Efficiency in Freight Through Technology

The shipping process – heck, the whole transportation industry – is large, complicated and extremely rooted in tradition.  As technology has become refined over the last decade, especially at Freightquote.com, some of the inefficiencies which were formerly unavoidable in shipping have been resolved. Shipping cannot function well based on technology alone however.

Freightquote’s outstanding freight quoting and freight management technologies are supported by an experienced and talented staff with a deep knowledge of the industry and a commitment to Freightquote’s customers.

The technology though is the cornerstone of Freightquote’s system. Leaders in the online movement of the freight industry, Freightquote continues to develop better and more efficient technologies to help its shippers do more with less. In the current economy, the savings achieved can be essential to keep a business on track. Even a seemingly small monthly savings on freight costs can be important to the bottom line of a small- to medium-sized business.

There are a number of freight transportation cost reductions available.

Freightquote’s online  system can quickly identify multiple shipping options for every shipment – allowing a shipper to compare them side-by-side, looking at cost, service level, delivery time and more. Freightquote allows shippers upfront consideration of surcharges, accessorials, minimums and other minutiae of freight billing that can really add up.

And utilizing Freightquote’s technology costs nothing. No software to purchase. No IT consultants or programmers to pay.

Freightquote’s unique online system allows for very accurate quotes and simple comparisons. This, plus Freightquote’s relationships with hundreds and thousands of available, reputable carriers and Freightquote’s tremendous shipping volume, result in immediate savings in transportation costs.

Additional savings are undeniable when shippers consider the time saved by using Freightquote’s technology. No longer do transportation managers have to bounce from carrier to carrier to obtain quotes and negotiate rates.

Freightquote does that in the click of a button.

No longer do shippers have to make multiple follow-up phone calls to book loads and track shipments. No longer do shippers have to reconcile multiple shipping invoices to internal records before cutting multiple checks for payment to multiple carriers. No longer do they have to navigate damage claims on their own. All of this is handled simply and efficiently via Freightquote’s online freight management system. The time savings are unbeatable. And time is money, especially in this economy when businesses are striving to do more with less at every level of commerce.

Navigating Freightquote.com

One of the best parts of freightquote.com is its easy navigation. They make it simple to quote and buy freight. All the pages of the freightquote site can be found at their sitemap. For example, you will find everything from Freight Tracking to Los Angeles Warehouses. They also feature a navigation bar which provides all the main sections of the site that you will need in order to quote and buy freight.

Why use Freightquote Instead of Dealing Directly with a Carrier?

There is no reason that a business (or individual for that matter) cannot contact a freight carrier directly to arrange for a shipment. Just because it is possible, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best business decision. In the case of freight, the “middle man” can actually help a small- or medium-sized business (or individual) realize a tremendous savings in both money and time.

Freightquote.com has built an online freight management system that is second to none in the shipping industry. Its user interface is simple and its personnel are experienced and responsive. Freightquote’s customers can take advantage of the system, the people and the company’s industry reputation to handle their shipping needs simply and efficiently.

While it is technically true that Freightquote is a “middle man” in arranging for freight shipments and does not ever actually touch the freight, Freightquote is in a unique position to allow shippers to get the best price with reputable truckload and less than truckload (LTL) shipments, and all without the hassle of conducting multiple carrier negotiations.

So, how can Freightquote save a shipper money? Why isn’t it cheaper to contact the carriers directly? There are two primary reasons: volume and reputation. Just like a small business can save money buying in bulk from a warehouse club, it can save with Freightquote. The volume of shipments that Freightquote places with its partner freight carriers is substantial. That volume gives Freightquote a bit more negotiating weight than an average shipper. The more shipments booked, the better the discount offered. Freightquote then passes along those savings to its customers.

Using Freightquote can definitely save a shipper money but it can also save a tremendous amount of time. As noted above, Freightquote’s user-friendly system allows an instantaneous price comparison, automated booking and BOLs as well as start-to-finish shipment tracking.  No more spending the day on the phone getting quotes, scheduling pick-ups and confirming deliveries.

