FreightCenter Partners with United Way Pasco to Send 350 Gallons of Water to Flint, Mich.

The 3PL covered freight shipping costs to send bottled water collected by the United Way of Pasco to the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan

FreightCenter coordinated and paid for the shipment of 100 cases of clean bottled water to the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan. The water will be distributed to Flint residents affected by the water contamination crisis. 

“It’s heart wrenching to hear about the 100 thousand plus residents of Flint, Michigan having to depend on bottles of water donated by groups such as the United Way to provide a simple thing, such as clean water to its residents. FreightCenter is doing its part to help aid those families,” says FreightCenter's CEO and President, Matthew Brosious.

 

 

A Chance to Learn from Transportation Industry Experts

A recap of Matthew Brosious’ experience at SMC3’s 2016 Jumpstart conference

Who are you and what is your role at FreightCenter?

My name is Matthew Brosious. I am the CEO and President of FreightCenter. I give directives to the company every day to make sure everyone is in line with our goals and give clear direction on growth.

Why did you choose to go to SMC3’s Jumpstart conference?

There was a lot of merit to it. I didn’t see the value of it at first, but of all the conferences I’ve been to this was one that got past all of the smoke and mirrors the most and just got to the point. Freight is a relationship based industry. If I didn’t believe it before it was definitely reinforced when I went there. SMC3 is a great way to meet the industry’s decision makers - get into their inner circle. Everybody who makes the decisions in the freight industry is at that conference.  At some of the other conferences like NASSTRAC you’ll get to see the presidents and their VPs, but they’re more along the lines of that of public relations – you know they’re there to smile and shake hands. But, at SMC3’s Jumpstart you’re getting the VP of Operations, the person who heads up pricing, the people  who decide if you’re going to work with this company or not. So it’s hands down the best conference to attend.

What was the focus of the SMC3’s Jumpstart Conference?

From SMC3’s perspective: they want to talk about the changing industry and the upcoming trends to prove that the industry is going forward. There’s always a level of intense motivation there, like a ‘hey, this is going to happen so you’re going to want to get together and understand these rules,’ kind of thing.

Can you explain what SMC3 does?

SMC3 is a third-party company and industry association.  Carriers submit their rates, transit times, service days and such to SMC3 and then the shippers and 3PLs, like us, can utilize that information so that we can better run our businesses. Without the ability to get that information it’s virtually impossible to work with carriers. Yes the carriers do have APIs that would allow us to go directly to the carrier for rates, so theoretically we could cut out SMC3. The problem is the APIs are not reliable.

So attending the conference helped you come to that realization then?

Yes, after talking to our carriers and competitors at the conference it’s obvious APIs are nowhere near advanced as they need to be and  it doesn’t look like they will get to where they need to be for at least a minimum of five years. I wanted to think that we could work directly with our carriers using APIs; however, for rating purposes it seems like working with a middle-man like SMC3 is the better option.

Can you explain how rating through an API differs from rating with a third-party like SMC3?

An API is a point-of-time rating. So, it’s like a real-time rate quote that changes as rates fluctuate. But, when you use SMC3 you build a contract to which a rate base gets get applied. That rate base is good for a determined amount of years and it’s all tracked. So, I could go back and compare and analyze how our freight prices are going up or down. With an API there’s no tracking of price changes and there’s no way to verify any discrepancies. More than anything SMC3 keeps everyone more honest.

We were all about the APIs. We were pushing for 100 percent API rating integration. After learning what I did at the conference I think for now we’ll just use the API for transit, tracking and images.

Were there any other realizations or things you learned from the conference?

I asked a competitor how he handled their customer complaints regarding billing adjustments and he was taken aback. His company almost never dealt with billing adjustments! That was because (1) they didn’t leave room for their customers to make those kinds of mistakes when booking the shipment and (2) any additional charges were communicated to the customer ahead of time.  Last year we acquired 171,000 new registered users but our repeatable shipments every month didn’t go up. This means that every time we brought on a repeatable customer, we lost a repeatable customer. It nets the same. Clearly, it came down to the procedure of how we’re handling the overall customer experience. Communication is the key.

Why do you think it’s important for business owners in the transportation industry to attend conferences like SMC3’s Jumpstart?

Foremost, without a doubt: knowledge is power. You need to plan ahead. And, how can you have a plan if you’re not caught up to speed on the industry?  Not only that, but you can’t separate yourself from your competitors if you have no idea what direction the industry is going in.

