Freight shipping for small businesses
Freight shipping can be complex, especially for a small business finding its way through logistics for the first time. One of the most important steps is understanding the types of freight shipping available, and how to choose the right one for your business.
At RS Group we specialize in a range of freight services, each designed for different shipping needs, and we work with more than 6,200 carrier partners to find the best solution for yours. As a small business owner, your choice between full truckload, less than truckload, and the other options will depend on the size of your shipment, your budget, and your delivery timeline. You do not have to become a logistics expert to ship well: you need to know enough to make good choices, and a partner you trust for the rest. These five tips will help.
Tip 1: Understand the types of freight shipping and storage
Each shipping method has its own advantages and drawbacks. Knowing them, and when each one works best, is the foundation of every good shipping decision:
Full truckload (FTL)
One customer’s freight fills an entire truck, which goes straight from pickup to delivery without stops in between. Pros: the fastest transit, and a lower risk of damage because the freight is not handled on the way. Cons: you pay for the whole truck, so it only makes sense with enough freight to fill it. RS Group’s full truckload service handles high-volume, time-sensitive freight with ease.
Less than truckload (LTL)
Freight from several customers shares one truck, and you pay only for the space yours takes: typically 150 to 15,000 pounds on up to 10 pallets. Pros: cost-effective for smaller shipments, and you do not have to wait until you have a truckload. Cons: longer transit, because the truck makes several stops, and more handling at carrier terminals. Sharing truck space through our LTL service means real savings.
Partial truckload (PTL)
The middle option for shipments too big for LTL that do not fill a truck: 5,000 to 40,000 pounds, or 5 to 14 pallets. Pros: usually faster than LTL, with less handling, and you pay only for the space you use. Cons: partial space can be harder to find in busy seasons. Learn more in what partial truckload shipping is.
Expedited and local delivery
When freight cannot wait, expedited ground shipping moves it in sprinter vans, box trucks, or flatbeds, with next-day, two-day, and other time-critical options. Around Atlanta, a local courier can deliver the same day. Pros: speed and a dedicated vehicle. Cons: a higher price than standard freight, so save it for shipments where time really is money.
3PL warehousing solutions
With third-party logistics (3PL), you outsource services such as warehousing, fulfillment, and freight management to a partner. Pros: you can focus on your core business and draw on expert knowledge and resources. Cons: you give up some direct control, so you need a provider you trust. RS Group offers warehousing in Atlanta alongside its freight services.
Not sure which fits? As a rule of thumb, a shipment of up to 10 pallets and 15,000 pounds is an LTL candidate, 5 to 14 pallets or 5,000 to 40,000 pounds is worth pricing as a partial truckload, and freight that fills most of a trailer, or cannot risk extra handling, belongs on a full truckload. The ranges overlap, so the best answer often comes from pricing more than one mode, which we are happy to do for you.
Tip 2: Package your items properly
Freight shipping is about more than getting goods from A to B: they have to arrive in the condition they left. Proper packaging protects your items in transit and saves you the cost of damaged goods. It does three jobs:
Protection
Packaging shields your products from impacts, vibration, moisture, dust, and other hazards on the road. Freight is loaded, unloaded, and sometimes moved between trucks, so it has to survive more than one set of hands.
Preservation
For some goods, such as food, packaging keeps the product’s quality and freshness intact until it is delivered. Our guide to shipping refrigerated products covers insulated packaging.
Identification
Labels and markings identify a shipment and its handling needs, so warehouse staff, drivers, and receivers can process it quickly and correctly.
Replacing damaged goods can cost far more than good packaging. And delivering undamaged products, shipment after shipment, builds your reputation for reliability and quality.
Packaging best practices
Follow these practices when you pack for freight:
- Use the right materials. Invest in durable, high-quality packaging suited to what you are shipping. Choose boxes rated for the weight and the stacking height (the Edge Crush Test rating tells you), and give fragile items bubble wrap or foam padding.
- Secure your items. Fill empty space with packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or other dunnage so nothing shifts in transit.
- Seal packages properly. Use strong tape that will hold up to the rigors of transportation.
- Label every package. Include the sender’s and receiver’s addresses, and handling labels such as “Fragile” or “This Side Up” where they apply.
- Palletize when it makes sense. For larger shipments, pallets make loading and unloading easier and add a layer of protection. Our guide to shipping a pallet shows how.
- Weigh and measure after packing. Put the final weight and dimensions, pallet included, on the bill of lading. Carriers weigh and measure freight themselves, and a mismatch can change the freight class and the invoice.
Good packaging is an upfront investment that pays off: your items arrive in good condition, your reputation grows, and you avoid the costs of damage.
Tip 3: Understand how a freight broker can help you
There is a world of choice in freight shipping. Carriers offer different services, pricing models, and levels of reliability, and comparing them is time-consuming and complex for a small business. That is where a freight broker like RS Group comes in.
