A Transportation Emergency: What to Do When You Need Fast Delivery
The business that has never had an emergency situation in which products or supplies need to be moved quickly is a business that just hasn’t had that situation occur yet. Maybe there’s an error in a shipment that needs to be quickly corrected. Perhaps a client is willing to pay a huge fee for the rush – but only if you manage to get the delivery out on time. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to be in that situation a few times, you know that it can be costly and even difficult to make happen at all if you don’t know where to turn.
There are three things about which you need to be most concerned when dealing with a transportation emergency at your business: the cost of the delivery, the speed at which they move and the security of your items. When you’re flustered about getting the shipment en route, you might not stop to think about these things – but it’ll be bad for your business if you don’t. Plan ahead with an emergency transportation contingency now and you’ll have your plan of action ready when it’s time to go. If you’re already in a rush, stop for a minute and make sure you’re addressing everything before you proceed.
Call a Third Party Logistics Company
Most businesses will save more by outsourcing transportation services – both the regular, day-to-day deliveries and the last-minute deliveries that require more urgency. It’s not cost-effective to purchase and maintain your own freight system, especially when it comes to emergency transportation, as you’re unlikely to fill the entire cargo hold so it’ll cost as much if not more than a regular scheduled delivery. Even if you have your own system in place, a third party logistics company will be able to move things at a more cost-effective rate when you’re in a hurry. With round-the-clock service, you can secure their services anytime day or night to get the shipment on its way.
Consider Air Freight
Depending on how far you need to get your items moved, it might be worth paying just a bit more to move the items by air instead of by truck. You really have no other option for fast service if you’re moving items overseas, but even moving items in bulk across country will go faster in an airplane. It’s better to rely on a transportation services company to handle this, as you won’t have to rent space on an entire plane yourself. Plus, they have the experience necessary to get items through customs quickly and efficiently, shaving hours, if not days, off of the transit time.
Adjust Your Price Accordingly
If the transportation emergency is due to a client needing something fast, make sure you charge adequately to cover the extra costs. The best way to do this is to discuss how much such a delivery would cost with a third party logistics company, as you can’t go back to a client and ask for more money after you’ve already given them a quote. Since time is of the essence in this situation, you don’t want to put them on hold while you figure out the quote, either. Plan for expedited transportation ahead of time, and you’ll have a good idea upfront what to charge.
The need for emergency transportation is a reality for many a business. Make sure all of the hassle and cost is worthwhile – get your items moved safely without spending so much you don’t earn a profit. If you get used to moving things quickly and efficiently, these last-minute transportation situations will never stress you again.
About the Author: Alec Sevenberge is a small business owner who’s had more rush deliveries than he can count. He recommends Landstar System, Inc. for getting products and supplies moved fast and securely.