In-House Logistics V.S. Outsourcing: Things to Consider

Many retailers and manufacturers find themselves grappling with the question of whether or not to outsource their logistics needs. While it may be an easy decision to outsource these functions for small businesses, the answer is not so clear-cut for larger manufacturers. Although larger companies have the scale and volume to go at it alone, many are finding that outsourcing certain parts of their logistics process to third party providers (3PL) can be more cost-effective. However, there are also businesses who are already working with a 3PL and wondering if the grass is, in fact, greener on the other side.

There are plenty of reasons why either choice can work. It all comes down to which option works best alongside your company’s strategy, so consider how they each relate to three main areas: people, technology, and vendors. No matter which side you side you fall on this argument, there are a few simple tips and considerations that can help you decide what the right move is for your company.

Think Beyond the Initial Investment

Most small businesses don’t have the resources to build the staff, facilities, and processes needed to carry out fulfillment obligations themselves. In fact, very few small businesses are able to manage customer service, returns, and cash management on their own. For these companies, working with a 3PL is the obvious choice.

However, the decision is not so simple for the larger, mid-sized manufacturers and retailers. As businesses begin to reach a scale that increases the amount of return on initial investments, it becomes necessary to look beyond those initial investments. Consider whether you have the ability, or even the desire, to commit to continual and unpredictable investments that are needed to improve your capacity. You will also need to consider whether or not it is beneficial in the long run to commit to these continual investments.

Ebb and Flow

If your company experiences seasonal drops or spikes in sales, you may also have unplanned expenses. Sales spikes often mean paying your warehouse staff overtime and adding new shipping routes. If your company is not able to handle the extra expenses, working with a 3PL is an option worth looking into. Since 3PL providers often work with multiple retailers and manufacturers, they are better equipped to handle these ebbs and flows and can often protect your business from related expenses.  

Consider Special Handling Requirements

If your company ships products such as medication or food that require special handling, you need to be sure that you can handle these special requirements. 3PL providers that specialize in handling these types of products are likely to have invested in the best and latest technologies and equipment to ensure your products are handled with compliancy.

Consider how much you would normally spend every year on special packing materials such as coolers and gel packs before transportation costs. 3PL providers can often reduce these costs and increase consistency by using refrigerated trucks and other technologies. This is important because they can be leveraged across multiple customers without your business floating the entire bill.

Ask the Right Questions

If you are considering working with a 3PL, it is important to understand that not all providers are the same. To evaluate which provider will best meet your needs, consider the following questions:

•  How does your 3PL provider manage accounts? The biggest advantage to working with a third party is that you spend less time, money, and energy on logistics and more on your company’s core competencies. However, if your 3PL provider doesn’t utilize the right management structure, it can put a strain on your business and end up costing you more time and energy.
•  Does your 3PL give you access to reporting data? Having the ability to review and assess your logistics, customer support, and order-to-cash data is vital to running a successful business. Make sure you partner can provide you with this data.
•  Does your 3PL have regulatory expertise? Nothing can hinder the success of a product quite like regulatory issues. Luckily, most of these issues can be prevented with proper knowledge of the industry. Make sure your 3PL provider has strong relationships with the DEA and the FDA and utilizes proper systems to ensure your product is handled compliantly.

Regardless of whether you manage logistics in-house, through a third-party, or a combination of both, these key issues should be revisited on a yearly basis to ensure your company is utilizing the most effective system. In most cases, there are at least some aspects of your supply chain that can be outsourced to a qualified 3PL. You can always change your mind later.

<p> <strong>Please include attribution to www.freightcenter.com with this graphic.</strong><br /><br /><a href='http://freightcenterinc.blogspot.com/2015/07/in-house-logistics-vs-outsourcing.html'><img src='https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cuMMQcfcfg/VZVQ5Elx9MI/AAAAAAAAAC4/vdham51kveE/s1600/Managing%2BTransportation.jpeg' alt='freight rates" width='540px' border='0' /></a></p>

Retailers: This Simple Shipping Mistake Costs You Big Money

If you are an eCommerce retailer or operate a brick and mortar store there’s something you need to know. It could save you a lot on shipping as well as open up new markets for your business.

You do want to save on shipping and get access to new markets, right?

The thing to know is that under certain circumstances the two best known parcel shipping companies – UPS and FedEx - are not the only shipping options you have. Unfortunately, a lot of companies make the incorrect and costly assumption there are no other alternatives.

The bad news is for smaller, lightweight shipments this is still the case. Along with the U.S. Postal Service, Fed Ex and UPS still dominate this market.

The good news is the bigger your shipment, the more shipping mode options you have. And, the potential savings grows exponentially as well.

So what are the circumstances that open up these new options?

With shipments that exceed a certain size or have certain characteristics an LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier is a cheaper, faster, and frankly better option to handle the delivery.

