Proven tactics for successful truckload shipments 

Like a game of chess, shipping full truckload requires some strategy to excel. The goal is successful and on-time shipments, and having a proper plan can benefit your business and ease your shipping stress. See why your approach matters and tips to gain these advantages. 

Why strategy is important 

Whether you find coverage for every load or have a trusted provider in place, a complete and overarching truckload strategy can enable you to enhance the following: 

  • Cost savings 
  • Quality of service 
  • Risk management  
  • Adaptability in the marketplace 

Truckload planning is vital no matter how often you ship, and each truckload tactic is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Find which moves will bring your business advantages and ultimately give you a competitive edge. 

Tips for advancing your full truckload strategy 

The following tips can help develop your overall strategy: 

Maximize trailer utilization 

By filling trailers to their capacity, you can maximize your shipping budget, leading to the cost savings benefit. Leaving room in your trailers is like leaving money on the table.

If your freight is going to the same destination, try delaying a shipment or two and consolidating them into one larger shipment. This simple strategy can go far when trying to stretch a budget or save money to be spent elsewhere. 

Utilize real-time tracking 

Having a real-time tracking system in place can help reduce late deliveries and keep you ahead of mishaps. Tracking can keep you proactive in problem-solving by providing full visibility into your load’s location and status. Being more knowledgeable about the status of your deliveries can also improve your quality of service. 

Negotiate your contracts 

Establishing long-term partnerships with reliable providers can assist in your negotiations for competitive rates and service agreements. This can ensure access to capacity during spikes in demand and maintain consistent service levels. It can also help you improve your quality of service and adaptability in the marketplace.

By creating a good relationship with a provider, you can adapt if capacity changes occur, allowing you to keep your transportation plan on solid footing. 

Learn more about truckload shipping and the entire truckload marketplace. 

Utilize technology 

Investment in technology like fleet management, TMS, load optimization and route optimization software can serve your business well if you want to manage risk, save money, and adapt to the marketplace. A simple TMS can help manage risk by eliminating the threat of lost or late loads. Load and route optimization software can save on your transportation spend by ensuring your trailers are optimally loaded and transported on the most efficient route. Fleet management is helpful if you own your own fleet and need insights to improve your flexibility within the marketplace. 

Technology is an integral part of shipping truckload, and many providers may already be using it for shipping your loads. However, technology can get expensive and can be complicated to master and ultimately use. For this reason, a solution like managed transportation, where a provider can assist with shipping all of your loads in the most optimal way possible, is an excellent way to go. By using a managed service, you can gain all the shipping technology that enables you to gain benefits without making a significant investment. 

Make moves with ArcBest 

Whether shipping exclusively full truckload or venturing into more complex solutions, let ArcBest be your trusted provider. Make us part of your shipping plan today and gain insight into the marketplace from our expert providers. Ship your freight with confidence with ArcBest.