself (X number of cold calls, X number of follow-ups, X number of new prospects added to pipeline, etc.) and stick to them.

2. Be consistent and systematic in your prospecting efforts. Use a good CRM to organize your pipeline, log notes from conversations, and schedule follow-ups.

3. BE YOURSELF! People buy from people. Be confident in yourself and your services and let your personality shine through.

MAKE CLOSING A SALE AS A FREIGHT BROKER AGENT EVEN EASIER

As a Freight Broker Agent, running your own business can be hard work on top of winning over new customers. That’s why we have an entire Team here to help you.

Let us help you gain more time to focus on what you do best, building relationships with shipping customers and motor carriers, while we handle the rest. In fact, many of our new Freight Broker Agents see over a 50 percent increase in business growth within their first two years at Trinity Logistics.

These common mistakes when shipping hazardous materials can end up costing your business a lot of money.

Shipping hazardous materials have very little room for mistakes but very large consequences if done incorrectly. Mistakes when shipping hazmat materials can cause injury, damage to property, or endanger lives, so hazmat shipping should always be handled with tremendous caution.

Safe hazmat shipping is possible but requires diligence, communication, and attention to detail.

These are the most common mistakes companies make when shipping hazardous materials.

• FAILING TO LABEL AND DECLARE GOODS PROPERLY
• NOT ACCOUNTING FOR DIFFERENCES IN MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
• LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR EACH SUBSTANCE
• ASSUMING GOODS AREN’T HAZARDOUS
• LETTING UNTRAINED EMPLOYEES HANDLE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
• NOT FOLLOWING EXACT INSTRUCTIONS FOR PACKAGING BY THE MANUFACTURER
• THINKING ANY MISTAKES WILL BE OVERLOOKED

DEFINITION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS/DANGEROUS GOODS

First, let’s clarify what hazardous materials or dangerous goods are.

Many think of hazardous materials as things like explosives, gasoline, or acids. Yet, many common goods are hazardous when shipped, such as aerosol sprays, nail polish, alcohol, paint, dry ice, or cosmetics. Any substance or material that can pose a risk to health, safety, or property is a hazardous material or dangerous good.

SHIPPING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS VIOLATIONS

Hazmat safety regulations exist to keep people, property, and the environment safe. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) handle these regulations.

One reason you don’t want to make any hazardous shipping mistakes? Violations. Currently, hazmat regulation penalties are:

• Maximum civil penalty violation is $84,424 per day, per violation,
• Maximum civil penalty violation that results in death, serious illness, severe injury, or large destruction of property is $196,992 per day, per violation,
• Civil penalty for a violation of hazardous training is $508 per employee, per day.

HAZARDOUS SHIPPING MISTAKE EXAMPLES

Many companies have made hazardous shipping mistakes. Here are some true scenarios. 

Example 1: Online Retailer

Fined $91,000

An online retailer shipped a package by air containing flammable liquid adhesive. The motor carrier discovered the product leaking from its container. The online retailer offered the shipment, not including the required shipping papers or emergency response information. The freight’s packaging was incorrect and not marked or labeled as required. Nor were the company’s employees trained in handling hazmat packages for shipment by air.

Example 2: Chemical Company

Fined $325,000

On two separate occasions, a chemical company shipped undeclared hazardous material that is illegal to transport by air. The chemical company allegedly shipped pints of acrolein, which can become explosive when combined with air. Neither shipment had the required shipping papers or emergency response information. Additionally, one of the shipments was not marked, labeled, or packaged as required. Employee training was also found to be non-compliant.

Example 3: Flooring Company

Fined $63,000

A flooring company shipped a package of hazardous freight. The motor carrier found a package leaking. The flooring company did not provide the required shipping papers or emergency response information, nor did they mark, label, or package the shipment as required. Additionally, employees were not trained to handle hazardous materials.

COMMON HAZMAT SHIPPING MISTAKES

Failing to Label and Declare Goods Properly

Failing to label and declare hazardous goods is one of the most common shipping mistakes. Transparency is critical at every level to ship hazardous materials without mistakes.

All hazardous freight must have the proper UN hazmat labels or hazmat placards to identify their contents. Shippers must also disclose the information on the shipper’s declaration form.