First, a quick explanation in case you did not know – LTL carriers specialize in combining multiple small shipments from different customers to fill up larger trucks. The benefit is that by combining their volume, various customers save by sharing the expense of using a large truck to make the deliveries.

A long standing rule of thumb has been that shipments greater than about 200 lbs. end up  being more expensive to ship with a small parcel carrier (UPS or FedEx) when compared to an LTL carrier.

This means if you have a single, or multiple items shipping to the same location that exceed 200 lbs. don’t use a small parcel carrier, call an LTL carrier.

To complicate things further - enter dimensional pricing by UPS and FedEx. This new method of rating some shipments introduced in early 2015 has changed the equation and made many lighter weight shipments less expensive with LTL.

An important note: even if you already use LTL you should re-evaluate your established break-even rules for deciding between the two modes. Chances are LTL will be a better option for a significant new percentage of your shipments you would have assumed should just go small parcel in the past.

Along these same lines, LTL is a great option if you are selling a product too big or awkward for the small parcel carriers. There are plenty of successful online retailers selling products like couches and beds using LTL carriers to make deliveries to customers, so chances are your products can also economically ship LTL.

A common misconception holding some companies back from exploring the LTL option is the concern that only the small parcel guys can handle special delivery requirements like inside or residential delivery. There are potentially additional fees for these types of extra services with LTL carriers but they are simply things to make part of your calculation when booking the shipment.

If you are a brick and mortar retailer, concern over shipping large and bulky items may have prevented you from exploring eCommerce as an option for growing your sales. Selling online and containing shipping costs open up new markets, so don’t let concerns over shipping hold back the growth of your company.

The principle applies to inbound shipping as well. For example, look for opportunities to have your suppliers place those 20 boxes on a pallet for LTL instead of shipping them as 20 different UPS Ground shipments. You’ll not only save on shipping, but cut down on damages and missing boxes too.

Using LTL can open up the option for you to order more product in bulk as well. Doing this can reduce your per unit costs – both in terms of what you pay for the product and also the per unit shipping cost.

There are some differences in preparing a shipment to go LTL compared to shipping it small parcel.

LTL shipments are generally best packaged on a pallet (although this is not always a requirement). It’s simply a matter of placing the products on a pallet and shrink wrapping them securely to the pallet. This is compared to small parcel shipments which require a small label on each piece you are shipping.

For LTL, a single “pallet flag” should be attached to the pallet. This flag is simply a large label or sheet of paper that describes the product, as well as the delivery address.

The LTL carrier will also provide a “pro number” label. This sticker has a unique number to identify the shipment in the carrier’s system for billing and tracking purposes.

Also accompanying an LTL shipment is a Bill of Lading. The “BOL” is paperwork that stays with the shipment while it’s in transit and is the document the person receiving the delivery will sign as proof the delivery has been made.

The bottom line is when it’s done right, LTL is a cost effective alternative to UPS and FedEx.

If you are not sure how to find an LTL carrier, or are looking for software to help determine the best method of sending a shipment then check out www.freightcenter.com for more information.

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<p> <strong>Please include attribution to www.freightcenter.com with this graphic.</strong><br /><br /><a href='http://www.freightcenter.com/ltl.aspx' target="_blank" /><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6dy70wM398/VR6MoCcOPkI/AAAAAAAAAys/uhhvBiO6sE4/s1600/Do's%2B%26amp%3B%2BDon't%2Bof%2BShipping.jpeg' alt='Best Way to Ship Freight' width='540px' border='0' /></a></p>

Top 5 Freight Shipping Acronyms Defined

What is LTL?
Unsure if you have a freight shipment? Best place to start is here. LTL stands for Less than Truckload freight.  The size of this kind of freight is between 100 and 20,000 lbs. This weight is about the point at which it's too expensive to ship through your local post office or as the industry calls it, parcel shipping. By using freight shipping you are choosing a more efficient and economical route. Plus it's much easier to have a truck come to you to pick up your shipment than you trying to get the heavy item to the shipper.  Just imagine trying to bring your fridge to the local post office to ship. Some other examples of LTL freight are: blanket-wrapped furniture, palletized or crated appliances, motorcycles, and palletized boxes of retail product. If your freight weighs more than 100 lbs and does not fill a semi truck on it's own, than it is likely you need to ship LTL freight. Perishables, however, require a dedicated truck for refrigeration.

What is a NMFC?
So now you know you have LTL Freight, but how do you know what  your item is classified as? A freight class refers to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) and it is the category of your freight as defined by the NMFC. There are 18 freight classes ranging from 50 (the least expensive class) to 500 (the most expensive class).

