Why a Trucking Partner is Critical to Your Business Success
I got a call from a colleague last week who was desperate to find a last-minute freight solution. His freight broker called him on Friday morning and told him the trucker who was to pick up time-sensitive product in Maine that evening, for delivery to Florida by Monday, was cancelling.
My buddy now had to explain to his CEO why after months of planning, the project launch was derailed at the last minute. He was looking for a miracle. I was fresh out of miracles that day, so I referred him to another well respected freight company in Maine.
This happens way too often. Many trucking companies cancel, show up late, deliver late, deliver broken product and provide poor customer service. The list is endless as are the excuses. It’s the reason why I started my own freight company when I owned Bristol Seafood, and prior to that our own international freight forwarding business when I was CEO of Abba North America. In my last interim gig, the biggest issue facing the company was … distribution.
In order to avoid my buddy’s dilemma,
companies shouldn’t hire a freight company
they should partner with one.
A significant factor in Brown Dog Carrier’s success to date are partnerships with our customers. For them we don’t run out of miracles. The reality is, s*** happens and schedules change. As an example, in Maine the weather is a constant factor in getting product from A to B. Short of risking the safety of our drivers we take extraordinary measures to make sure we provide on time delivery and exceed customer expectations. As we like to say, “We Deliver, On Time, Every Time, Stress Free!”
Choose a Trucking Partner Based on Values
The trucking market is cyclical, but partnerships don’t have to be. Finding a good freight partnership will prove to be an effective choice for an upward or downward trending market, and give you access to the miracles when needed.
Here are some questions to ask when picking the right partner.
Does the trucking company ownership share common values with your company?
Is the proximity of operations a match?
Does the trucking company have modern well serviced equipment?
Can you get the owner of the trucking company on the phone when needed?
If you answer NO to any of the above, then you may be calling me on a Friday afternoon looking for a miracle when your trucker fails!
Lliy and her team will destress your logistics challenges
One last thought. Partnerships are win-win relationships. It is critical not to chase the cheapest rates. Everyone has to make a profit and unless you want dropped orders, late deliveries, sudden rate hikes, additional fines, fees, and headaches then don’t pick the cheapest freight rate offered. We price our freight competitively but also to ensure we have well maintained equipment, pay our drivers well with benefits, and make a profit for the owners. In other words, we treat our customers, employees and owners equally. That gives us and you, continuity.
By all accounts the trucking industry will experience some capacity issues by Spring of 2020. This is being driven by additional trade with China, the beginning of California’s produce season, some capacity reduction due to industry contraction in 2019, and driver retirement. Currently the estimated driver shortage in the industry is 60,000.
Do you have a freight partner for 2020? If not give us a call.
Happy trucking!
Darrell Pardy