Failing to properly mark, label, and declare your hazardous materials keeps employees from knowing what kind of materials they are handling, which hazard class they belong to, and what kind of precautionary measures they need to take. In the end, improper labeling and declaration can be an endangerment.

Not Accounting for Differences in Modes of Transportation

Regulations on certain hazardous goods and packaging methods can vary based on which mode they’re shipped with.

Take dry ice as an example. It has different regulations when shipped by ground than when by air. Another example is magnetized material. It’s only subjected to regulation restrictions when transported by air due to the interference it can cause to aircraft instruments.

That’s why it’s important to confirm the mode of transportation when shipping hazardous materials before packing, marking, labeling, and documenting everything. This way, you and your logistics provider know the exact shipping requirements needed.

Lack of Familiarity with Specific Regulations for Each Substance

The USDOT provides detailed tables of hazardous materials and their specific regulations for each classification. This includes specific information such as what packaging to use or transportation modes to ship. It’s your company’s responsibility to be knowledgeable and familiar with those regulations. Even still, ignorance of these regulations is a common mistake when shipping hazardous materials.

Assuming Goods Aren’t Hazardous

There are many materials that the average person wouldn’t think of as hazardous. Assuming goods aren’t hazardous materials when they are is a common mistake that happens when employees aren’t properly trained on hazmat and dangerous goods. As a result, they lack the required knowledge to differentiate what is and isn’t hazardous. This risks transporting hazardous material without being packaged, labeled, and communicated in the correct manner.

This mistake has the potential to cause catastrophic consequences depending on the product, the transportation mode, and several other factors. Ensure your employees are trained and when in doubt, don’t assume. Take the extra time to research the material if needed and follow hazardous protocol when applicable.

Some common items that are assumed to be non-hazardous are:

• Magnetized materials
• Lithium batteries
• Contaminated medical equipment
• Dry ice
• Aerosols
• Equipment with gas cartridges or compressed air
• Genetically modified organisms

Letting Untrained Employees Handle Hazardous Materials

What’s the easiest and most important way to avoid hazardous material shipping mistakes? Make sure your employees are trained in hazmat shipping.

Many of these mistakes happen due to untrained employees handling hazmat shipments. Therefore, employees need to undergo formal training and show competence under supervision before handling hazardous goods on their own. Additionally, employees should frequently be reeducated to stay keen on hazmat shipping requirements.

Not Following Exact Instructions for Packaging by the Manufacturer

Hazardous material packaging is designed to meet regulatory requirements. Many hazmat packaging manufacturers will include detailed instructions on how to use their packaging for safe and compliant shipping. It’s important that employees have access to these instructions and understand them completely.

Thinking Any Mistakes Will be Overlooked

It can be easy to think your business won’t get caught with a hazmat shipping violation. Yet, as noted by the examples above, it can and does happen. As the U.S. government remains vigilant in cracking down on hazmat shipping violations, fines continue to increase, making it even more financially smart to stay compliant. Not to mention that those violations can cause harm to the environment or people. No matter what, risking a hazmat shipping violation is never worth it.

AVOID HAZARDOUS SHIPPING MISTAKES WITH AN EXPERT

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but when it comes to shipping hazardous materials, it’s crucial to do all you can to reduce them. Now that you know the most common mistakes when shipping hazmat, you can be more aware of avoiding them.

An easy way to help stay compliant when shipping hazardous materials is partnering with an expert knowledgeable in its regulations, like Trinity Logistics. We’ve been in the business of arranging hazardous shipments in several modes for over 40 years. We’ve also been Responsible Care certified since 2009.

If you’re looking for a reliable partner to help you with shipping your hazardous materials, consider Trinity Logistics. We can help take the guesswork out of keeping your hazmat shipments compliant.

Are you a Freight Agent that gets a stomach ache at just the thought of picking up the phone to make cold calls? Even with a great script at the ready, cold calling is a tough task to complete. However, with today’s technology, there are other systemized and predictable ways to prospect without making hundreds of cold calls. Don’t get me wrong, cold calling is still a part of developing new business, but it doesn’t have to be the only thing.