Your NMFC number or freight class determines your total shipping charges. It is critical that you know the correct NMFC number in order to receive accurate freight charges and to ensure that the carrier does not re-class your shipment, which could result in a higher shipping charge. No one wants that kind of surprise.  Look up your LTL shipment.

What does NOI Stand for?

So you looked through the NMFC classifications and your item doesn't fit into any of the categories. Not to worry, there is a solution! NOI stands for "Not Otherwise Indicated". If you have an item that isn't classified by the National Motor Freight Classification Association (NMFC), then you would be in this category.  NOI classed items are typically quoted and processed manually through select freight carriers. We here at FreightCenter.com can manually provide a NOI class rate quote. Need a helpful calculator?

How do I determine my PCF?

So you have your shipment's classification, you are ready to book! But how do you know what freight rate is the correct one? Freight rates are determined by taking into consideration a combination of factors; package dimensions, weight, distance and freight class, as well as your package’s Pounds per Cubic Foot or PCF.  The classification you obtained in the last steps and your PCF related closely to each other. In freight terms, a low PCF will result in a higher class rating. In turn, a higher class rating corresponds to a higher cost to ship your freight.

A simple way to think about it is, the more space your freight occupies on a truck or in a container the more costs you will incur for transport. For example, a shipment that works out to 1.31 pound per cubic foot and weighs 100 pounds (Class 300) will be much more expensive to ship than an item that has the same weight but equates to 9.67 pounds per cubic foot (Class 100). 

Never guess or estimate dimensions and weights when shipping freight. The most common reason people are surprised by extra charges after the shipment is because they didn't accurately calculate their PCF.

What do I do with a BOL?

So you've determined you have a LTL shipment, and you have your NMFC number, but now that your shipment is booked, what do you  do with the paperwork? A Bill of Lading or BOL is standard, vital paperwork providing the carrier and driver with all the pertinent information related to shipping costs and transport information. Think of this paperwork as your shipments travel ticket. It allows for proper billing, proper pick up and delivery. By having this paperwork you are ensuring that your shipment is taken care of. All parties (buyer, seller and carrier) involved should have a copy of the BOL. The FreightCenter BOL confirms your discounted rate with the carrier, which makes it even more important. You wouldn't want to lose your discount because you forgot a piece of paper. 

What does the new CSX Terminal mean for Florida shippers?

The latest news out this week is the grand opening of the CSX intermodal freight terminal in Winter Haven, Florida. The centrally-located rail hub will make one-day freight deliveries by

truck possible throughout the entire state of Florida. Normally, a trip across the northern border to Miami could take seven to 10 hours by truck. Without a backhaul, entering the state of Florida is sometimes a sour note for some drivers. As a result, shippers face tightened capacity and increased transportation costs to areas like Florida.


That is until this new intermodal hub makes it possible to reduce costs and transport higher volumes of freight to Florida by rail. Intermodal transport is a hot topic in the industry and in society where trucks on the road are seen nuisances, environmentally dirty, and inefficient. Intermodal transportation has been ushered in to offset the negative impacts of trucking, and shippers - especially those in Florida - should benefit.


Do you ship in or out of Florida? You could soon be benefiting from the perks of utilizing rail instead of long haul trucking, like:

• Tout yourself as an environment-friendly supply chain
• The longer the haul, the greater the savings
• More reliable service - avoid trucking capacity issues

4 Reasons for the Tight Truckload Capacity in 2014

If you've booked a dedicated truck any time this year, you're likely to have experienced the the biggest trucking load board.

crunch that is occurring throughout our nation's trucking industry. Driver shortages were always to blame, but new insights into the true reasons for the high demand and low supply of trucks are being looked at in a new whitepaper by the DAT,

The 11-page whitepaper by Don Thornton, Senior VP of DAT Solutions, titled Truckload Capacity in 2014: What’s Causing the Capacity Crunch and What Can Shippers Do About It? gives us that late-in-the-year hindsight view into the trucking capacity issue.

In the beginning of the executive summary, Thornton writes, "Freight transportation capacity has been subjected to enormous pressure from a number of sources in the twelve months beginning July 1, 2013. Factors that constrained capacity and drove rates higher include new and more stringent regulations, extreme weather, increased operating costs, and a chronic shortage of experienced drivers."

Let's break down the four reasons for the tight capacity:

1. Extreme Weather

Remember last winter? Are you hearing reports that this upcoming winter's forecast won't be any better (and may be even worse)? Seasonal, inclement weather seems to be the gift that keeps on giving, and we never really caught up from late 2013 when a Domino effect of delayed pickups, warehouse storage costs, and missed deliveries disappointed shippers. Expect this year to be no different and plan ahead. If you enter this season with some flexibility in your pickup and delivery dates, you'll have less of a headache.

