Freight management involves organising and overseeing the transportation of goods from one location to another. It’s a core task for many online retailers and suppliers - and one that, depending on how you handle it, can have a big impact on the satisfaction of customers. Below are 5 biggest freight management mistakes to avoid.
By Team Savant
Image: Mika Baumeister
Inappropriate Packaging
To prevent items getting damaged during shipping, it’s essential to choose the right packaging. Choosing the wrong material or choosing a box that is too large or too small are two common blunders. There are other packaging mistakes to also be wary of such as overpackaging (which can lead to wasteful use of materials and unnecessary costs) as well not labelling packaging correctly. This post at PackM details some of the common packaging mistakes to avoid. Taking inspiration from other products or using packaging consultants can help you to choose the perfect packaging.
Inaccurately Weighing Cargo
It’s essential that you accurately weigh items before shipping them. There are a few things that can go wrong if you don’t do this. Firstly, your carrier may charge extra fees if the load is heavier than quoted. Secondly, incorrect information could lead to delivery delays — especially if a carrier turns up with a vehicle that is unable to carry your load, resulting in a new vehicle having to be sent out. In some cases, a parcel may even be returned if it is not the correct weight. All in all, never try to estimate weights and invest in high quality scales.
Promising Unrealistic Delivery Deadlines
In order to win over clients, some companies will promise delivery deadlines that are impossible to achieve. If the client urgently needs the delivery for a certain date and the delivery doesn’t arrive, this can quickly lead to complaints and lawsuits. This is why you should always try to be as realistic as you can with delivery deadlines. Sometimes delays are out of your control, however by working closely with couriers, you can give warnings when this happens as soon as possible.
Not Tracking Shipments
Tracking shipments at every stage is important to make sure that there are no delays or mix-ups. It can also help with more economical route planning. Software such as BoxTop Technologies can help you to monitor shipments and fine-tune the shipping process. Make sure that you are using this software.
Prioritising Cost Over Quality and Speed
A lot of companies are dead set on cutting costs, and shipping can be an area where some of the biggest cutbacks can be made. However, getting the cheapest rates you can isn’t always good for business. Cheaper shipping typically means slower shipping — which could put off many customers. A cheaper service can also be lower quality. Your freights could end up being poorly packaged and there could be a greater risk of shipments being mishandled or mislaid. Choosing fast and high quality couriers will cost you more, but could satisfy clients more. Many companies cover this cost by charging customers more and by emphasising the fact that delivery is faster and higher quality than competitors.