Why is freight slow

People take time off during the holidays and have company days off of work. When a freight company has a holiday during the week, the shipments that were meant to be picked up that day say on a Friday could be pushed back say until Monday. This results in the Monday shipments being pushed back, and so on and so forth, creating a domino effect. They are as follows:. With staffing becoming one of the primary concerns, digitization and automation once again feature prominently in sensible solutions.

You can invest in your workforce. Train the employees you have for a wider variety of skills and abilities. Further yet, automate as much of your business as you can. At a time when wages and staffing are more challenging the ever, the more work that can be done digitally, the more money you can save your business.

Customize your workflows and truck routing through digital means. Third-party technology for load-building digitally through apps has not dramatically developed for LTL freight.

Challenges exist in dealing with multiple clients and multiple locations. However, you can embrace this opening. Find a quality partner to help develop technology for digital load-building. On a smaller, company-by-company basis, this is much more feasible. I've discussed how important and valuable LTL load-building can be. The industry has, as a whole, actually been very strong over the past five years.

However, it is true that the growth curve had slowed dramatically from to The stability and growth rate of the economy will be paramount to restoring the growth rate of LTL freight. However, you can help do your part by being proactive.

You can start with more complete and diverse training of the staff you have. Next, you can implement as much automation and digitization in your business as possible. Emerging from this difficult economic time will take everyone working together. The smarter we work and the more proactive we are, the more we can help combat the challenges facing the LTL industry.

This post was written by Matthew Zandstra. Matt has been working in transportation and logistics dispatch for the past six years, both as a broker and direct to drivers. Contributing Factors April 9, Here are some of them: Efficiency for carriers: LTL freight is a more efficient for many carriers. Rather than shipping half-empty trucks, carriers can piece together multi-pick and multi-drop loads to optimize their trip. Or sometimes companies should wait for a full truckload before shipping their products; companies need to evaluate options to see what is the most cost-effective to them.

Answer: Companies should work with a quality freight broker in order to get quick access to capacity. Brokers typically work with a vast network of carriers and have the expertise needed to find a truck in a pinch. Inventory management is also extremely important right now. Companies should look at past raw materials orders and forecast what will be needed in the future.

What is causing the price of transportation to increase and the shortage of truckers? Is it because demand is high? Answer: Many factors contribute to why transportation costs have been increasing. The shipping industry is experiencing a tight capacity market, which means there is strong freight demand, but a low supply of drivers and carriers.

An important factor is the driver shortage. Long haul truck driving is not an attractive job. A driver is alone for long periods of time, and they are away from their families, which can be hard. We are seeing that drivers who are currently working for these carriers are beginning to retire because baby boomers made up most of the industry. For those young adults who are not attending college, interstate truck driving is not an option for them until they are 21; by this time those young adults would have started work in a different field.

Truck driving also struggles to recruit women, who make up a large portion of the workforce. Powerful and damaging weather can also cause freight rates to spike. In the aftermath, this weather tightened capacity further because trucks were being sent to the affected areas as part of the recovery efforts.

Lastly, the ELD electronic logging device mandate is affecting how long shipments are taking. If a shipment was taking one day now, it may be taking two days because drivers can only drive a certain amount of time and they can no longer manipulate their hours. Matt Dziak works for FR8Star. FR8Star is a company that works with carriers directly to give them opportunities to expand their companies.

By doing this, shippers can save time and money by booking freight with them. Matt has a lot of knowledge on the transportation business and has given us some insight on what he thinks about the freight rates. Diesel prices have been increasing and are currently at their highest mark. With the new ELD electronic logging device regulations, they are restricting the number of hours a trucker can drive. Truckers can only drive a maximum of 10 hours a day. The ELD tracks these hours and they cannot be manipulated.

With that being said, shippers should emphasize the importance to decrease wait times at shipping and receiving facilities. Adam Robinson works for Cerasis , which is a third party logistics company that manages the entire transportation management process for their companies. Consider absorbing the cost of freight shipping on their next order or even offering discounts on products. Expedited freight shipments move on the fast track. Trucks carrying expedited loads make very few stops while enroute, staying in motion from pickup to delivery.

Your carrier is able to offer this accelerated service by working with trucking teams. Hastened service is offered because drivers work in shifts; one driver conquers the road while the other rests. This makes your shipment move fast and can seriously decrease transit times. Quick-moving expedited shipments are essential to getting critical goods in the hands of people who need them on time. Expedited freight shipping is likely a good option for your business in a number of circumstances:.

Regardless of the reason your business needs to move expedited freight, the right shipping partner will ensure quick and timely delivery. But what can you do if my expedited shipment is delayed? While this situation is unlikely, the best answer is to work with your carrier or freight broker partner. The right transportation company for your move will find ways to remediate the situation in a timely fashion. They might offer a discount on services if terms of the agreement were not met or they might seek to provide other solutions.

In most cases, you can track your expedited freight shipment as it travels over the road. This will help you ensure your delivery will arrive on time. Tracking your freight shipment will also help you prepare for delays in the rate circumstances in which they occur. You might rely on freight shipment tracking to keep an eye on your cargo as it travels over the road.

Tracking your shipment will give you peace of mind, letting you know that your freight is moving as it should and is set to arrive on time. However, tracking your freight shipment can also help you prepare for any delays you might encounter. Freight shipment tracking can show you any obstacles along the way. Most freight companies use software called Transportation Management Systems TMS to ensure shippers have access to real-time shipment tracking.

