A trucking company is generally an agency that ships possessions or goods by truck. Trucking is a service industry. A trucking firm can involve a small operation-just a single truck, one driver, moving a single product. Alternatively, it can be hundreds or thousands of tracks with several drivers moving goods throughout the country.
According to the United States Labor Department trucking statistics, over seventy percent of the goods carried from one location to the other in the United States get done by trucks. Truckers are involved in many manufacturing industries. First, they can transport raw materials to the manufacturer. Later, manufactured goods get shipped to the stores where people can buy them.
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What are The Various Types of Trucking Logistic Companies?
There are two main types of trucking logistics companies. They include:
- Freight broker
- Third-party logistics company
The two types significantly differ in supply chain distribution and management.
Freight Broker
A freight broker links the freight company that physically transports goods to the market to the business that owns the luggage. Brokers usually specialize in single shipments. They are also involved in connecting shipping companies with potential clients.
A freight broker logistics company does not own any assets during the logistics process.
Third-Party Logistics Company
A third-party logistics company is a freight broker who is well-experienced in the game. They usually hold company assets and do not act as intermediaries. It means they pay drivers, possess trucks, and have definite locations where they operate. A third-party logistics company focuses on the bigger picture. They can manage all aspects of the supply chain.
A company’s flexibility in working with more than one logistical option is vital, particularly in the current economic times. Working with freight brokers and third-party logistics companies has an advantage.
However, different organizations have varying logistical needs. As the business needs evolve, so must your logistical plans. Therefore, it is critical to remain flexible so that it becomes easy to adapt to the changing market trends.
How Does a Trucking Business Work?
How the trucking business works can be understood through four important segments, namely:
- Trucking as a service
- Licenses and permits
- Back at the office
- Necessary people and details
Trucking as a Service
A trucking business usually involves trucks moving pieces or raw materials from the supplier to the manufacturer and a store. From the store, people can now buy the final products. Therefore, trucking is shipping loads over land to retail distribution centers and manufacturing plants using trucks.
Licenses and Permits
A trucking company must have special permits and pay special fees. Then, the federal and state governments give them licenses to operate.
Additionally, truck drivers must have their CDLs (Commercial Driver’s License) and any required permits. For example, a truck driver in the United States should have HazMat (Hazardous Materials) certification. Drivers who transport dangerous or corrosive substances must undergo special classes and have the certificate on their CDL.
Back at the Office
The trucking office is the core of any trucking company. It has several positions that ensure proper execution and completion of all the company responsibilities. In addition, it is where all trucking administrative and clerical duties get done. They include reviewing reports, hiring personnel, and managing database information.
The office is also where clients and potential clients communicate for trucking services or inquiries. Trucking office managers who manage staff also sit here. They ensure that the company meets legal regulations and industry standards and completes various management tasks.
Necessary People and Details
There are various hauling services. For example, some trucking businesses move heavy equipment like cranes and bulldozers, weapons for the military, tanks, or people’s households. Some include armed guards who board with them when moving irreplaceable sculptures and art to museums.
Importantly, regardless of the items a tucking business hauls, the same fundamental steps are always followed. All the necessary employees work in coordination and collaboration to get each load from the pickup point to the destination.
Whether it is the mechanic who must look at the truck engine, the file clerk who keeps all the paper work for all trucks, or the dispatcher, work must always be done and delivered to the client’s expectations. Proper communication among colleagues is crucial to any trucking business project’s success.
Prices must also be set correctly, including special fees and extra money to cater for higher fuel prices. Special payments typically come in instances where the truck driver must get to the destination on time or when loads must be delivered very quickly.
What Services Offered by Trucking Companies?
Different trucking companies offer various services. From general commodities, flatbed freights, specialized equipment services to dedicated fleet services. Let’s explore some of these services in detail.
Specialized Equipment Services
It entails shipping of freight that requires delicate handling. It includes movement of E-bar, ramp services, decking, and pad services, along with accommodations for oversize load trucking. Trucking companies offering the service have special equipment that protects the freight, minimizing damage claims. The benefits are ideal for shippers needing to transport things like:
- Electronic equipment
- Cabinetry
- Store Fixtures
- Furniture
Logistic Services
A successful trucking company is incomplete without proper coordination, tracking, and adaptation to logistical needs. Freight companies like Osage Specialized Transport have full proficiency in the oversight and logical planning you require during transportation.
Logistic providers have a crucial role in ensuring that products are where they need to be, at the expected time, in the best condition, and at the lowest cost. Logistic services include:
- Supply chain optimization
- Freight staging
- Freight brokerage
- Storage and distribution solutions
- Finding the most economical freight routes
Dedicated Fleet services
Dedicated fleet services involve companies coming together to utilize their equipment and driver pool efficiently. Customers enjoy the return of efficiency through discounted rates without abdicating premium service. Through dedicated fleet services, clients and partners can enjoy the following:
- Minimized costs because of supply chain inefficiencies
- Optimization of your distribution network
- Access to specialized equipment and services without heavy investments
- Scale back or ramp up distribution depending on demand without adding capital to new assets.
If you want to hire a trucking company, do some diligent research on the type of loads they carry, the transport vehicles they use and overall customer service.