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Combine your volume with all the other which use the online freight quotes system and you will save money. Eventually it all comes down to the bottom line. Using the online freight quotes system will save you money. Instead of receiving a discount based on the volume of your business alone will not give you the best discount you can get.

The online freight quotes system can save you time and money.

You will have a single point of contact for all of your shipments. If your company ships a variety of commodities to multiple locations using the online freight quotes system will be the Excedrin to your aches and pains. If you send a pallet on FedEx National and have a question simply call your account representative. If you send 9 pallets on YRC and need some help just call your same account rep. Your representative will be your single point of contact for any and all questions you may have.

Unless you only ship one shipment to the same place every single time one carrier will not give you the best rates consistently. On the other hand an online freight quotes system has all of the top national and regional carriers. Some carriers will have lower minimums allowing better prices for your lighter shipments. Other carriers will give you better LTL freight rates for heavier shipments. Also each carrier has certain lanes that are their strong suit. Whether the hauls are regional or national online freight quotes can give you a good freight rate.

If your company ships a variety of commodities to multiple locations using the online freight quotes system will be the Excedrin to your aches and pains. If you send a pallet on FedEx National and have a question simply call your account representative. If you send 9 pallets on YRC and need some help just call your same account rep. Your representative will be your single point of contact for any and all questions you may have. You will have a single point of contact for all of your shipments.

Using the online freight quotes system will save you money. Instead of receiving a discount based on the volume of your business alone will not give you the best discount you can get. Combine your volume with all the other which use the online freight quotes system and you will save money. Eventually it all comes down to the bottom line.

Eventually it all comes down to the bottom line. Using the online freight quotes system will save you money. Instead of receiving a discount based on the volume of your business alone will not give you the best discount you can get. Combine your volume with all the other who use the online freight quotes system and you will save money.

These benefits will add up to a tremendous savings of time. Many companies still use the old method of comparing rates. They call each carrier individually and to get a rate from each one. How many hours could it take to call 65 different carries to get a rate on a shingle shipment? An instant quote sounds much better than 65 phone calls. What if you have multiple shipments every day?

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ourUSPS Discounts system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

Below are listed the 11 Major Attributes for good leadership adapted from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. We have applied these attributes to customer service and submit to you that these characteristics also emulate good LTL freight shipping customer service. When looking for a 3PL, online freight quotes, freight forwarder, freight broker, or a logistics company, you should look for these attributes.

UNWAVERING COURAGE/CONFIDENCE -If the person you are shipping with isn’t confident in what they can deliver, it will be difficult for you to trust them. A good leader has courage and confidence in their abilities and their products.

This is a vital characteristic and the one most overlooked. Many modern companies are so big they have lost touch with what their customers are really feeling and experiencing with their product. This is true of large conglomerate shipping companies; that is why it is best to choose a medium sized 3rd party logistics partner. In leadership, a good leader must understand and know their followers well. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING

This characteristic can also be stated as in depth knowledge and skill of their products or services. A good shipping company will have great knowledge and details of the business, likewise a good leader will understand their business on a molecular level so to speak. When considering online freight quotes, make sure they give you full disclosure and detail of all charges, complete tracking, and detailed ability to view many carriers and their rates instantly. MASTERY OF DETAIL

DEFINITINESS OF DECISION -Companies who know their mission and their purpose don’t get sidetracked or bogged down with too many products or ideas beyond their scope and ability. One major mistake of companies is thinking they can be all things to all people. Companies that remain true to their core values and decisions are always more successful. Another business term to describe this is core competency. Companies create value in their product when they recognize and remain true to their “secret sauce” instead of becoming a buffet of all you can eat watered down products. In leadership, a leader must be strong enough to stand by their decisions; nothing stops production more than constantly changing directions. And nothing is more frustrating to customers than inconsistencies. No one will recommend a company they cannot count on consistent delivery. The same is true for online freight quotes and 3PL companies. Consistency of good pricing is what customers will value most.

The best products are ones where customers feel they were delivered more than promised. Under promise and over deliver is another mantra that states this attribute. This is the attribute that builds loyalty more than any other. As a leader when others see this they will also be inspired to rise above and perform at their top levels. There is nothing more demoralizing than a lazy leader.

