In business, someone is always looking to fill a need to help you (for a price) manage something that has the potential to take all your time and energy away from your core competency. Freight management is no exception.
Freight can be very complicated. Click here just to see terms. Here is another resource. That is only the beginning.
There is hope! There are third-party freight handlers or freight agents whose job it is to take care of many aspects of dealing with shipments coming and going from your facility. Interestingly, even though they are getting a cut of the money and doing some of the work, they actually save you money overall because they negotiate unbelievable rate discounts with the carriers due to the large volumes of freight they manage. I have actually seen 50% differences many times. I'm talking about the difference between paying $1,900 and $950 or $1400 and $700 per shipment not single digit dollar differences.
There are many resources available if you want to consider this route (pun intended). Freightquote.com is one online resource to get you started.
Be warned: You will still have to do some of the work yourself and it will be vitally important that you understand the terms and charges associated with all your shipments.
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