2. New Regulations

We saw US DOT regulations galore starting in July 2013. These regulations aimed to improve safety, but some may have missed the mark. Like the Hours of Service (HOS) rule for instance. It aims to keep drivers safe with adequate rest breaks, but when you look at the time drivers are forced to remain off the road (1 a.m. to 5 a.m.) it puts them square in metro cities during rush hour. Then you have the strict environmental regulations in California - a high freight volume state - and you've got trucking companies in California leaving due to high fleet operating costs. So we're left with fewer trucking hours and reduced service in a major GDP-producing state. But that's not all, we're now facing the deadline for MAP-21 otherwise known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, which forces all brokers and forwarders of freight to protect shippers with a $75,000 minimum surety bond. This regulation not only stopped carriers from easily brokering their freight to independent drivers, but it also put a few small and medium sized brokers out of business.

3. Increased Operating Costs

Fuel, labor and equipment costs are on the rise without an end in sight. It's the nature of the business for any fleet owner, but when these costs aren't being offset by revenue than it makes it harder for carriers to turn a profit. Thornton breaks it down best by saying, "On a per-mile basis, carriers today might require an average of $1.75 to $1.80 or more per mile for all miles, loaded and empty alike, in order to break even. For that reason, for-hire carriers cannot afford to run an empty truck, and a low rate can be acceptable in one direction only if a high-paying return trip boosts the round-trip average comfortably above a break-even rate."

4. Driver Shortage

Last but not least, we have driver shortage. This is a problem that is certain not to go away. According to the American Trucking Associations, the driver shortage could climb from a deficit of 30,000 drivers in 2014 to approximately 239,000 drivers in less than 10 years¹. With the rigors of the road, it has become increasingly difficult for owner-operators to fill a seat in their empty trucks with trained, experience drivers.

At FreightCenter, we've noticed the capacity issue is bleeding over into the LTL shipping market as well. As carriers experience trouble getting their trucks on the road, brokers and shippers are finding it harder to rely on transit times and steady rates. As a service-based organization, FreightCenter strives to maintain shipper expectations by quickly acting on missed pickups, finding alternative resources, and notifying shippers when delivery dates fall through.


References:

1. American Trucking Associations (ATA): Truck Driver Shortage Update, November 2012. (available: http://portal.trucking.org/StateIndustry/Documents/Driver%20Shortage%20Update%20November%202012.pdf)

Nationwide Shipping

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), each person living in the United States ships approximately 40 tons of freight across the country every year. That's 313 million people (2012 census) shipping a total of more than 12 billion tons of freight. Sounds like a lot, right? 

With so many people shipping so much freight, no wonder there are so many options when it comes to choosing a service provider and mode of transportation. That's where FreightCenter comes in. We make it easy to compare hundreds of freight carriers, transit times and freight rates at the touch of a button. 

Learn more about our US shipping services and rates. Our service area encompasses the entire United States - including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico - as well as services to and from Canada and Mexico.

Our Service Area

Become a Member Today

FreightCenter members can save up to 85% on the cost of shipping. Sign up today and gain access to our exclusive rates from quality carriers.

Taking Advantage of your Association Memberships

Choosing the Contractor's Association that’s Right for You

There are dozens of associations out there for the construction and remodeling industry. You can segment by location -Western States Roofing Contractors Association, industry - Resilient Floor Covering Institute or even demographic - National Association of Women in Construction. But how do you know which association is going to bring the most benefit to your company.  Many small business owners join for the networking opportunities, some join for the prestige of affiliation and others still join because their ‘competitor is a member.’ 

It’s easy to forget the real reason that associations exist and the true benefit behind their membership.  Associations represent the voice of the construction industry.  They rally for you in Washington and they provide insider industry information that you can’t find anywhere else.  Additionally they can provide extensive networking opportunities.  The key is to use these to your advantage.  Say ‘yes’ to becoming a guest speaker or a ‘featured monthly member.’ With networking, measuring your return on investment in relation to brand recognition can be difficult, that’s where your discount benefits come into play.

One often underutilized feature of most associations is their discount program or preferred vendor list.  Associations utilize their collective bargaining power to provide you with deep discounts, from freight shipping to insurance and office supplies.  These discounts are usually listed under the benefits section in the membership area.  These programs allow your company to calculate your return with concrete numbers.

Let’s take FreightCenter’s discount program as an example.  Members of the Wall and Ceiling Alliance can save up to 70% off traditional carrier rates through their partnership program.  Let’s say you were shipping 3 pallets of tin siding from Tampa, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. The average rate for a traditional carrier is around $156.79, while FreightCenter’s association discounted rate came out to $72.80.  If this was a continuous monthly shipment, you would save over $1,000 annually off this one benefit.