A company with a good rudder to guide their ship will successfully navigate any difficult situations. Likewise a good leader will know where they are steering the ship. As Dr Stephen Covey says you have to begin with end in mind.

You need to like who you are giving your business too. Make sure you have a good personal relationship with your Freight forwarder or freight broker. In leadership plain and simple, you must be likeable.

This characteristic can also be stated as in depth knowledge and skill of their products or services. A good shipping company will have great knowledge and details of the business, likewise a good leader will understand their business on a molecular level so to speak.

Companies who know their mission and their purpose don’t get sidetracked or bogged down with too many products or ideas beyond their scope and ability. One major mistake of companies is thinking they can be all things to all people. Companies that remain true to their core values and decisions are always more successful. Another business term to describe this is core competency. Companies create value in their product when they recognize and remain true to their “secret sauce” instead of becoming a buffet of all you can eat watered down products. In leadership, a leader must be strong enough to stand by their decisions; nothing stops production more than constantly changing directions. And nothing is more frustrating to customers than inconsistencies. No one will recommend a company they cannot count on consistent delivery. The same is true for online freight quotes and 3PL companies. Consistency of good pricing is what customers will value most. DEFINITINESS OF DECISION

WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY – Great customer service will take responsibility for mistakes and make them right. Many online freight quote companies will guarantee their rates and back you up when a shipment doesn’t go through as planned. A great leader will admit when they are wrong, correct the mistake and move forward with the plan.

Great customer service will take responsibility for mistakes and make them right. Many online freight quote companies will guarantee their rates and back you up when a shipment doesn’t go through as planned.

Spider Ship offers quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ouronline freight quotes system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

This list was taken from the 10 Major causes of Failure in Leadership adapted from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. As a shipping company, we work mainly with business owners. We see a wide variety of leadership styles. We see many different sizes of business, from the owner operated, to the hundreds of employees. All companies have their own leadership styles. Here is a list of qualities to avoid when giving good customer service.

As soon as business thinks it is infallible, that is when sales decrease and numbers drop dramatically. Customers can tell when you humbly care about them and when you consider them just another paycheck in your pocket. Humility is crucial for good customer service. UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE

INABILITY TO ORGANIZE DETAILS – When a company is too “busy” or too inefficient to address emergencies they do not have all their ducks in a row. To provide good customer care they should have the resources to be organized and deal with any situation that may arise. A good leader will organize and not be inconsistent and chaotic in decisions or choices.

UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE – I have seen many companies fall into the invincibility category. As soon as business thinks it is infallible, that is when sales decrease and numbers drop dramatically. Customers can tell when you humbly care about them and when you consider them just another paycheck in your pocket. Humility is crucial for good customer service.

EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY “KNOW” INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH WHAT THEY KNOW – Great companies will back up their products with hard work and guarantees. Great companies will also be confident enough in their abilities that they will give full disclosure of what they do and not try and hide behind smoke screens, difficult terminology, or lock clients into long term contracts forcing loyalty rather than gaining loyalty from customers. A good online freight quote system will be free to access and have no other fees, and have no minimum volume requirements.

A good company can use their imagination to create a custom plan for unique needs. For example, Echo Global Logistics has a customizable web-portal that can be changed specifically to meet special needs. LACK OF IMAGINATION

LACK OF IMAGINATION – Imagination is critical for coming up with good solutions in sticky situations. A good company can use their imagination to create a custom plan for unique needs. For example, Echo Global Logistics has a customizable web-portal that can be changed specifically to meet special needs.

INTEMPERANCE – Intemperance means excess in anything, usually booze, but for our purposes it can mean excess of lifestyle in any form. A good leader will be disciplined and not over indulge in any activity. Likewise a good company will not over indulge in anything that does not benefit its customers.

Great companies will back up their products with hard work and guarantees. Great companies will also be confident enough in their abilities that they will give full disclosure of what they do and not try and hide behind smoke screens, difficult terminology, or lock clients into long term contracts forcing loyalty rather than gaining loyalty from customers. A good online freight quote system will be free to access and have no other fees, and have no minimum volume requirements. Transparency in business is important.