WARMING UP YOUR COLD CALLS

In the age of voicemail and caller ID, the success rate of cold calls is low, hovering around a two percent conversion rate, according to LinkedIn. So, before you pick up the phone to make call after call, you can help your chances of success by putting on your marketing hat. By using some form of creative marketing, you’ll find businesses who are looking for your solutions calling you for more information. I’m sure everyone would love to receive warm calls versus relying on cold calls for new business.

Many of our Freight Agents have found success by trading in cold calls for a combination of social media, emailing, and warm calling. 

TRADING COLD CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

According to LinkedIn, 75 percent of business-to-business (B2B) buyers use social media as part of their decision process. So, if you haven’t joined the professional social media network, LinkedIn, already, then now is the time. 

Make Sure You Look Professional

To get started warming up your calls, you need to have a LinkedIn profile that looks professional. Just as you’re finding probable prospects and looking at their profile pages, shipping managers don’t generally do business with someone they feel is not professional. Trust me; they will check out your profile. 

Creating a professional profile is a relatively easy thing to do. You can get ideas from other Freight Agent profiles on LinkedIn, but in the meantime, here are some quick tips for building a great profile so your prospects can get to know you.

1. Use a Professional Profile Photo

LinkedIn profiles with pictures are 14 times more likely to be viewed. Choose a photo showcasing you professionally, at your desk, in your office, or a simple friendly headshot. 

2. Craft a Headline That Shares Your Value

Have your headline answer these two questions so visitors know what you can offer them right from the start: Who do you help and how do you help them? For example, “I’ve helped X number of companies save X amount through outsourcing their logistics.”

3. Make Use of Your Cover Photo Too

Instead of keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo LinkedIn provides, consider adding your company’s logo, tagline, or even a family photo. The cover photo is your opportunity to give the viewer more insight into who you are as a person and freight agent. 

4. Include Your Contact Information

This may seem simple, but surprisingly, not everyone does this! It’s important that you include your email address, phone number, blog, or company website, so it’s easy for your prospects to gather more information and get in touch with you, setting you up for that warm call. 

5. Let People Learn More About You

Craft a summary to let your viewer learn more about you and your Freight Agent business. Get more specific about your work, projects you’ve completed, or results you’ve helped drive. Include keywords your buyers might be searching for to snag their attention and let them know you are a possible solution for them. And most importantly, include a clear call-to-action, communicating why and how your prospect should get in touch with you. 

6. Strategically Make Use of Your Time and Activity on LinkedIn

Your viewers can see your LinkedIn activity, like your most recent comments, likes, and shared content. This part of your profile can show your authenticity, so be sure to consider how you spend your time online. For example, are you offering advice or support to your connections? Congratulating them on a promotion? Sharing your knowledge with others in groups? All this can be seen on your profile so make sure you are showcasing how knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful you can be! 

On the LinkedIn Path to Warm Calls

Now that your profile LinkedIn is ready, here we go! Below is a basic outline for building a LinkedIn presence on a path to warm lead relationships and calls.

Making Connections

Utilizing LinkedIn messenger is essential when sending out your daily connection requests to shipping managers.

Shipping supervisors, logistics managers, and warehouse managers are the first people to start sending connection requests to and then continue with the many other titles for shippers that you want to search for.

Your first message should be simple and warm: 

“Hello, I’d like to connect with you.  Having a professional connection like you in my network will be a plus for me. Thanks, Your Name.”

If they respond back to your connection request, send them a message back & thank them for accepting the request. Remember, they’ve looked at your profile and approved you.

Making Use of Email

After you have thanked them, then the process of trying to find an email and or phone number begins.

Finding the shipping manager’s email or phone number is key to moving forward in the process. You can do this with a simple Chrome extension, like Get Prospect or UpLead, that connects to LinkedIn. If it doesn’t, this may slow you down.

Once you’ve obtained the email, ensure the first email you send is a simple introduction telling the shipping manager who you are and what you can do for their shipping needs.

You may find the benefit of incorporating a mass emailing system. They can save you time by sending several emails at once and give you insight into analytics, such as open and click rates. There are lots of applications to choose from. Some are free, like MailerLite or MailJet, and some require a small monthly fee, like Mailchimp. Any good mass email system should let you know if an email is invalid, blocked, or if the email has been opened. This is important because it will let you know they have read your email. 