This software is complex, but it allows carriers, freight brokers, and other transportation partners to save time and money along the way. The information comes from advanced software systems, which reduces human error and provides precise figures. Shippers can count on the accuracy of shipment tracking when working with a carrier with the right systems in place. Accurate tracking information should let you know if your shipment is delayed before the scheduled date of arrival. Knowing about delays ahead of time can help you plan your shipment and make necessary arrangements.

Can you sue for late delivery? This is a complex question. Generally speaking, in some cases, you might be able to sue for breach of contract in the case of late freight delivery. The vendor says the parts will arrive in 5 days. However, the parts arrive in 10 days. This might mean the contract has been broken. But can the widget manufacturer sue the vendor for the delayed parts? Again, it depends on the situation and circumstances.

If the widget manufacturer needed the parts to complete an urgent order and the delay caused them to lose that business, they might be able to sue the vendor or the shipper for the lost revenue.

Keep in mind that even if you decide to sue for a late freight delivery, you mind not win. And even if you do win the case, you might pay more in court costs than you recoup. The intricacies of the law are complex. Additionally, laws vary by state and jurisdiction. The best way to determine if filing a lawsuit for late freight delivery is to work with a lawyer. Their legal expertise can determine the best option for your unique situation. Can you get a refund if your freight delivery is late?

Once again, this is a complex question. The answer can vary and it depends on each situation. If your freight delivery does not arrive on time because the vendor was delayed in sending it, you might be eligible for a refund from the vendor. If the vendor refuses to refund you for shipping or product costs for late freight delivery, you might pursue seeking a refund for freight shipping costs from your carrier or freight broker. However, submitting requests for refunds can be quite tedious and time-consuming.

If your freight is seriously late and insured, you might be able to file a claim for non-delivery of goods with your carrier or freight broker. Insuring each shipment is essential and can come in handy in cases of loss, damage, or even late delivery. If a significant amount of time has passed since your freight should have been delivered, you might be able to file a claim for late delivery or non-delivery of goods.

While each carrier and freight partner has varying individual policies, you do have rights as a shipper. Cargo claims and cargo insurance allow you to make sure you are compensated in the case of visible loss or damage, concealed loss or damage, and non-delivery of goods.

In the case of an extremely late delivery, you might be able to file a claim for non-delivery of goods. Most freight brokers and carrier partners have limited liability.

This is why your broker agent or carrier agent likely asked for the value of your shipment when you got your freight rate quote. You likely purchased additional cargo insurance to cover this value in case of any kind of loss or damage, including non-delivery of goods. One important thing to keep in mind when filing a claim for non-delivery is that most carriers and freight partners will not cover damages related to things totally out of their control.

Again, these are among the reasons why cargo insurance is essential. Your carrier partner or freight broker will likely need:. Freight carrier partners and freight brokers will likely only consider your claim for non-delivery of goods if all of the necessary information is presented.

It is wise to double-check with your transportation partner to make sure all demands are met and information is provided before filing a cargo claim.

After your claim is received, you will likely be assigned a claim number. Your carrier partner or cargo insurer should respond to your claim in a timely manner, often within less than 30 days. In many cases, payment for your eligible claim will be timely as well -- often within less than days of your date of claim. Freight delays are increasingly common and significant inconveniences. However, there are a few things you can do to make dealing with freight delays a little easier.

These questions can include:. How you choose to deal with your freight delay might vary based on how you can answer the above questions. Regardless of your situation, there are a few things you can keep in mind to take the sting out of freight shipment delays.

In fact, your freight broker is an agent on your side. Your freight broker is dedicated to making sure you get the best service possible from the carrier or other transportation partner. When determining if your freight broker is responsible for the late arrival of goods, keep the following thoughts in mind:. If you are concerned about freight shipping delays, your broker is likely able to provide answers and solutions. Let your transportation partner be a strategically and help ensure your shipment arrives on time even during times of uncertainty and adverse market conditions.

In some cases, freight shipping delays are simply part of doing business. You might anticipate potential delays when planning your shipments, especially during peak shipping season and when times are tricky in the trucking industry.

A little flexibility goes a long way when dealing with freight shipping delays. Being prepared for how freight delays might impact your business and your customers is essential.

Peak shipping season often means crowded ports, overwhelmed terminals, and possible delays. For many shippers and carrier partners, August through October is prime shipping time.

It is during these months that consumer demand for products rises. From back to school shopping in August and September to holiday shopping creeping into October, products flow from port to terminal to warehouse to retailer during these busy months. Capacity gets even tighter and sends prices up during the busy shipping season. In addition to peak shipping season, other factors that can further tighten capacity and cause freight delays are product launch dates and commodity seasonality.

For example, new electronic products and appliances are typically in stores for consumers in early fall, around the holidays, and in the spring.

This means more products moving over the road and tighter capacity for trucks. Paying attention to the little details like launch dates and seasonality can help keep your products moving without delay.

When seeking out a freight ally, look for a company with a strong track record of performance. This translates to a Seek out a freight partner ready to serve as your strategic partner and offer solutions even during these unprecedented times. There are many factors that can determine whether your freight arrives on time.

In , delays are being caused by the COVID pandemic; shrinking capacity; driver shortages; crowded ports; backed-up terminals; supply chain disruptions; and more. Despite the obstacles, most shipments will arrive on time. This is especially true when you have the right freight partner on your side. One way you can ensure your freight arrives on time is to be fully aware of transit times.