How Freight Brokers Help Clients with Post-Holiday Challenges

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Now that Valentine's Day has ended and February is coming to a close, your business has settled back into its post-holiday rhythm. 

Whether or not you run a seasonally-dependent business, you probably experienced a lot of fluctuation over the past several months. That surge in consumer demand always brings its own challenges, but what about the challenges that arise after the holidays?

Though the post-holiday season is less frantic than the holidays themselves, you may have noticed some unique issues that arise this time of year.

Shippers in particular deal with some interesting obstacles, but having the right trucking brokerage on your side can help.

Let's take a look at some of the ways freight brokers help their shipper clients with post-holiday difficulties.

1. Optimizing Shipping Costs

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Shipping costs are a concern during the holidays, of course, but even after the New Year arrives, you still have some cost-related concerns.

Depending on the type of goods you ship, your clients may have gotten used to quick turnarounds and expedited shipping over the past few months, and they may still expect these types of services.

If you’ve faced this challenge recently, the right freight broker business can help you optimize your shipping costs.

Freight brokers have plenty of tools and advantages that keep shipping as cost-effective as possible. A successful freight broker has a large network of trusted carriers, excellent negotiation skills, and detailed knowledge of logistics market changes.

All of these advantages can help you as you navigate post-holiday shipping costs.

2. Flexible Capacity Management

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Shipping volumes can be unpredictable, especially during the holidays and immediately afterward. Most shippers scale back their loads right after the holidays end, but your needs may fluctuate from year to year. Freight brokers help shippers work with this unpredictability by connecting them to the trucking companies that have the capacity they need.

Many of these trucking companies may avoid load boards. They often prefer freight brokers that can help them avoid deadhead miles this time of year. By working with a freight broker, you'll have someone with plenty of connections on your side. They can leverage these connections to find the best trucking company for your capacity needs.

3. Streamlining Carrier Selection

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Finding carriers is a challenge even when you're not concerned with post-holiday changes. When you add those changes into the mix, this process gets even more complicated. You may have specific inventory concerns, like the need to restock inventory as quickly as possible. Your usual carriers may have limited availability. After all, they also deal with fluctuating supply chain needs. Expedited shipping may also be a concern for you.

Whatever the reason, streamlining your carrier selection can make your life a lot easier this time of year. Working with a good freight broker can help. While they leverage their connections to simplify your trucking needs, you can focus on other aspects of your business.

4. Technology Integration

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The post-holiday season demands advanced technology, especially if your business is impacted by reverse logistics this time of year. A solid freight brokerage business will stay on top of the latest technologies in the logistics industry. This way, they can connect you with the motor carrier that best meets your tech needs. 

5. Risk Mitigation

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Unexpected challenges can disrupt post-holiday shipping. The logistic industry is never predictable, but it gets even more complicated during and after the holidays. A good freight broker business can help. Freight brokers understand risk mitigation and have contingency plans. They can help both their carriers and their shippers expect the unexpected. 

6. Market Insights

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We've mentioned a few times that good freight brokers stay on top of market trends. This includes keeping up with the fluctuations that happen before, during, and after the holidays. They use these insights to plan ahead, make adjustments as needed, and optimize strategies so that your business can stay as competitive as possible in the industry.

Finding Your Ideal Freight Broker 

Do these benefits sound familiar to you? If so, it might be because we've mentioned them in the past. The holiday season makes life a lot more frantic for many shippers, but the truth is that the right brokerage business can provide these benefits year-round. 

As we move into springtime, working with a freight broker can help you establish a solid foundation for the next holiday season and beyond.