Quality Trucking Companies: What to Look for in Transportation Services
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It's not easy to find the best trucking companies for your shipping needs. The trucking industry is full of possibilities, and you want to stay on top of your supply chain management from start to finish.
Vetting truck companies can take a lot of time, but the effort is worth it. The right trucking company can make or break your shipping experience. When you have a reliable company that takes care of your freight, your customers stay happy, and your business continues to thrive.
The simplest way to find the best trucking companies is to find an experienced, trustworthy logistics company. One of the many benefits of third-party logistics services is that they can match you with the exact transportation services you need.
Still, when you can spot the hallmarks of a good trucking company, you can move forward with confidence.
Start by looking for the following signs. They can point you toward the best trucking companies and help you avoid some common trucking industry headaches.
1. The Best Trucking Companies Take Good Care of Their Trucks
Fortunately, some signs of a good trucking company are easy to spot. The first sign is the easiest: Do they take care of their trucks?
One of the most important things for trucking companies to do is to treat their equipment well. When a company treats its trucks well, it's a sign that they pay attention to detail, and you always want your trucking companies to pay attention to detail.
Now, some issues can't be spotted just by looking at a truck. You can't glance at a truck and know if it has enough wiper fluid, for example.
That said, next time you go for a drive, pay attention to the trucks you see. Do you notice any patterns from one truck company to the next?
Pay especially close attention to tires. They can tell you a lot about different companies in the trucking industry. Well-maintained tires are a great sign among trucking companies. Worn-down tires are not.
2. Trucking Companies Should Never Pressure Shippers
The best trucking companies treat their customers well. When you explore different companies, notice the difference between companies that let you take your time and companies that make you feel rushed.
Unfortunately, some players in the trucking industry put pressure on shippers. They don't take time to answer questions or address concerns. That's because they're more concerned with getting the shipper's business than with making sure that the shipper gets the supply chain services they need.
If a trucking company tries to rush you into a commitment, there's a good chance that they rush through other parts of transportation management, too. For instance, they may take shortcuts when hiring new truck drivers, or they may get careless when loading and unloading.
Good trucking companies don't pressure new potential clients. They're thorough, responsive, and ready to provide excellent service.
3. The Best Trucking Companies Respect Their Truck Drivers
Often, the best way to assess the quality of a trucking company is to find out how its truck drivers feel about it. And since there's a lot of communication between truck drivers, it's not too hard to figure out a company's reputation.
Experienced drivers who have worked for many transportation companies can tell you a lot about their trucking jobs. While one trucking job may come with a lot of headaches, another trucking job may be fantastic.
In this industry, the rewarding jobs boil down to respecting the truck driver. When it comes to the trucking industry, a great company is a company that treats its truck drivers well.
When a truck driver enjoys the job and has solid communication with the trucking company, then that trucking company probably treats its clients well, too.
4. Good Trucking Companies Look Beyond Individual Truck Driving Jobs
Of course, while the best companies respect their trucks and company drivers, you should also look beyond individual truck driving jobs.
When you look at different freight shipping brands, pay attention to factors other than trucks and drivers. For example, do they provide great communication between each driving job? Do they keep well-maintained offices?
This part can get tricky because it requires a little extra digging. Some of the biggest trucking companies see their work as just a series of truck driving jobs. Meanwhile, you may find a small, family owned company that pays attention to every detail, or you may find some owner operators that you love working with.
Still, whether a company has just one truck or a whole fleet, these details matter. Again, it's the attention to detail that sets the best trucking companies apart.
5. Your Trucking Companies Should Meet Your Shipping Needs
Of course, when looking at trucking companies, you'll also want to consider your individual needs. You may find the best trucking company, but if that company can't carry your specific freight, then it's not the best trucking company for you.
Let's say you need a reefer trailer, for example. Not all trucking companies haul temperature-controlled goods. Or maybe you need less than truckload shipping options, van truckload services, or heavy hauling choices. Whatever you ship, make sure that your potential trucking companies are equipped for it.
When you look for quality trucking companies, start with the broader categories above. From there, you can narrow your search based on your own supply chain needs, whether you ship general commodities or something more specialized.
In some cases, the biggest trucking companies may have what you need. In other cases, working with owner operators can help you get the job done.
Find High-Quality Trucking Companies Without the Hassle
When looking for trucking companies, a lot of shippers face a big problem: striking the right balance. You may be facing that problem yourself.
On the one hand, you want to make sure that you only work with the best companies. On the other hand, finding good trucking companies is just one part of your business. As a company leader, you have to delegate your time and resources well.
The good news is that there's an easier way to work with the trucking industry: using the right logistics services. A good truckload brokerage can take the hassle out of finding the right trucking companies.
At Pearce Worldwide Logistics, we match shippers with the trucking companies that best meet their needs.
We work with a wide array of trucking companies, and those companies all meet our extensive qualification standards.
Want to learn more about your shipping options? Get in touch with us for more information today.
