With every job comes unique challenges, unique opportunities, and unique solutions to the problems that arise. Even within one industry, the opportunity to expand product lines and services never tires and the opportunity to innovate remains exciting. Freight forwarding is no different. Depending on the service you specialize in or the multitude of services you provide, your day-to-day dilemmas may vary. But solutions can sometimes look similar, especially when it comes to freight management.
So what are the four main types of freight forwarding services? And what challenges come with each service?
Consumers today are better served than ever before. After all, who doesn’t love surfing through a boatload of freight options? Or truckload. Or air load.
Among the four popular freight forwarding services come pros and cons for the consumer and benefits and challenges for the freight professional managing the backend. So here’s a breakdown of the core four, how to navigate the unique challenges each service presents, and the common thread connecting all modes of transportation.
1. Ground Freight Shipping
Starting simple, ground shipping uses trucks to transport local cargo door-to-door. Trucks may cross state lines but there’s no need to scramble for information on international customs. Plus, trucks are an economical option in comparison to the sky or the sea. On the flip side, traffic, road hazards, and even damage to a state’s infrastructure remain largely outside of your control and can become costly roadblocks.
When costs add up and factors become unpredictable, it’s important to control the controllables. Tools like freight management software create and track the most efficient shipment route so risks and hazards are minimized from the jump.
2. Rail Freight Shipping
Moving from land to land, rail shipping is even more affordable than ground and avoids the pesky risk of unexpected traffic and roadblocks. Not to mention, it’s perhaps the most eco-friendly option of our four services.
Nevertheless, with every service comes a unique set of challenges. Like most shipping services, ETAs can be slow to update. Equally difficult to track are empty railcars, an essential factor for accurately predicting cargo space and planning efficiently. Luckily, great software solutions automate ETAs in real-time and track empty cars back to their origin just as quickly.
3. Air Freight Shipping
With air shipment, speed is the name of the game. Air freight is ideal for ultra-heavy international cargo and is your best bet for a safe shipment. Unfortunately, with speed and safety comes a hefty price tag. Let freight software optimize cost by automatically providing the best rates per carrier with no additional research required.
4. Sea Freight Shipping
Just like air freight, sea travel is a go-to option for international shipments. Using ferries and ships for cargo transport is the oldest shipment method in the books and significantly more cost-effective than a cargo plane. However, the sea isn’t immune to delays. And a setback at customs due to incorrect documentation can become catastrophic. Thankfully, great freight software digitally saves country-specific customer data and applies it wherever cargo is shipped, ensuring customs clearance is a breeze.
Freight 101
Outside of transportation, each freight service and freight professional behind the steering wheel relies on strong communication, planning, tracking, scheduling, and invoicing. These job descriptions are the constants in a sea (or railroad) of freight options and each bullet on a resume can rely on software solutions for efficient completion.
Top-tier freight management software allows for seamless communication between freight professionals and consumers, real-time updates on a cargo’s shipment status, cloud software that enables problem-solving on the fly, and automated invoicing that simplifies an otherwise timely task while minimizing the risk of human error.
Overall Transportation Management
Whether it’s land, sea, or air, the best practices behind transporting goods and services from point A to point B remain the same. The best software systems streamline your services regardless of whether you’re miles in the air transporting goods internationally, or door-to-door servicing domestically.
More questions on the benefits of freight management software? Contact CSA Software and speak to a specialist about your business’s transportation management needs. Our world class freight forwarding software is filled with features that enable you to manage your shipments, compare carrier rates, perform complete accounting solutions and more. Stay relevant and competitive with a comprehensive transportation and shipment management system with cloud based our freight forwarder software products. Get started with your Free Demo today!