Are you looking to partner with a flatbed 3PL shipping company? If you are moving freight via flatbed then it is absolutely something that you should look into. The benefits provided by an experienced 3PL can make a huge impact on your organization.
There are, of course, some 3PLs that won’t be able to help and may actually hinder you. Some are just out to get the most money while putting in the least amount of work. These are the 3PLs that are not going to be around for long. Because of this, you want to find an experienced 3PL, one that knows your industry and flatbed shipping inside and out and has been in operation for years.
You may be asking, “What difference does it really make?” What can a couple of years of experience really provide for me and my organization? Well, there are 5 key benefits that are provided when you partner with an experienced 3PL provider.
1. Flexibility
When you work with a flatbed 3PL, you gain access to their extensive carrier base. This means your business will have more flexibility in terms of capacity and services available when you need them. There are many variables that affect which carrier is right for your shipment at any moment—a great 3PL knows how to navigate the complexities of options and make sure the right carrier is used for each shipment.
An experienced 3PL will also be able to offer flexibility in the way of scalability. As your business grows, so do its shipping needs. An experienced 3PL will be able to scale up or down with your business as needed and provide insight into strategic planning to help you make the most efficient use of resources while still serving your customers’ needs.
2. Technology
A good flatbed 3PL won’t just be focused on moving shipments from one place to another, but also on providing real-time information about the status of each shipment, which is incredibly valuable for a business to have when things go wrong—and let’s face it, things do go wrong sometimes! Having this information available allows businesses to prepare for issues and quickly remedy them before something goes very wrong.
Additionally, along with the real-time tracking and tracing, an experienced 3PL should be providing valuable analytics data. This can then be used to make data-driven decisions that should result in beneficial changes.
3. Processes in Place
A good flatbed 3PL will already have its processes in place. This means that you don’t have to worry about the shipping aspect of your business as much. If something unexpected comes up, such as a load being dropped or damaged during transportation, the 3PL will have a process set up to handle this situation. Should this happen, they will inform you of the situation and let you know what they are doing to resolve it without slowing down your business in any way.
4. Reliability
The first thing that a 3PL is going to do for your business is boost the reliability of your transportation needs. When you work with a reputable, reliable, and experienced 3PL you’ll find that managing your business becomes much easier. Ease of mind is one of the biggest benefits that an experienced 3PL can offer, and it’s something that you can’t put a price on.
With a reliable flatbed 3PL helping you out with your business operations, there will be less time spent worrying about the little things, which means more time for you to focus on running and operating your business.
5. Save Money
One of the main reasons that people turn to a 3PL for their supply chain needs is because it’s going to save them money in the long run. In fact, if you’re with one of the cheaper logistics companies, you’re probably going to end up losing money in the long run because of all the hidden costs, mistakes, and missed opportunities for savings along your supply chain.
How to Find Right Flatbed 3PL Right For You
Now that we have covered the benefits provided by an experienced 3PL provider, how can you find one? Luckily, experience is pretty easy to measure. Simply look into how long the 3PL you are interested in has been around. Then, you may also want to look into a couple more things.
First, how long have they been active in your industry? This will help you get a good idea of whether or not they understand your specific needs and challenges that you face every day. Additionally, it should provide insight on whether they have a good grasp of the rules and regulations of y our industry.
Second, how experienced is the team you’d be working with? Sure the company itself may have 50 years of experience but what about the people you are working with? This can be gauged by talking to your account representative before getting started. Asking them what they would do in certain situations.
Lastly, what do their other customers say? This is important because it provides real-world feedback. This information can be found by looking at testimonials or reviews. Either way, try to find out what people outside of the company are saying.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to outsource your shipping operations, one of the best options available is partnering up with an experienced flatbed 3PL shipping company. An experienced 3PL that will be sure to have everything in place to get your freight from point A to point B safely, quickly, and effectively. You want to find a company that will offer flexibility, technology, processes, reliability, and savings. This is very doable with a little bit of research, you can find one that matches up perfectly with your specific needs.
