Oversized shipping can take a lot of work. Since oversized shipments require extra handling and planning, it’s easy to run into some challenges with them. In this blog, we’ll cover the top five challenges that come with oversized shipping and solutions, so you’ll know how to overcome them.  

• Oversized Shipping Challenge 1: Late or Lost Freight 
• Oversized Shipping Challenge 2: Meeting Regulations 
• Oversized Shipping Challenge 3: Finding the Right Carrier and Equipment 
• Oversized Shipping Challenge 4: Safety 
• Oversized Shipping Challenge 5: Lack of Communication Among Partners 

Oversized Shipping Challenge 1: Late or Lost Freight 

The construction and manufacturing industry is one that relies on oversized shipping. This industry has tight schedules to meet to keep their projects moving. This is why professionals, such as construction project managers are responsible for coordinating shipments of equipment or material to and from job sites. When planning, transit and arrival times must be clear and transparent to coordinate labor and proper personnel to be onsite when deliveries arrive.  

Because freight must arrive at the right time and place, it’s important not to fall behind or incur additional labor costs. Project managers also often juggle multiple projects, and without the right processes in place, this can become overwhelming. Too often, project managers receive too late notice on delayed freight causing them to have to push back their project schedule. Additionally, at times shipments somehow don’t reach their delivery location or may arrive at the wrong one.  

Your Solution: Use Logistics Technology for Visibility 

Adopting logistics technology will allow you to easily track all your shipments, no matter how many projects you must manage. There are many logistics technologies options you can choose from for visibility. For example, a Transportation Management System allows you to not only receive tracking notifications, but automatically share them with you external partners. Additionally, you can use outside tracking vendors such as Fourkites or TruckerTools. 

While searching for the right technology for your company’s needs can be daunting, consider working with a third-party logistics provider (3PL), like Trinity. It can be less costly to access the technology you need through them, and you’ll have experts on your side to help you. 

Oversized Shipping Challenge 2: Meeting Regulations 

Drivers hauling any load that exceeds legal limits in weight or size MUS get a permit for the state they are traveling through. If an oversized shipment travels through multiple states, that may mean multiple permits, or else it can result in fines.  

Oversized shipments may also require pilot cars and/or police escorts depending on the characteristics of the load and states they travel through. Both permit and escort regulations vary by state, and depending on what is needed, the processing time could take several hours or days to obtain. As a result, planning shipments and making sure guidelines are adhered to can be both frustrating and time-consuming.  

Solution: Simplify your workload by outsourcing 

Take the weight off your shoulders and let someone else handle the logistics. Outsourcing opens up your schedule so you can focus on what you do best. But, don’t just outsource to anyone. Instead, make sure to choose a logistics provider who understands your freight’s regulations and has experience in doing so.   

Oversized Shipping Challenge 3: Finding the Right Carrier and Equipment 

Besides meeting legal regulations, oversized freight needs the right equipment and carrier to move it, at the right price for your budget. Sometimes that can be tough to find on your own, especially when capacity is tight.  

Solution: Make Use of a 3PL’s Network 

What’s another reason to consider outsourcing? Using a 3PL means you’ll have the advantage of their vast carrier network. A 3PL’s sole service is logistics, so they need relationships with carriers to move freight. A quality 3PL will often have an extensive carrier network with a nationwide presence.  

Oversized Shipping Challenge 4: Safety 

Safety equipment for oversized shipments includes warning signs, flags, and lights to give visibility to other drivers of the oversized load and its edges. Rules and regulations vary again by state. Additionally, there is proper tarping, strapping, and securement of your freight on the truck that is needed. Loose cargo that falls off can cause traffic problems and has the potential to be deadly or hurt someone. Making sure the right materials are used to tie down the freight and make it visible to everyone is important.  

Solution: Make Sure Who You Work with Has Experience 

You don’t want just anyone moving freight: you want the best. Unfortunately, it can take a lot of your tome to find the best carrier to safely move your shipments. 3PL’s have experience working with carriers and have built relationships over time with ones who provide the best service. We properly vet our carriers during the shipment selection so that we can guarantee your freight will arrive at its destination safely.  

Oversized Shipping Challenge 5: Lack of Communication Among Partners 

Too often, there will be lack of communication between shipper, receiver, and carriers. It could be a lack of communication about a needed permit and who has to get it, or about the proper equipment that is needed to unload at the receiver. This can lead to frustrated parties and delays in a project. 

Solution: Gain Help with Managing your Logistics 

A 3PL can be described as the middleman between customer and carrier. We help manage your logistics so jobs run smoothly, and you can focus on other aspects of your business.  

At Trinity, we pride ourselves on proper and extensive communication before, during, and after a shipment. If making use of a TMS, you can choose how extensive you want to integrate the technology with your supply chain, allowing both you and your external partners more visibility and coordination with your shipments. This allows everyone the ability to stay connected and up to date. 

It seems like many of oversized shipping challenges can be solved by selecting to work with a 3PL. of course, you can choose to try to solve them all on your own manually, but why not save the time and consult an expert, like Trinity, for help? We offer you a range of services and technology to make your workload easier. We’ve been in the business forever 40 years and take pride in what we do – solving complex logistics problems for companies like you.  

By: Christine Morris