It may take several emails for the shipping manager to like and trust you enough to get on a phone call with you. Remember, getting on a warm call versus a cold call generally gives you the upper hand because of the process the shipping manager has already been through in getting to know you. You have gained their trust at this point.

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

While not necessary, some agents will choose to upgrade their LinkedIn services for prospecting. LinkedIn has other paid services you can investigate, such as LinkedIn Premium, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Both are fee-based services and can work very well.

Now that you know the basic process, you’re ready to start reaching out to shippers without the stress of making any cold calls. Work this process through. It could take a little time, but this method of prospecting has been tried and proven, and the payoff can be huge for your business. 

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PROSPECT FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ALONE

At Trinity, we understand running your business is hard work, so we have an entire Team to help you. This includes assisting with your marketing as we consistently work to provide you with new marketing material and content to share.  

Let us help you do what you do best, building relationships with your shipper customers and carriers while receiving world-class support to put you ahead of the competition.

Many of our Freight Agents see a 50 percent increase in their business over a two-year period from joining. Will you join them in their success? 

Whether owning or renting, heavy equipment is a big investment in your business – and you don’t want to take unnecessary risks that can lead to loss or damage during transportation. Heavy equipment shipping can be challenging, but it’s not as complicated as it appears when you have the right provider. To help you ship your heavy equipment safely, here’s some additional information you may need. 

What We Cover in This Article

• What is heavy equipment shipping?
• Common types of heavy equipment
• Rules and regulations for heavy equipment shipping
• Trailers used for heavy equipment shipping
• What should I know about my heavy equipment shipping?
• How much does it cost?
• Preparing for heavy equipment shipping
• Shipping heavy equipment internationally
• Choosing the right provider 

What is Heavy Equipment Shipping?

Heavy equipment can be a broad term, but it usually consists of a piece of large machinery or equipment of at least 40,000 pounds or more. Due to its size and weight heavy equipment is often loaded and unloaded by a crane if it cannot be driven on/off the trailer. Often, these kinds of shipments can be oversized and/or overweight, requiring permits, escorts, route surveys, and an experienced motor carrier with specialized trailers to transport your equipment safely and effectively.

Common Types of Heavy Equipment

• Agricultural Equipment and Machinery
• Construction Equipment
• CNC Machinery
• Crawler Cranes
• Gas & Oilfield Equipment 
• Industrial Plant Machinery
• Military Equipment
• Mining Equipment Oilfield Equipment
• Renewable Energy Parts and Components

Heavy Equipment Shipping Rules and Regulations

When it comes to heavy equipment shipping, you should have knowledge of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, regulations, and restrictions. Overlooking DOT regulations and restrictions surrounding OD/OW transportation can be both costly and time-consuming.

Heavy equipment shipping is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the U.S. DOT, and state governments. Each state varies its rules, regulations, and restrictions for permitting OD/OW travel. Be sure to double-check state regulations before transporting your equipment. Or work with an expert in the field of over-dimensional shipping. 

Overweight and oversized shipments can be more comprehensive as, besides the permits, you may need oversized banners, flashing lights, civilian escorts, police escorts, route surveys, bucket trucks, or even a road closure. It’s important that you always take the time to double-check that you’re in compliance with DOT rules and regulations when transporting your heavy equipment.

Trailers for Heavy Equipment Shipping

Heavy equipment shipping is made possible by the various types of flatbed and specialized trailers available.

Flatbed Trailers/Open-Deck Trailers

Flatbed trailers allow for easy loading and unloading and can carry up to 48,000 pounds. When choosing your flatbed carrier, make sure to confirm that the trailer will be able to haul the weight of your equipment. Trailer dimensions are approximate: 48’ L x 102’’ W x 58’’ H   

There are other open-deck trailers to consider, like step-decks or drop-deck trailers. They can accommodate around 46,500 pounds and can legally haul taller products, up to 10’6’’ tall, and can be fitted with permanent or removable ramps to drive equipment on and off the trailer. Trailer dimensions range approximate:  48’ or 53’ L x 102’’ W x 36’’ to 42’’ H.   

Specialized Trailers for Heavy Haul Trucking

Due to the size, some heavy equipment may need a specialized trailer to accommodate its transportation.

Double-drops and Removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers are ideal for heavier machinery and equipment that needs easy loading and unloading or drive-on drive-off capabilities, and they are great for freight exceeding the legal height and weight maximums.