Many associations also provide discounts on National trade shows that you are already attending. Calculate the savings on rental space, sponsorships and booth shipping.  

Before joining an association, take a look at the free educational opportunities they provide.  This can be a perfect opportunity for you to help educate your employees on industry practices without having to come out of pocket.  Many organizations offer free seminars, webinars and discounts on certifications. 

Don’t forget – without members, associations don’t exist!  If you’ve already paid your annual dues and haven’t been reaping the benefits, you always have the power of suggestion.  Association staff and board members want to hear from you! Contact your organization and suggest they add a cost savings program to their membership benefits and start advantage of your memberships.

Trucking Transportation Companies

Best Features of Some of the Top Trucking Transportation Companies

FreightCenter.com gives you instant freight rates from hundreds of top trucking transportation companies in the nation.  But it can be difficult to decide which carrier is right for you without knowing where their specialties lie.  We've compiled a list of some of our top national trucking transportation companies to help you decide which is right for you.  Read on, and visit us for a free freight quote from all the carriers below.  

YRC: YRC Freight is a long established trucking company, so if you're looking for experience you'll find it here.  They also specialize in trade show shipping and have knowledgeable trained truckers who can get your exhibit to its destinations in tact and on time. YRC is known for on-time service reliability and excellent customer satisfaction rates. 


R+L Carriers: R+L Carriers is known for superior delivery of time sensitive freight shipments.  A variety of different services are offered to ensure truckers get your cargo to its destination within your time frame.  If you are under tough time constraints, R+L is the way to go.  R+L is also home to YouCrate services.  YouCrate is perfect for moving a small apartment, dorm, or storage unit. YouCrate transports the Crate to you, allows you to store your things for as long as you'd like and then picks it up when you're ready to ship.  

XPress Global Systems: Xpress Global began shipping in the flooring industry.  WIth over 40 years of experience shipping construction and flooring materials XPress Global is an excellent choice for the commercial shipper.  They're also known to have some of the lowest rates in the industry with efficient transport times.

Remember we have many more top-notch carriers from Old Dominion to Southeastern Freight Lines.  Our freight agents can help you find the best carrier and value for your shipment.  Call 800-716-7608 to speak to an agent or visit our Website for more information. 

www.FreightCenter.com 

Finding a Trucking Company

FreightCenter.com was established in 1998 to help minimize the hassle of finding a trucking company.  Finding a trucking company can be a difficult task for the less frequent freight shipper.  There's no trial and error in the trucking business.  Each one of your shipments is important and it's necessary to find the right trucking carrier the first time.  FreightCenter allows you to find a trucking company online in a matter of seconds.  Using our instant rates calculator you can easily find the best trucking company for your shipment.

Follow these 4 Steps to Find a Trucking Company:

Step 1: Measure and weigh your freight.  Make sure this is after your items have been crated or palletized.  Visit our blog on how to package your freight to prevent damage during shipping.

Step 2:  Visit our website.

Step 3:  Enter your shipment type, to and from zip codes, and item descriptions.

Step 4: A list of different trucking carriers and rates will populate.  You can contact a freight agent directly at 1800-716-7608 and they can help you decide which carrier will be best for your freight.  Finding a trucking company doesn't have to be hard, click here for an instant quote!

FreightCenter Reviews - Real People, Real Reviews

FreightCenter has been getting excellent reviews this past January.  Check out some of these great reviews from our surveys and around the web!   

Review - January 8th:
Dear Claude,

I am writing to you in regards to your employee Scott Black. I have had the pleasure of working with Scott on numerous occasions for the last couple months. His service is always prompt, courteous and accurate. He never fails to provide our company with more than satisfactory service! On our last shipment, we had a bit of a snag and Scott went out of his way to find out that status of that shipment and he made sure I was informed that the situation was resolved, and that the shipment was complete.  You are very lucky to have this gentleman working for you and representing your company! Thank you and we look forward to working with Scott in the near future!

Sincerely, Jamie 

Review - January 11th:
This was my first time to ship something by freight, and Casey Marchetti made this otherwise complicated transaction simple and pleasant for me. I first tried to do it online, but there were areas of information requested that I did not understand. Casey was patient and knowledgeable, and everything worked perfectly. The driver who picked up my boxes was also very friendly and helpful.