EMPHASIS OF THE “AUTHORITY” OF LEADERSHIP – Efficient leaders encourage, they do not lead by threats and creating fear. Likewise, a good business practice is not to threaten to revoke discounts for not meeting volumes. A better marketing strategy is to encourage good behavior by offering rewards. For example, if you don’t meet your monthly shipping volumes many companies will not give you their discount. This is a disadvantage to working directly with a carrier. If you work with a 3PL or online broker, there are no minimum requirements to receive your discounts. A better practice for carriers would be to charge a regular rate and incent more shipping volume by offering additional discounts for higher volumes rather than revoking discounts for not meeting pre-established quotas.

Make sure that you are using a company that is working for you and not against you. These characteristics also can be the downfall of any technology system, online freight quoting system, or any company you ship with.

Spider Ship offers quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ourUSPS Discounts system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

All freight forwarders and brokers focus on less-than-truckload freight. A freight forwarder is a broker who more specifically does exported shipping, handles international customs papers, provides inland tracking services, warehousing, preparation of shipping and export documents, and focuses on international shipments. A freight forwarder is often called a Customs House Broker. These brokers can also provide customs clearance, consolidation, storage and insurance.

Search online, or ask your friends. Avoid using the most generic national company. Your best bet for freight brokers is to run a local search online. Local companies will have the best pricing for your area, and the best relationships with local carriers. For example if I lived in Hawaii (I wish), I would search “Hawaii freight brokers”. This will bring up a good list of the top 20 in your area to pick from. Use your networks, if you are part of a chamber of commerce, or any networking group, ask around, someone will have a good trusted referral for you.

Avoid using the most generic national company. Your best bet for freight brokers is to run a local search online. Local companies will have the best pricing for your area, and the best relationships with local carriers. For example if I lived in Hawaii (I wish), I would search “Hawaii freight brokers”. This will bring up a good list of the top 20 in your area to pick from. Use your networks, if you are part of a chamber of commerce, or any networking group, ask around, someone will have a good trusted referral for you. Good word of mouth is the best advertising.

Freight brokers will have different pricing depending on their experience and the strength of their relationships with the carriers. Look for relationships with good strong reputable carriers. Also look for the quantity of carriers. If a broker only has a few carrier relationships, they do not have the depth to truly negotiate good rates. This is why looking for longevity is good too. Usually the longer they have been a broker, the more power in their pricing ability.

The best time to use a freight broker is always. They will always get you better pricing than your in-house shipping manager on the phone can get, unless your shipping manger used to be a broker, and most brokers will back up their shipments to provide good customer care. A broker does not want to lose your business so they will fight for you to make sure everything is running smoothly for you.

A common practice among freight brokers is to give you the actual air shipping price base rate and not the full shipment cost. For example you are sending a pallet from California to Canada. They quote you $78 for the 50 lb pallet. Awesome, you are thinking it is going to cost $78. Then when you get your invoice, you were charged, $20 for the lift gate to load the pallet on the airplane, another $20 for the lift gate to unload the pallet, another $35 for customs papers, $30 for broker fee, and then $25 for handling. Make sure that you know what price you are getting up front. A good broker will give you all inclusive pricing with no extra fees and charges except for duties and taxes. No one can fully predict duties and taxes when shipping internationally. An occasional unforeseen add on is acceptable and usually happens, but be careful it is not 3 additional charges every shipment. If you are using an online freight quote system, make sure all charges are itemized.

It is important to check if they have insurance. Some brokers feel that it is not their responsibility. This is why you want personal contact with your broker. Make sure it is a large enough company to have insurance. According to their licensing, brokers should have insurance to help cover costs, but many do not. Also, if you are shipping very valuable items, ask about surety bonds. All large companies will have surety bonds, this is additional insurance that helps cover expensive damages and ensures that the company is held to high standards. A good broker will only work with transportation companies that meet this standard of quality of service that qualifies for insurance.

The best time to use a freight broker is always. They will always get you better pricing than your in-house shipping manager on the phone can get, unless your shipping manger used to be a broker, and most brokers will back up their shipments to provide good customer care. A broker does not want to lose your business so they will fight for you to make sure everything is running smoothly for you. All freight brokers should have a license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission (FMCSA).

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ouronline freight quotes system to discover great service and big savings. As professionalFreight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.