What Should I Know About My Heavy Equipment Shipping?

You’re ready to get started with heavy equipment shipping. What should you be prepared to answer when looking for a provider?

Know the Dimensions of Your Heavy Equipment

Size matters. The equipment’s dimensions and weight will help determine what kind of trailer the carrier will need to transport your freight and if any permits, escorts, or other accessorial charges are required that will ultimately determine the total shipping costs. 

Breaking Down or Shipping in One Piece?

Does your equipment need to be taken apart to ship and then reconstructed upon delivery? Can your equipment be crated or boxed? Is it more effective to break down your equipment into smaller components for shipping? If shipping in one piece, what are the things that need to be done before shipping, such as having any fluids discharged or batteries removed? These are all important questions you should know so all parties involved know what is to be expected throughout the entire shipping process.

What Equipment is Needed to Load and Unload Your Freight?

This is very important information that is needed for your shipment. Do you need a ramp, forklift, or crane to load and unload your equipment? Do you have the required equipment ready to unload and load your freight?  Or can the equipment be driven on and off of the trailer?

Know What is Covered by Your Provider’s Insurance

It’s important you know what is covered by your provider’s insurance, so you know whether you will need to buy any supplementary insurance to make sure your heavy equipment is fully protected in case of any issues.

How Much Does Heavy Equipment Shipping Cost?

While we’d love to give you exact numbers, there can be quite a few factors involved that make each quote unique, such as:

Size of Your Heavy Equipment

The larger or more oddly shaped your piece of equipment means it may need specialized trailers, permits, or routing requirements, likely raising your shipping price.

Time of Delivery

If you need your equipment delivered at a specific time, this will likely raise the shipping price as well.

Pick-up and Delivery Location

The further distance your equipment must travel, the higher it will cost you. Additionally, more congestion (think cities) in or around your pick-up or delivery location can increase your shipping costs.

Time of the Year

Adverse weather conditions, such as during the snowy and icy winter months or hurricane season, can affect your pricing if certain routes are shut off, making your equipment’s journey longer. There’s also flatbed peak shipping season, which ranges from April to October, which increases flatbed demand – and rates.

Current Fuel Rates

The more fuel costs motor carriers, the higher your shipping cost will be.

Permit or Licenses Required 

When transporting heavy equipment, oversize or overweight permits may be required. Costs can vary by state and province, and some states may take longer to issue permits due to each state’s unique regulations and infrastructure. 

Escorts Required

Escorts will increase your shipping costs as they need to be paid too! When freight is over 12ft wide or tall, it’s a good idea to check routing to see if escort cars are required. 

Preparing Heavy Equipment for Shipping 

You’ve got your quote and provider selected. What’s next? Here are the steps you should take to ensure your equipment remains safe and secure during shipping.

Have Documentation Ready

You’ll want to ensure all required documentation and permits are sorted and ready before pick up. Make sure to confirm with your shipping provider what permits are required and that they are in place to limit the chance of any shipping delays or fines.

Planning Transportation Routes, If Needed

Planning your route is necessary if your shipment is considered Oversized. Depending on the dimensions of your equipment, you may need to have your provider avoid bridges with low clearances, sharp turns, or even roads of a particular width.

Check the Condition of Your Heavy Equipment

Just as car rental services do before lending their vehicles, inspect your equipment, and take photos before shipping, so, should anything happen during the transportation process, you have it documented.

Make Sure Any Loose Parts or Tools are secured

You don’t want to lose anything important during the transportation of your equipment!

Cover Any Important Parts

Your equipment will likely be hauled through open air, facing the wind and other elements. Covering any vulnerable or important parts is a great way to ensure that your equipment stays safe and functional.

Check Your Equipment’s Manual

The manufacturer’s manual is a great resource for getting your equipment ready for shipping. It will help you determine exactly what steps you need to take before pick-up.

Ask Your Provider How You Can Help

If you’re unsure, ask your provider how you can help make your equipment’s transportation a smooth process. Based on their experience and expertise, they can give you tips and advice and will appreciate you taking this extra step to work together as a team so your equipment can be delivered safely.

