The pace of business moves much more quickly today than ever before, and there are no signs that things will slow down. Getting material and merchandise from one place to another can no longer be a leisurely activity. Instead, customers and clients often operate on the premise that if they wanted it next month, they would have ordered it next month. But the proliferation of carriers has left many in need of a guide for choosing the correct air freight services.
The first thing a company needs to do is evaluate its needs. Will air freight be used only for outbound shipments to customers? Or is it often necessary to bring in raw materials or merchandise by air as well? What kinds of shipments are involved? Will most outbound shipments consist of small packages, or will cargo containers be sent? On the inbound orders, will they be bulk cartons or pallets? And to what destinations will shipments be made, international or within the US? Are inbound shipments originating overseas or nationally?
Once the types of shipments in and out have been analyzed, then a company needs to determine which factors are most important in selecting a carrier. How critical is on time delivery? If it is crucial, then carriers with the best on time record should move to the front of the list. What about ground services, such as getting the shipments to and from the airport? Are those available at no cost or will there be an additional charge? If the company must deliver shipments to the airport, is the required equipment in place?
A company also needs to examine the ability of the carrier to handle the amount of business it will be generating. Does the carrier have sufficient planes and ground personnel to make timely deliveries, or are their resources limited? Do they offer tracking services, particularly the ability to monitor the status of shipments online in real time? In the event that a delivery is delayed, does the carrier have secure warehousing services available? Are there any restrictions to contents that might impact shipments?
The answers to these questions are the best guide for choosing the correct air freight services. Many carriers will have some of the features required, but not all. Some will offer a complete range of services.
The large, well established carriers generally, but not always, offer the most services and the best reliability. There are also smaller carriers who can compete in terms of on time rates and availability of services. Some of these small carriers, however, are novices at the air freight industry, while others are operating with very limited equipment.
Price is also going to be a consideration when selecting carriers. Most of the larger ones will negotiate contract rates, offering a company a discount provided a certain level of business is guaranteed. While this is by no means an agreement of exclusivity, they often are offended if a secondary carrier is used. This means that when it is time to renew the contract, the terms may not be quite so favorable.
If outbound shipments consist mainly of small parcels, see if the carrier will furnish the shipping boxes and labels for them at no cost. Some carriers even make it mandatory, and will provide personalized labels for free. Using their packaging saves money on shipping supplies, and may also save time.
The best guide for choosing the correct air freight services is the careful analysis of what the needs of the company are. Then it is simply a matter of compiling a short list of all carriers who meet the minimum requirements. Once this is done, negotiations can begin, and the winners can start their engines.
Author Resource:
Looking for an excellent cross border shipment / courier delivery services ? As Canada's largest courier company, they offer the best products and services to ensure your Freight get where they need to be quickly, for the right price.Distributed by ContentCrooner.com
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