Customer service is king when it comes to pleasing customers and your shipping provider should also be a customer service king for you. They should be a liaison with big shipping companies to provide you great pricing and to resolve conflict fast. Also, they should only use the best quality companies to make sure every shipment arrives on time damage free. Overall there is a fine line to walk, you want to make sure that you use a company big enough to fulfill your needs for convenience and cost savings, but not too big that you have no personal relationship to resolve problems.

An in depth study to find out if Big 3PL’s or if Medium sized ones served their customers better by LQ magazine contains some key information. They state “The feedback we get from customers indicates more “A” performances from these midsized 3PLs.” http://www.logisticsquarterly.com/issues/12-5/3pl.html. Further LQ defines what they consider a midsized 3PL. “The strongest group financially among 3PLs includes those with net revenues between $500-1000 million. The net income margin for this group is 8.2%. C.H. Robinson, Kuehne + Nagel, J.B. Hunt Dedicated and Werner are in this group. In general, companies in this group have size of scale and advantages over many smaller competitors while not being so large that they are unwieldy, procedurally rigid or in danger of losing touch with customers.” http://www.logisticsquarterly.com/issues/12-5/3pl.html. Please see the referenced article.

Have you ever had a tight deadline with your biggest client and your product arrived late? I used to work for a company who sold many products to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has very strict deadlines and if you are late, they do not pay for the product. When it comes to satisfying your own customer’s needs, you want to provide the best customer service you can find. This will not only help your business, but help build trust with you and your customers. Whatever line of business you are in, if you do not satisfy your customers, you will be out of business soon. This is why it is so critical and vital to have LTL freight shipping companies you can trust. You want to have that peace of mind that when it leaves your dock, you know it will arrive safely and on time.

Many may think that going directly to a carrier will get you the best customer service. Yes that is true if you are Proctor and Gamble, Kellogg’s, or Target. But if you are a small to medium sized business yourself, it is good to have a larger 3rd Party 3PL working on your behalf. Just like LQ magazine says, these companies that are larger than you have the size of scale advantage that you cannot get with the carriers. But there is a fine balance that you do not choose a 3PL so large that you are lost in the shuffle and just become another customer number in their huge database. Since customer service is so important it is also important to choose a logistics partner that is willing to go out of their way for you.

LQ magazine talked of huge conglomerate mergers. Basically if the company is so big that it is eating up other companies and trying to combine two huge monsters, studies have shown that customer service is the first thing that goes out the window. If you have ever experienced a take-over or a merger, you know that those companies are in a state of regulation confusion. It takes many years to combine big companies successfully, and even more years to cut all the fat and get to something streamlined and profitable. The only successful acquisitions I have seen are those where the original company remains intact and it is only ownership that changes, not function and management. Too big of a 3PL has disadvantages.

Too big 3PL has disadvantages. LQ magazine talked of huge conglomerate mergers. Basically if the company is so big that it is eating up other companies and trying to combine two huge monsters, studies have shown that customer service is the first thing that goes out the window. If you have ever experienced a take-over or a merger, you know that those companies are in a state of regulation confusion. It takes many years to combine big companies successfully, and even more years to cut all the fat and get to something streamlined and profitable. The only successful acquisitions I have seen are those where the original company remains intact and it is only ownership that changes, not function and management.

This is the only way you can gain trust and reliability with any LTL freight shipping company. Another disadvantage to a large company is the lack of personal relationship. If you call in and get a different customer service person every time, or feel you are talking to a call center representative, you are not being served well. Many large companies have implemented account managers to develop and manage a specified number of clients and make sure all their needs are met. This has been very successful. If you have a dedicated account manager then that is good. You need to know someone by name in the company and to have access to a real person if you need.

Also, they should only use the best quality companies to make sure every shipment arrives on time damage free. Overall there is a fine line to walk, you want to make sure that you use a company big enough to fulfill your needs for convenience and cost savings, but not too big that you have no personal relationship to resolve problems. Customer service is king when it comes to pleasing customers and your shipping provider should also be a customer service king for you. They should be a liaison with big shipping companies to provide you great pricing and to resolve conflict fast.

Spider Ship offer quick easy solutions to all your shipping needs. Try ourUSPS Discounts system to discover great service and big savings. As professional Freight Movers We take pride in the quality of our service.