Review - January 12th:
Phil Ferranto is a remarkable person. He provides the best service in the industry. It is always a pleasure working with him. I cannot thank him enough

Review - January 16th:
Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how satisfied and impressed I am with one of your account managers…I work for a regional trucking company, so I know how important it is to handle customers with respect and kindness. I spoke to Brandy Derr early last week about getting a shipment picked up in San Jose, CA. that our company could not accommodate. She got me a very reasonable quote very quickly and followed it thru until today, when we finally got it all put together. She has stayed in touch with me via email as well as by phone thru every step of the process and made me feel very comfortable that a professional was handling my shipment. Her manner was one of kindness and concern throughout the entire process. I just wanted to take a minute to let you know that she is absolutely a credit to your organization. If I have anything else come up that we cannot handle, her phone will be the first one I ring – I will speak to nobody else there. At my request, and certainly at your convenience, please take a minute to let her know personally, that she is very much appreciated and how impressed I am with both her professionalism and kindness in dealing with me! I’m sure you will agree, that those traits are hard to find in most people nowadays and are extremely valuable in an employee who deals with customers personally. If needed, feel free to contact me…

Thank you, Don 

Review - January 17th:

Hello Folks!

You probably know that New Yorkers are challenged, taxed, stressed to the max because ours is a super fast pace.  While I like to give compliments, when due...my schedule is often too busy to do so.  However, in the case of Lindsey Winters...I'm putting aside tasks to say BRAVO!  

If Ms. Winters is a representation of your organization, we plan to use FreightCenter in the future and would recommend your operation.  Not only is she professional, thorough, informative, with excellent follow up, BUT she goes the extra mile and has the perfect demeanor and personality to assist even the most difficult customer.

Sincerely, Daisy

Review - January 22nd: 
I wanted to drop you a quick note.  Mike is doing a great job. I’ve given him a couple of difficult shipments (at least in my mind) and they have gone very smooth. Over the next month we have about another 6 shipments and I’ll continue to challenge him.

Steve, World Class Graphics & Displays

Review - January 22nd:

Thank you for all of the help that Freight Center has given to us the last few months. You have been a huge help to West Pasco Habitat for Humanity. We would not be able to build homes for people at such a low cost if it were not for people like you and your employees. The Freight Center employees that we have had the privilege to work with have been hard workers, have had an excellent attitude, and have been excited to help. They have been a pleasure to work with. I hope that you will keep Habitat for Humanity in mind in the future, we would certainly love to work with Freight Center again! We have a space on a wall in our Restore where we display the logos of companies that have helped us. I would like to have Freight Center on there too.

Thank you again,
Kari, West Pasco Habitat for Humanity

Review - January 23rd:

We have had great success working with Freight Center through their agent Michael Hoxie. He has given us very prompt service and provided the shipping documents right on time for us to meet our deadlines. We will continue to ship with FreightCenter.

How to Select a Refrigerated and Time Critical Trucking Carrier

Shippers utilize temperature controlled freight and specialized shipping options for a large variety of reasons. From transporting plant life and frozen goods, to pharmaceutical products and Hazmat materials.  Each cargo shipment has it's own temperature and time requirements.  

The most important step in selecting a carrier is ensuring they are both reputable and have years of experience in this type of shipping.  Not all refrigerated trucks are made the same and not all drivers are equipped with the proper skills and knowledge to ensure your cargo gets to it's destination on time and unharmed.  Refrigerated trucks all house different levels of insulation.  For example, transporting dairy products will require different temperature specifications than fresh seafood.  In these instances we recommend going with a top national carrier as opposed to a smaller one.  You can compare rates for all the top national carriers in one location by visiting www.FreightCenter.com.  Also FreightCenter provides extensive insurance options and one-on-one support from specialized agents.  

Before searching for rates make sure you know the temperature and time limitations of your product. With freight shipping a guaranteed shipment simply means it is put in priority above all other shipments.   Freight carriers are at nature's will and unforeseen natural disasters and weather restrictions can cause delayed shipments.  While a carrier will do their best to get your freight to its destination, if a hurricane hits for instance, there is little a carrier can do.  This is why it's extremely important if your cargo is time sensitive to select the carrier that will be able to deliver it as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Many factors can effect transit times, speaking with a freight agent before booking your shipment is the always the best route to go to gather additional information.

Common refrigerated cargo shipments include:

Agricultural Freight

Frozen/chilled food products and dry goods

Flowers, plant life and vegetation

Special produce handling and delivery

Meat, dairy and seafood products

Medical and Specialty Materials

Medical equipment

Pharmaceutical products

Chemical and Hazmat materials

Computers and technology equipment

Fine art

For expert care of your temperature-controlled and time sensitive freight visit FreightCenter.com or call Raymond Leonardi 800-716-7608 Ext. 1138.

