Freight shipping is exciting; you know why? Because it’s thrilling to get your products/services from one place to another globally to your happy customers. However, freight shipping is also a headache due to products getting damaged or lost and other hidden fees. So it’s exciting, yet it is a complicated procedure, and you need to avoid common freight mistakes to ensure the products reach the customers safely and on time. The latter is equally essential because, in the age of Amazon and Flipkart, people expect timely delivery as they shop more and more online.
So, if you are in the freight shipping business, it’s time to introspect if you are making the following mistakes and work on handling them right now.
Error 1: Listing the wrong address
It may seem like an avoidable mistake, but it is not. So many times, the freight shipping company loses clients or packages just because they enter the wrong address. Human error can lead to this, costing you a lot while also delaying the shipment. Due to human error or auto-filling, the wrong details will make you deliver the product to a location where it should not go. Tracking and re-routing the product takes extra effort, time, money, and unhappy customers, which is not what you want.
The solution? Always re-check the details after filling. To reduce human error, you can go with an automated filling and distribution agency like Cairo, which saves you money too. But, again, re-check the details no matter what to ensure there is no delay to an unavoidable mistake like entering the wrong address.
Error 2: Not taking additional insurance
When you are shipping a truckload of products, you have insurance. However, most of that goes to the party that is shipping, and you lose time and money both. Thus, it is essential to get freight insurance to protect the company and freight. It should involve the basic insurance covering loss of products when in transit or other damages. But it should also include shipping damages due to natural disasters or human error.
You can get insurance from the company shipping your freight or go with a third-party agency. You have the option to look at the best possible options allowing you to save money and time. Unless you cannot, avoid this mistake by buying additional insurance.
Error 3: Sketchy or improper packaging
When the packaging of the materials is sketchy or improper, it will undoubtedly lead to freight getting damaged. That means your customers will get broken or damaged products, making them unhappy and increasing costs and problems for you. Thus, you have to work on properly packaging the products. That means you have to size the package correctly. If you don’t, the risk of damage increases tenfold. You put in a lot of effort while creating your product. Right? Don’t waste all that effort using shipping boxes that don’t protect the integrity of the product. Make sure each product has the best security it needs to reach its destination safely.
Error 4: Increased shipping costs
When your shipping costs increase exceptionally, it either cuts the margins, or your customers have to pay for the same. Both are unrealistic, as they can make you lose customers with lightning speed. Thus, you have to work on decreasing the shipping cost. How? By following these simple cost-cutting methods that don’t harm the quality of the products.
Compare prices of carriers: There are many carrier options to choose from, and you need the best one, like Cario, with a reasonable price and automated distribution system. Before you jump into bed with any company, compare its prices with other companies providing the same services. Research and look around till you find a carrier with reasonable prices and the best distribution system.
Use specific packaging: Carrier companies provide packaging material too specific to your product, which you can use. It is safer for your products.
Freight shipping is not an easy business to get into, you will make mistakes, and that’s okay. But if you research and plan your shipping business by having solutions to these common problems, you will be in a better position to fix any challenges without spending too much.