Trying to get dedicated services off the ground?
Dedicated transportation allows you to secure equipment through a provider, guaranteeing capacity and acting as an extension of your business. This means it can be a great solution for businesses facing a multitude of challenges. Explore how to determine if dedicated is right for your supply chain and how to get a program up and running.
Perform a self-evaluation to determine if dedicated makes sense
Dedicated transportation is a highly specialized service, so it’s important to perform a self-assessment to ensure it will benefit your supply chain. Here are some questions to help with the review of your shipping needs to determine if dedicated is for you:
Do you have consistent loads and lanes?
If you rely heavily on consistent and reliable delivery schedules, dedicated may be ideal. Because it offers guaranteed capacity, you’ll need to have consistent volumes and frequencies to qualify for a dedicated program.
Just as important as having consistent shipping volumes is having consistent lanes. Dedicated options make sense when you’re shipping to or from the same origin or destination or shipping the same lane multiple times.
Do you utilize trailer pools?
If you’re looking for a trailer pool, then dedicated may be for you. Trailer pools are often used when your unload is slow or hand-loaded/unloaded. A trailer pool will give you more time to unload while sending back an empty trailer for more loads. Many dedicated transportation providers are experts at running trailer pools, and having a consistent and reliable schedule is paramount. While finding equipment for trailer pools on the spot market is possible, having a dedicated option with guaranteed capacity is your best bet.
Planning to scale?
Ask yourself if your business is scalable and consider your long-term needs. Dedicated options make sense when your business needs to scale, as it adds guaranteed capacity to your network, enabling a smooth and uninterrupted transition when business needs flex.
Do you require a high level of service?
Dedicated transportation is often associated with a higher level of service, including dedicated trailer use and on-time deliveries and pick-ups. If you have delivery or pickup appointments that need to be met, dedicated can help.
Contact a provider to get started
If your self-evaluation shows that dedicated could benefit your supply chain, you’ll want to contact a dedicated provider so they can evaluate your shipping needs.
Because dedicated transportation is a specialized program that is customizable depending on your needs, it’s important to communicate them properly to ensure you’re getting the right solution. Have all information about your shipments available, including appointment times, accurate load descriptions, weight, and the lanes you’re shipping in.
If capacity is available and your business is determined to be a good fit for a dedicated program, the provider can start putting together rates. These will be contract rates, and are generally locked in for a minimum of one year.
Monitor metrics after your dedicated program launches
Because dedicated transportation works as an extension of your business or current fleet, you want to treat it as such. So, once you have a dedicated shipment program in place, it’s important to monitor KPIs (key performance indicators) to streamline your supply chain and make sure dedicated remains a viable option for your business model.
Monitor metrics like on-time pick-ups and deliveries, cargo safety, and cost efficiency, and continue to work with your dedicated provider to further optimize your freight.
Explore ArcBest dedicated services
Want guaranteed capacity on consistent lanes? Dedicated may be beneficial for your supply chain. After a quick self-assessment, call an ArcBest professional today to further determine your eligibility. With over 100 years of trucking experience, ArcBest can act as your trusted dedicated provider.
