As a business owner, you need to ship your cargo, so choosing the best trucking services is crucial to ensure your products are transported safely and securely. If you are based in Phoenix, Arizona, and searching for trucking companies, you have come to the right place. Here at Trojan Horse Truck Services, we will share the mistakes to avoid when moving cargo. Hopefully, after reading this blog post, you will be able to avoid making mistakes when shipping cargo.
When shipping cargo, you should avoid making any mistakes. One simple mistake can cause you to lose a lot of money, waste time and effort, and even lose potential customers. Shipping mistakes can occur during the process, such as providing inaccurate information on a bill of lading, not securing cargo on a pallet, or failing to follow shipping regulations. If you make any mistake, it can be costly and even cause delays in the shipping of your cargo. Here are the following shipping mistakes and how to avoid them.
Inaccurate Bill of Lading
A bill of lading is a legal document that serves as proof of ownership of the cargo being shipped. The shipper and carrier must sign the bill of lading, and the details of the cargo, such as origin, destination, and contents, must be correct. This document serves as a contract between the courier and the shipper, outlining the responsibilities of each party.
The bill of lading requires a lot of information, so shippers often make mistakes, such as inputting a wrong description of the items, writing an incorrect piece count, inputting the wrong phone number, and neglecting to read the terms and conditions. You can’t afford to make these errors; it is best to enter the right information whenever shipping your cargo. You can have someone help you recheck everything to ensure you have input accurate information.
You don’t want to take any risks when shipping your cargo because your products and your company name are at stake.
Not Using Proper Packing Supplies
When shipping important cargo, you must pack your products properly. When you are busy, have a lot of inventory to pack, and your products are in demand, you will need a steady supply of packing materials such as boxes, labels, packing tape, and bubble wrap to ship orders on time. If you are not prepared, you will struggle to fulfill all the orders from your customers.
This can result in late deliveries and wasted time placing orders for packing supplies. Having a third-party logistics partner with connections for packing supplies can help you secure what you need, especially during peak demand.
Not Packing Properly
Poor packaging of precious cargo can result in damaged goods, leading to disappointed clients and expensive losses. Properly packed boxes increase the likelihood that your cargo will arrive in good condition. If you need to ship them in shipping containers, your cargo is at risk of damage as containers deteriorate over time. You do not want to put your cargo at risk if you haven’t packed it in a utility box recommended for shipment.
Even when you use the correct packing supplies, you must ensure that your cargo is properly attached to the pallet. The cargo must be stacked in a column or interlocking patterns. Ensure that your cargo is secured with stretch wrap and bands. Adding padding can improve stability, durability, and stress absorption during transport.
Inputting the Wrong Address
Shippers are prone to inputting the wrong address when shipping their cargo. This error can lead to costly expenses and late arrivals. When your delivery goes to the wrong address, you will have to provide the correct address and wait a few days for it to arrive at the right location. You will have to pay rerouting fees and could miss deadlines, resulting in unhappy clients. This mistake will waste your time, effort, and resources.
Inputting the Wrong Weight and Freight of Cargo
The freight and weight of the cargo have separate listings. Mistakes in listing them can lead to notable and costly outcomes. You will have to handle extra charges if you make a mistake inputting the freight class and weighing your cargo.
Shippers usually list their shipments in the lowest class to save on shipping costs. If you make a mistake in listing a class, you will have to pay for reclassification fees, which are more expensive than the original class margin.
While this mistake may seem small, if you ship thousands of freights yearly, these extra costs can pile up quickly. You don’t want to put your reputation and brand image at stake just to save a couple hundred dollars.
Incorrect Labeling
When labeling cargo, ensure you avoid using incorrect labels. This can cause significant issues in supply chain management, potentially resulting in your cargo being shipped to the wrong address or failing to meet the manufacturer’s standards. Such mistakes can lead to delays and customer dissatisfaction.
Your warehouse should use technology when shipping cargo. This approach is time-saving and cost-efficient, helping to minimize the risk of errors. By checking the barcodes on packages and printing the correct shipping labels, you can save time, avoid unnecessary expenses, and ensure accurate deliveries.
Not Using Pallets
When shipping cargo, always use pallets to secure your products. While it requires extra time and effort, it prevents loose stacks of cargo from moving around and getting damaged during transport. Most transport companies won’t accept cargo without pallets and will charge palletizing fees if they have to do it for you. It’s best to palletize your cargo yourself to save on costs.
Avoiding palletizing can lead to problems in your company’s supply chain. Cargo can get damaged during transport, making it difficult to fulfill your inventory. This can result in delayed shipments and clients not receiving their orders on time.
Not Hiring a Reliable Trucking Company
If you need to transport a large volume of cargo and are based in Phoenix, Arizona, choose Trojan Horse Truck Services. We offer competitive rates and employ the best drivers, owners, and operators in the area.
Trojan Horse Truck Services, founded in 1985 by Steve Romeo, offers intrastate trailer pickup, delivery, and trailer spotter services. We are dedicated to providing customer satisfaction in every job. For inquiries, please reach out to us at 602-332-0877, fax us at 623-247-2256, or email trojanhorseaz@gmail.com. Contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you!
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