Before You Send Your Goods...
No matter which carrier you select to transport your goods, taking a few important steps before a driver arrives for pickup can keep business running smoothly:
1. Prepare your packaging
Secure packaging helps ensure trouble-free shipping. All goods should be protected with proper packaging in compliance with the NMFC. When loading pallets, make sure to follow the ideas found under Preparing Your Package.
2. Label every piece clearly and completely
Complete names and addresses on each piece are needed to ensure that packages in your shipment arrive intact. Label placement is important too.
(For hints, take a look at the examples under Proper Labeling.)
3. Complete a bill of lading
The bill of lading is a legal contract between you, the shipper, and the carrier. It should state exactly what is being shipped, where it's coming from and where it's going to, etc. A completed sample bill of lading is found later in this guide.
4. Select a carrier
Selection criteria are often based on the goods you are shipping, the services your carrier can provide, where your shipment is going, the date by which the shipment should arrive, and the cost of these services. You must evaluate the options based on your company's needs.
5. Place a pickup order
Most carriers will receive your telephone call requesting a pickup and have a truck at your location that same day or possibly the next. The carrier will probably ask where the shipment is going, how much it weighs, if it is ready to be picked up, how late the shipment can be picked up, and who is paying the charges. Hint: Call early in the morning to increase your chances of a same day pickup.
TIP 2 Hint: you can view all seven tips here.
Save money. If you ship many small shipments, try combining them. Your cost per hundredweight (CWT) will generally go down.