In the freight industry, then, a “middle man” like Freightquote is truly the fiscally responsible way to go. As opposed to a retail/wholesale situation, in freight, going straight to the carrier will likely not save a small- to medium-size business any money at all. To the contrary, using Freightquote will save both money and time.

Why Ship Intermodal with Freightquote?

Freightquote.com and its subsidiary Twin Modal have offered shippers the option of transporting their freight via intermodal transportation for many years. But why should a shipper consider using intermodal service? What are the benefits as compared to traditional truck carriage?

Intermodal transportation has certainly been on the rise in recent years. Intermodal is the transportation of freight in containers using several different modes of transportation. Technically, this could involve any combination of rail, truck, sea and air freight transport. Most commonly in the United States, though, it refers to a truck/rail combination.

The first benefit to using intermodal is generally reduced cost as compared to trucking in a cross-country trip. (Shorter trips are still less expensive over-the-road.) One reason is the lower fuel expense of rail transport in these days of greatly fluctuating fuel costs.

A second benefit for many shippers is the increased security and reduced damages resulting from less cargo handling. The cargo is loaded onto a container at the point of origin and is not usually touched until it is unloaded at its destination. Less handling means less opportunity for damage in most instances. (It should be noted though that not all products are appropriate for rail transport. Very fragile and very heavy freight should still travel over-the-road to be safe.)

Some shippers may be concerned about the added time that intermodal shipments require. While it is true that intermodal freight takes a bit longer, the transit times are actually getting better. The railroads are now offering much more consistent service and a direct coast-to-coast delivery now usually takes just over a week.

As more manufacturers consider their environmental impact, it may also be important to note that intermodal transportation uses less fuel and produces less pollution than roadway transport for the same freight and distance.

By using the freight quoting services at Freightquote.com, shippers can easily compare the transit times and costs associated with both intermodal and over-the-road shipments.  The Freightquote system allows customers to view each option side-by-side before deciding which works best for them. Once a decision is made, booking the shipment is simple and easily managed from pick-up to delivery regardless of which mode is chosen.

Lower Shipping Industry Numbers Lead to Better Deals for Freightquote Customers

Word came this week from the American Trucking Associations that truck tonnage (or the amount of freight hauled by motor carrier domestically) fell 2.4% in June and was 13.6% lower than truck tonnage from June 2008. There had been an increase reported in May. The mixed message has had some economists scratching their heads.

Ultimately, what this means is that less product is being shipped right now due to the less-than-favorable economic conditions. Job losses and tight credit have negatively affected household spending and business profits.

ATA’s chief economist suggests that, at least for the near future, many new product orders can be fulfilled with current inventories, not new production, keeping trucks empty.

One industry insider even commented that “freight availability remains at historically low levels and pricing competition has been fierce as excess tractor capacity, buoyed by lenient lenders and lower fuel prices, continues to exist in the marketplace.”

While all of this sounds fairly depressing, it is an enormous savings opportunity for shippers. Excess carrier capacity results in dropping freight costs for consumers as the carriers compete for their business. Freightquote.com, long successful at helping shippers’ comparison shop between carriers, has responded to the current situation by implementing a broad platform of enhancements to its systems.

As a result of Freightquote’s series of improved technology, operations, and customer service, shipping quotes received through Freightquote are now even more cost-effective, timely, and accurate. The result for Freightquote has been a substantial increase in traffic despite the industry downturn, especially in the truckload shipping area.

Freightquote’s pioneering technology gives customers the most competitive and accurate truckload pricing every time. And Freightquote’s position in the industry allows it to negotiate far better freight prices than most small- to medium-sized businesses might otherwise be able to achieve

Truckload shipments booked through Freightquote have more than doubled recently as a result of the company’s response to the industry downturn and excess capacity. Its customers have been pleased in the results of these efforts and have shown their appreciation by booking more freight shipments on Freightquote than ever before.

Freightquote has long been the freight industry’s leading provider of web-based freight transportation management services. Its spot-on analysis of the market and its reaction to the sluggish industry have not only solidified Freightquote’s position at the top but also created continued growth in an otherwise gloomy global economy.