Important freight tips and advice for 2023

Everyone is hoping for life to be a little more simple this year, with fewer curveballs and shocks to the system in terms of costs and business workflow.?

With this in mind, we have put together some tips to give your freight a smoother ride in 2023:?

Review your freight costs

It’s not a bad idea to look at exactly how much you spent on freight in 2022, especially if you have a contract with a provider that is set to expire. By renegotiating or changing your agreement, there may be ways to save.

If you don't have an existing agreement with anyone and freight is a regular requirement that is generally predictable, it might be time to lock in an agreement with one or two providers as a way of paying less. Make sure you get expert advice before you decide who to work with; comparing costs and negotiating can make a big difference to your bottom line.?

Build your network?

With the above being said, due to the fallout of the pandemic and rising costs, we have found that some companies are closing their doors. It’s always upsetting to hear about but it does help to have a backup provider or at least a good connection with a freight broker who can connect you with someone new if needed.?

It’s also good to have relationships and connections across different styles of carriers, e.g. last minute providers, rail, air and road freight specialists.?

Make sure you’re using the right technology solutions

Technology can streamline workflow between your orders, your warehouse, your packers and your freight providers. We are happy to provide advice about which systems can make life easier and help you reduce incidental costs.?

On the subject of technology and all things digital, 2023 is set to be the year when businesses start taking cybersecurity seriously. As you upgrade your systems, make sure they have the necessary layers of cybersecurity and are backed up so you’re not at risk of losing everything in the event of a ransomware attack.?

The other tech to review if you haven’t already is customer notifications. You have probably noticed when you shop online that you’re receiving notifications across your email and phone as goods make their way to you. If you can improve your customer service by following suit with updates and predictive ETA technology, it will ensure your business remains competitive.?

Don’t forget about the details

We give this same advice every year…?

Australia’s volume of parcel delivery remains high, even after the pandemic. Because of this, it has become easier for shipments to get lost or delayed.?

No matter what you are sending, ensure everything is correctly labelled and find ways for your packages to stand out. Whether it is stickers, coloured boxes or stamps, adding extra ways for handlers to identify parcels makes sense.?

Label, label, label!?

Add phone numbers and instructions to your delivery documentation so every package’s journey is made easier.?

Understand restrictions

Lots of people contact us with emergency jobs but have little understanding of what’s possible.?

Things like ‘ugly freight’ (larger or very delicate packages) can’t be delivered by every supplier. At the same time, while overnight shipping and air freight is generally possible, it helps to be aware that the cost will be higher.?

There are also ways to find more cost-effective solutions, for example, if you know weight limits and can work within them.?

Work with the experts

Effective Freight Solutions help Australian businesses to connect with freight providers, reduce costs and get goods where they need to go. Contact us for more information.?