Shipping Heavy Equipment Internationally

What if you need to ship your heavy equipment internationally? There can be many challenges to overcome, which you may find incredibly difficult to do alone. In this case, it makes the most sense to hire an expert to help you. While it can be costly, it’s the most stress-free way to safely transport your heavy equipment internationally.

Here are some tips to ensure your international heavy equipment shipping is successful.

1. Make sure the provider you select to help you with your international shipping is experienced, has relevant credentials, and has a good reputation.
2. Just like shipping inland, know the dimensions and weight of your heavy equipment to inform your provider.
3. Determine the best shipping method for you. Your expert provider can help you figure this out. Your options are
   • Roll on/Roll off (RoRo) is popular and involves driving the machinery onto a flatbed style truck at the pick-up location and rolling it off after it arrives at its destination. RoRo is speedy, efficient, and often less costly than your other shipping methods.
   • Flat rack containers have walls or support posts on the ends, allowing loading from the top or sides. Flat racks mean your equipment is exposed to open air and so this method can be less costly, but then your equipment is exposed to the elements throughout its transport.
   • Lift on/lift off (LoLo) is a method of loading and unloading containerized cargo over the top of a shipping vessel using cranes or derricks. LoLo ships usually have onboard cranes and can often carry a larger container capacity.
4. Be prepared for the costs. With international shipping, you have extra costs such as taxes, tariffs, and customs checks.

Choosing the Right Heavy Equipment Shipping Provider is Important

You have many options for selecting a provider to help you with your heavy equipment shipping needs. Though too many options can feel overwhelming. How do you know you’re making the best choice for your company and freight?

Here are some qualities you should consider when looking for a provider.

Extensive Experience in Heavy Equipment Shipping

You’ll want to look for a company that has been in business for a long time, has the experience transporting the heavy equipment you’re shipping, and has a good reputation. This is a great opportunity to ask for references and contact them for their feedback.

Offers Flexible Shipping Solutions for Your Unique Needs

Do you need help with prepping your equipment for shipping, obtaining any necessary permits, or any other specialized services? Make sure the provider you’re considering has all the solutions you may need.

Carries the Proper Insurance

You want to make sure your heavy equipment is protected should anything happen during the shipping process. Verify that the provider you’re considering has the appropriate insurance to cover your equipment and enough liability insurance should anything else occur. 

Trinity can help with Your Heavy Equipment Shipping 

It’s easy to see that heavy equipment shipping has the potential to be a complicated process. If you’re looking for a provider that can help simplify your shipping, saving you time and stress,  please consider working with Trinity Logistics.

Trinity Logistics is an industry-leading third-party logistics company with expert knowledge, ready to help you with your oversized, heavy haul, or any other flatbed shipments. We do this by providing our best-in-class People-Centric service and building strong relationships with skilled and experienced motor carriers.

We have the experience you’re looking for and the reliable carrier relationships you need to move your heavy equipment safely, securely, and on time.

It’s no secret that capacity gets tighter and freight rates higher for all shippers during produce season. While the increased freight demand during produce season affects all markets, produce shippers and those with other temperature-controlled products are hit the hardest. Yet, produce shippers that make use of these suggested tips have a better chance of finding capacity and keeping their costs manageable. 

Shipping temperature-sensitive items? Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide for temperature suggestions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• When is produce season?
• Tips for produce shippers during produce season
  • Make your produce easy to work with
  • Have your produce truck ready
  • Make sure your carriers are vetted
  • Find providers that run temp-controlled year-round
  • Make use of technology
  • Be the produce shipper all the carriers want to work with
  • Look into multimodal solutions
  • Measure carrier performance
  • Consider a 3PL
• It’s not too late!

When is Produce Season?

Produce season is impactful because it puts pressure on freight shipping rates, which affects shippers both inside and outside the produce sector. To simplify, it’s the rise in crop volumes and heightened demand for trucks to transport these crops that impact capacity during this season. These factors lead to an increase in rates, not only for the shippers who need trucks with temperature control but for a majority of shippers across other modes and regions as well. 

It’s vital for produce shippers and all others impacted by produce season to know exactly when the spike in shipping begins. Generally, produce season begins sometime around February and runs through early fall. The main regional areas shipping increased produce are Florida and the East Coast, Texas and surrounding states, and California. 

