The process of freight consolidation, when several small shipments going to the same location are combined, offers a number of benefits to shippers and customers when used correctly. By combining the shipments, the freight forwarder saves money on fuel costs and the customer saves on total shipping costs. However, when the wrong shipments are bundled together, it can be disastrous. We’ve rounded up a few do’s and don’ts of freight consolidation to help save money and headaches.
Freight That Should Be Consolidated
- Merchandise packaged on skids or pallets that is easily loaded and does not require extra care.
- General merchandise
- Garments, auto parts, textiles and technology that is properly packaged and unlikely to be time sensitive or interfere with other cargo.
- Freight with inventory costs that outweigh transportation costs creating a sense of urgency; such as with customized computers or products that are required to ship within a certain amount of time.
Freight That Should Not Be Consolidated
- Bulky or fragile merchandise. The cost savings offered by consolidation becomes invalid if the size or fragility of the freight requires extra handling and time to prevent damage.
- Freight that must be temperature controlled. Anything that requires a precise temperature to prevent spoilage or contamination should always be shipped separately from other cargo.
- Products prone to customs inspections. This is especially true of cars and boats where a VIN number check can delay an entire container from shipping.
- Hazmat freight such as chemicals that can interact or cause dangerous reactions if there is an accident.
Once you determine that your merchandise is suitable for freight consolidation, it is vital to choose a reputable freight forwarder with solid experience. An experienced forwarder proactively controls loading at not only the origin, but also during transit and destination. They have the knowledge and capability to reduce failures and coordinate options if a disruption does occur. Furthermore, a trustworthy forwarder will identify cargo that needs special packaging and consideration in order to reduce the risk of damage.
Freight consolidation has the potential to drastically reduce shipping costs for many companies, but should only be implemented after careful planning and consideration. With a solid reputation, built on reliable service, CWI Logistics offers a number of shipping and logistics solutions that deliver superior results.
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