2012- A Year of Goodwill and Accomplishment

2012 has proven to be an exciting and fulfilling year for FreightCenter and our many agents and employees.  We shipped to over a million customers nationwide and have continued to grow and receive numerous awards and recognition for our accomplishments.  

This year alone we've been recognized on  Food Logistic's Magazine's top software providers list, placed on the Inc.500|5000 list for fastest growing companies, ranked on the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Fast 50 and many more.  Most importantly it's the amazing reviews from our customers reflecting on how great our agents are that brings the most pride to our company. In the past two months our employees have donated over 320 hours to local nonprofit organizations in the community.  Doing everything from painting homes to feeding underprivileged children, we are always amazed by how dedicated our employees are to our community.  

Next year to reflect our continuous growth we will be moving to a larger facility.  We have great hopes for the New Year and hope you continue to choose FreightCenter for all of your LTL, truckload and international shipping needs.

Click here to visit our Website and learn more about FreightCenter.com.

A Look Back at 2012

Who's Helping You Ship?

One-on-one with National Account Manager, Tyler Jackson

I was recruited by FreightCenter shortly after graduating from college.  I had previous experience in Marketing and had also worked as an intern for another supply chain logistics company.  At FreightCenter I've had the opportunity to grow professionally in so many ways.  Through extensive training I've conquered all aspects of supply chain management and I am proud to fill the position of  National Account Manager (NAM). As a NAM, freight agents new to the field rely on me to set a standard of success, providing top notch customer service and logistics support to anyone that comes my way.

Today I don't take my position lightly. I am not just "booking a shipment," I'm helping small businesses stay afloat in a tough economy. I'm reducing green house gas emissions by utilizing alternative modes of transportation.  I'm helping a new CEO reevaluate their supply chain and plan for a better fiscal year in 2013 and most importantly I'm making sure that freshman in college gets their dorm room moved in time for the first day of classes.  The relationships I'm building with both my residential and commercial customers will last a life time.  It's the steps you take when things get tough that are going to differentiate you from the competition.

The recent tragedy in New York City proved very difficult for companies in the supply chain fields. New York is an obvious major location for freight shipping and Hurricane Sandy had torn apart half the state. In this aftermath I had to focus on making sure that one way or another shipments got to their destinations.  I even managed several shipments that were set to bring Hurricane Sandy's victims food, supplies and construction materials.  Of course we gave huge discounts on these shipments, but this is just one example of how meaningful my position can be.

Freight shipping is extremely technology driven. Since I began my career at FreightCenter we've made huge strides both operationally and through our transportation management software.  I'm looking forward to growing along side FreightCenter as we continue to surpass our competition by providing cost efficient shipping solutions and one-on-one support from agents like me.

To contact Tyler Jackson, please call 800-716-7608 Ext. 1066 or email him at tjackson@freightcenter.com.

Freight Center Gets Great Reviews From Local Non-Profits

FreightCenter has been getting some amazing reviews lately. These reviews aren't just from satisfied customers and carriers, but from local non-profit organizations. FreightCenter most recently donated roughly 300 pounds of canned food to Feeding America Tampa Bay, America's leading hunger relief charity. 

FreightCenter is also undergoing their 2nd Annual 'Cash for Caring' program. FreightCenter employees are compensated hourly for their time spent volunteering at non-profit organizations. Employees have been hard at work painting homes, trimming shrubs, sorting canned foods, serving breakfast to the homeless, and much more.

Some of the organizations benefiting from the program include Women's Recovery Center of Tampa Bay, RAP House, Toys for Tots West Pasco, Suncoast SPCA, Salvation Army Domestic Violence, Habitat for Humanity and many more.

Check out these latest reviews from the organizations we've helped.

Habitat for Humanity: Just wanted to let you know that your people did great on Saturday! They worked so hard, they were a huge help to us! Thanks again, we couldn't have done this project without your support.

Feeding America: On behalf of Feeding America Tampa Bay, I would like to thank you for volunteering with us. Feeding America Tampa Bay greatly appreciates all of your contributions, hard work, and dedication to our organization. Our primary mission is to end hunger and nourish hope across the ten counties we serve, and we would be unable to reach this goal without the efforts of our volunteers. Your time spent with us makes a significant difference in helping our community diminish domestic hunger. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done to help us realize our mission. I wanted to let you know that Freight Center helped sort 7,716 pounds of non-perishable food donations. This equals out to about 6,430 meals!!

FreightCenter will also be serving as a Toys for Tots drop off location this season.  To drop off an new, unwrapped toy, please stop by our office at 2049 Welbilt Blvd. Trinity, Fl 34655 or give us a call 727-450-7800!

If your non-profit organization has benefited from FreightCenter and you'd like to leave us a review, please contact Media@FreightCenter.com.