Choosing a good freight agent, shipper, and carrier isn’t just about choosing the right deal or choosing the first option that pops up on the docket. Remember, whatever you are moving is not only going to affect you, but it will also affect your customer and your bottom line.
Freight will significantly impact your brand, customer promise, and profit, and not just if things go wrong. If things go right, you will see those three areas flourish, but when things go wrong, you have to be prepared for what your next steps need to be to uphold your brand and promise.
So, choosing who you do freight with matters more than you might think.
What Does Freight Really Mean to Your Business?
If you are sending out high-value products or getting high-value products sent to you, you are utilizing freight on a constant basis. It might just seem like inventory control, but it goes much further than that.
Now, think about what the product is providing your business. You are selling that merchandise, you are shipping that merchandise to customers, and you are investing in that merchandise to bring you a profit down the road. It’s not just about getting it and sending it. It is about the freight processes that work in between all of that. It is not magic that gets your inventory in and out of your doors. It is a strong freight strategy that will directly impact your business if something goes wrong (or even goes well).
How is Your Customer Promise Wrapped Up in Freight?
What is the promise you make to your customers? Is it to provide quick shipping? Is it to provide unbelievable products sold out of your doors? Is it to provide secure, timely, and safe merchandise? If you promise them undamaged inventory on a certain date or promise that your business will have X amount of inventory available by this time, you want to keep your promise.
The best way to keep your promise? A strong freight strategy. A strong freight strategy will ensure that you prepare for timelines, shipping concerns, and pickup and delivery regulations at the start, all to ensure that you keep the promise you made to your customers.
Even if your promise was quality, a good freight strategy is needed to uphold that. A poor freight strategy could lead to delayed shipping, damaged freight, or incorrect pickup or delivery, causing a broken promise and a lowering of trust between you and your customers.
What Is Your Process if (When) Something Goes Wrong in Freight?
If you want to ensure a strong brand and customer promise, you need to have contingencies in place if your freight happens to go wrong. Unfortunately, freight going wrong is inevitable. There can be intense planning involved, but things like weather, traffic, or capacity may suddenly change on a dime. So, what happens if that occurs?
Well, plan B. Plan C. If you want to keep your freight promises to your customer, uphold your brand, and keep profits high, you need to have plans for when the initial plans go wrong. If your answer to something going wrong is a shrug of the shoulders, you’re going to show your customers that you may not be as reliable as they may have hoped.
How to Choose the Right Freight Agent, Shipper, and Carrier
The best way to ensure your freight is positively impacting your customer promise, brand, and profitability is to choose the right freight agent, shipper, and carrier. Those that you have on your freight team are going to make a world of difference.
Just as your customers rely on you, you can rely on your freight team. Your freight team can listen to your freight goals, develop a strong strategy, and work toward ensuring you are upholding your end of the bargain when it comes to your customers. Fortunately, this all starts with a great freight agent, as they can be the connection you need to great carriers or shippers, depending on what you need.
At Nationwide Equipment Transportation, we have partnered with great shippers, carriers, and businesses, all to ensure we can provide amazing service to those looking for a strong team. We do everything we can to be at the head of that freight team, providing businesses with the freight solutions they need to positively impact their brand, customer promise, and profit.
How to Develop a Strong Brand and Continued Profit Through Good Freight
Now that it is clear just how much freight can impact your brand, customer promise, and profit, it is time to take your freight strategy to the next level. It is time to take your freight seriously and develop the plans that prepare you for the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Along with all of that, it is time to partner with a strong freight team that understands your business’s needs, expectations, and goals, so not only are you all on the same page, but you are all working toward the same bigger picture. A good freight team can be exactly what you need to improve your brand, promise, and profit.
If you are looking for a strong freight agent to build your freight team, contact the team at Nationwide Equipment Transportation.