Texas Produce Season

The most impactful time is from March through June however, produce can be found year-round coming from over the border out of Mexico. In Arizona and New Mexico, there is a push for produce that usually occurs in October or November.

Florida Produce Season

Starting as early as March, southeastern states like Florida begin to see an uptick in produce shipping. As temperatures warm up, produce season creeps its way up the East Coast with northeastern states’ produce shippers slowing down sometime in early fall.

California Produce Season

Like the East Coast, produce season starts in the southern part of the state around March and creeps its way up to the northern region, ending in early fall. 

Tips for Produce Shippers During Produce Season

Produce shippers facing challenges with capacity during produce season isn’t new. But there are things produce shippers can do to make shipping during produce season easier. Here are some tips you should consider to make it through this tough season.

Make Your Produce Easy to Work With

When capacity is tight and rates are high, carriers get to pick and choose what load they want. Make your produce shipments more desirable by making the job easy to complete. 

One way to do this is through freight consolidation. Regional consolidation makes freight easier for carriers to work with. Simply put, instead of using a long-haul truck to make many pick-ups or deliveries in a regional area, hire a regional short-haul expert to do that part. They make all the pick-ups and deliver to one spot so that your long-haul carrier can make one easy pick-up and drive onward. Vice versa is that the long-haul carrier would drop off at one regional facility, and then you use the regional carrier to make the many deliveries. 

We’ve found that consolidating the freight this way increases the percentage of on-time delivery, increasing your product’s shelf life and customer satisfaction. 

Make Sure Your Produce is Truck Ready

This goes hand in hand with making your produce easy to work with. Often, produce vendors will work with many packing house facilities. Make sure you confirm with the produce shipper where the truck needs to pick up. It’s never a great start to a shipment when a driver has to search location after location for their pick-up. Not only does the driver get frustrated, but with it being a time-sensitive shipment, you want to make sure there are no hang-ups, so it’s picked up on time, delivered on time, and your product’s shelf life is as long as possible.

Make Sure Your Carriers are Vetted

This may be your most important piece of advice. Make sure your selected carriers are properly vetted. 

What exactly do we mean by that? This means making sure they have reefer breakdown coverage. Or making sure they have the right amount of insurance coverage in case something goes wrong. 

For example, cherries are hard to come by and based on market conditions, their value can change. Does your carrier have that coverage should there be a problem? 

There’s also FSMA compliance to consider now. Does your carrier know how to work with produce shipments? Do they have that experience? Do they carry pulp thermometers in their trucks and understand that process to ensure they are not loading produce that is too hot or too cold, making sure it will be in good shape when it’s delivered? All these factors are something to keep in mind regardless of market conditions. 

When selecting and vetting your carriers, remember there is a big difference between the cheapest truck and the RIGHT truck. 

Find Providers that Run Temp-Controlled Year-Round

Finding and building a relationship with providers that execute year-round temperature-controlled freight across the country can give produce shippers a competitive advantage. By having that relationship, you’ll know and better trust your provider because they have the proven experience and understanding of working with your perishable freight. Additionally, having that reliable relationship can help you keep your costs down during peak produce season.

Make Use of Technology

Making use of transportation management (TMS) technology can help during this season. A TMS can help you with routing decisions by matching freight with the best carriers, lanes, rates, and transit service. In addition, it will allow you to optimize the in-house processes of your transportation network – which can help in both times of disruption and easier times. By selecting the best carriers and optimizing your routes, you’ll not only increase your service levels but reduce your risk. 

Having a best-in-class TMS also provides you with data-driven insight to better manage disruptions, reduce downtime, and effectively plan and budget your logistics spend. By using data analytics, you’ll be able to recognize which carriers are most likely to have the capacity, allowing you to reduce your harvesting to minimal levels. 

Having a TMS on hand gives you a full view of your network and transportation management. You’ll be able to see what’s happening across all markets, ensure proper rates for shipments, find freight consolidation options, and track everything from start to finish. You’ll be better prepared for now and any future disruptions. Not to mention, you’ll also gain an extra layer of security to your supply chain, which is something top of mind for everyone in this industry.

Be the Produce Shipper All the Carriers Want to Work With

There is never a time when you shouldn’t strive to be a shipper of choice. Carriers are in the position of choosing which shippers they want to work with. Produce shippers who provide better experiences for carriers can reap long-term benefits in the form of higher service levels, fewer claims, and better rates. 