Just as a travel agent helps you navigate airline options, a freight broker helps you navigate freight shipping. We compare rates from top carriers, offer a variety of shipping options, and make booking, tracking, and payment easy.
You can book with a carrier directly, and some shippers with steady volume on fixed lanes do. But one carrier can only offer its own trucks, routes, and prices. A broker compares many carriers for each shipment, so you are never locked into one carrier’s coverage or schedule, and you have someone on your side when something goes wrong.
Because we work with thousands of carriers rather than a handful, we can give you a wide range of shipping options and find the best rate for your specific needs, shipment by shipment.
The advantages of working with a freight broker
Saves time and effort
We do the research and the rate comparison for you, freeing your time for the rest of your business.
Better rates
Our network of carrier partners lets us negotiate better rates on your behalf than most small shippers can get alone, and because we price several carriers per shipment, you see the trade-off between price and transit time before you book.
Simpler logistics
We offer solutions for businesses of every size and keep the shipping process as straightforward as possible, so you know your freight is in good hands.
Exceptional customer service
We pride ourselves on service. As our clients will tell you, we are quick to respond, always available, and happy to help with anything from booking a shipment to tracking and resolving issues.
What to have ready when you ask for a quote
A broker can only quote what it knows. Have these details to hand, and your quote will match your invoice:
- The pickup and delivery ZIP codes, and whether each end is a business, a residence, or a limited-access site.
- What you are shipping, and its freight class if you know it.
- The packaged weight and dimensions, pallets included, and the number of pallets or pieces.
- Whether the pallets can be stacked.
- Any special needs: hazardous materials, temperature control, a liftgate, or a delivery appointment.
- When the freight will be ready, and when it has to arrive.
Compare carriers without the legwork
Send us your shipment details, and we will find the carrier and the rate that fit.
Tip 4: Use a freight broker to find the right solution
Every business is different, and so are its shipping needs, so a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. We work closely with you to understand yours and tailor the solution to match. A few common matches:
- Large, time-sensitive shipments
- Full truckload: a dedicated trailer, straight to the destination.
- Smaller shipments
- Less than truckload: pay only for the trailer space you use.
- Too big for LTL, short of a truckload
- Partial truckload: one truck, less handling, no freight class.
- Freight that cannot wait
- Expedited ground shipping or same-day local Atlanta courier service.
- Storage between shipments
- Warehousing in Atlanta, short- or long-term, or cross-docking to move freight straight through.
- Containers from the port
- Drayage and container transloading.
- Hazardous or temperature-sensitive freight
- Hazardous materials transportation and refrigerated freight.
Experience that counts
Not every shipment fits neatly into one box. A single order might arrive as a container at the port, be transloaded and stored in Atlanta, then go out by LTL to your customers. A broker that offers all of it can plan the whole move, not just one leg.
Choosing a freight broker with real experience pays off in every shipment. RS Group has the experience and capacity to be a one-stop shop for healthcare, retail, audio-visual, and tradeshow logistics. Each year we handle more than 18,500 shipments and process more than 1,400 containers.
That experience saves you time and resources: comparing rates, researching carriers, and managing logistics are handled for you. Our network of more than 6,200 carrier partners means a wide choice of options and the right rate and service for your needs. And our customers come first at every stage of the shipping process.
Tip 5: Use the tracking and transparency a broker provides
Knowing where your freight is and when it will arrive makes a real difference to your operation, especially for a small business, where every shipment counts. Transparent tracking gives you control and peace of mind:
Better planning
Knowing when shipments will arrive lets you schedule staff, space, and production around them, cutting downtime and raising efficiency.
Better customer service
Accurate tracking lets you give your customers timely, accurate updates on their orders, which improves their experience and your reputation.
Lower risk
Tracking surfaces problems early, so you can address them before they disrupt your business.
Share the tracking details with your own receivers, too. A receiver who knows when the truck is coming can have a dock door and staff ready, which helps avoid detention and redelivery charges.
How a freight broker keeps you in control
As your freight broker, RS Group gives you comprehensive, transparent tracking on every shipment, with real-time updates. Whether you move supplies across town or products across the country, here is how we help:
Reliable tracking
Every shipment carries a PRO number or tracking number, and you know where your freight is at all times.
Timely updates
You hear about changes and delays as they happen, not after the delivery window has passed.
Fast issue resolution
If a problem comes up in transit, we respond quickly and work to resolve it, so your freight reaches its destination safely and on time.
Proof of delivery
The signed proof of delivery closes out each shipment. Your RS Group contact owns every shipment from tender to proof of delivery, so you always have one person to ask.
With RS Group as your partner, you always have the information you need to make good decisions about your freight. As your 3PL, we are dedicated to moving it safely and efficiently, with the best possible service every step of the way.