To become a shipper that carriers want to work with, it’s important to run efficient and friendly dock operations, reduce driver wait times, provide comfortable breakroom and restroom accommodations, and pay carriers quickly. Let’s break these down further.

Have a Fair Accessorial Schedule

Make sure it is in line with industry standards. You can also leverage your relationships with other carriers, shippers, and 3pls to see how you compare.

Pay Quickly

In business, cash is king, especially for carriers. Favorable payment terms can make a world of a difference to a smaller carrier company or an owner-operator. Anything under 30 days is often ideal.

Tender with Ample Lead Time

This may not always be possible, but the sooner you get a load tender to your selected carrier, the better they can plan their own workload. Providing as much lead time as possible can help you get the best capacity available at the most cost-effective rates. It can also get you more committed freight and keep you out of the spot market. 48 hours or more is ideal. 

Simplify Your Appointment Scheduling Process

Put yourself in your provider’s shoes. What is it like to get an appointment set? Is it a huge effort or is it quick and easy? The easier and more user-friendly the process is, the more carriers will want to work with you.

Have Realistic Transit Times

Whenever possible, schedule pick-ups and deliveries that set carriers up for success. If transit is too tight and a late driver will have to wait hours for the facility to work them in, then the load is less attractive. Whereas if the pick-up and delivery are too far apart and a driver will have to sit around to get unloaded, then the load is also less attractive. Make sure your transit times are reasonable and make sense to keep carriers moving along. They will appreciate it. 

Turn Drivers as Quickly as Possible

The industry standard is two hours or less. Anything over that and your facility is at risk of having a negative reputation among drivers. Depending on your freight and operations, this may not be possible, but it is something important to keep in mind. 

Provide Basic Amenities for Drivers

Access to bathrooms, vending machines, waiting rooms, Wi-Fi, and most importantly, a friendly smile at the dock will go a LONG way.

Look Into Multimodal Solutions

When truckload capacity is tight, using a variety of modes can help mitigate capacity challenges while reducing your cost. Exploring multimodal options can be a great way to diversify risk, add capacity, and protect your freight budget. It can also give you the opportunity to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. 

Measure Carrier Performance

Whether you awarded hundreds of lanes in an RFP event or are a small shipper relying on the spot market, it’s important to have your supply chain driven by data, and tracking carrier performance is a part of that. If you can’t track it, how else can you make improvements?

Be sure to communicate your KPIs to every carrier you work with so they can be crystal clear on your expectations. Regularly evaluate your carrier base. Give them report cards and make sure their performance is not a mystery to you or them. You should also have a process in place for taking action for poor performance when needed. Again, clearly communicate that process to your providers, and be sure to stick with it. Inflationary markets will often show you which providers are serious about being your business partner. 

Consider Working With a 3PL

To gain quick access to capacity, produce shippers should work with a quality third-party logistics company (3PL). 3PLs work by having quality carrier relationships often in a network way larger than you can manage alone. Additionally, working with them gets you access to TMS technology and an expert to help you throughout times of disruption. It allows you easy access to multimodal solutions so you can easily compare rates across modes. Quality 3pls will include proper carrier vetting, so you know you’re working with a qualified carrier. Additionally, 3pls keep tabs on the industry and are well known for their skills in navigating disruptions with ease. 

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!

If you found some tips that could better help you, it’s not too late to act. Any improvements that you make now will help you ship better. The faster you act, the more likely you will beat your competition to the punch. Now all this might seem like an overwhelming amount to do, which is why we’d like to offer you our help.

Trinity has over 40 years of experience working through produce season and years of supply chain disruptions. We can help you with capacity through our network of strong carrier relationships available. We can also help you in your journey of being a shipper of choice as we offer carriers Quick Pay options through TriumphPay, available within two days.

Interested in freight consolidation or multimodal options? Our Team of Experts are here to help. We also have best-in-class TMS technology available with customized solutions to fit your needs, not the other way around, and experts to support you in those applications. Most importantly, we offer you a People-Centric approach throughout every step of the process.  

No matter what you need to get through produce season, Trinity Logistics is capable and ready to support your business.