Shipping: 5 ways to make your facility more carrier-friendly

In the fast-moving freight world, we have to simplify our processes and add delight in our work in order to connect this fragmented industry.

Shipping facilities often see the brunt of criticism for freight woes. Carriers talk about long wait times, not enough amenities, and poor service. These truckers can grow tired of these things, and stop accepting freight from these terminals. Soon, sourcing capacity can take a significant chunk out of your workday.

At Shipwell, we know how non-stop it can be at these facilities. That's why we've put together a list of 5 ways that you can make your shipping facility more carrier-friendly.

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Get familiar with your carriers' preferences

Take note of what carriers are looking for when they show up to your facility. A vending machine with assorted snacks might not cut it for veteran truckers.

Over the years, Shipwell has taken note of these preferences and it informed how we built our platform to suit their needs better. Our platform is an enjoyable experience for shippers, brokers, and carriers for its intuitive design.

First, make sure that your staff is friendly and helpful to all the carriers that come through the facility. A smile and a short pleasant conversation can go a long way for someone who spends most of their days alone in a truck. Ask them what they want from a terminal. You'll probably hear things like parking options, shorter wait times, and lead time for bookings.

Make efficiency your priority

Next, making efficiency your top priority will have a trickle-down effect on your workers' moods and effort.

Moving from the "first-come, first-served" method of loading can cause a lot of trucks to get backed up and locked into detention, possibly missing a load they need to pick up nearby. Soon, the Shipwell app will integrate dock scheduling software into its platform.

Shippers can set docks and specific times for trucks to get in and out as quickly as possible with minimal wait time. Shipping facilities can then schedule workers accordingly and be as efficient as possible with staging and load times.

Using Shipwell's real-time tracking feature, shippers can see where trucks are on a map and prepare for early or late arrivals if needed. 3PLs using the Shipwell platform can also view tracking to keep their customers up-to-date on their carriers' arrivals.

Make your freight desirable

Whenever you need to source capacity for your loads, make sure it is as desirable as possible for the carrier.

Odds are, you'll end up getting more carriers interested in your freight. Use the Shipwell platform to provide detailed information about the load so carriers know what to expect. That way, they can prepare extra protective gear if the load needs it.

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Also, optimizing multiple drops or arranging for backhaul can really promote your carrier relationships.

Automate your workflows

Shipwell users can speed up loading and unloading processes by utilizing our platform to automate their workflows.

As we said before, shippers can use our upcoming dock scheduling feature to lock in docking times for trucks and automate that system. But, shippers can even create and manage orders all within the platform.

Allowing transparent information about shipments can make the loading and unloading process a breeze.

Work with the best 3PL

Working with the right logistics group is vital for facilities to get their place ready for carriers. Shipwell's Managed Services team is unmatched in customer support, offering it 24/7 for any hiccups along the way.

We believe there is no such thing as too little communication. That's why right inside our app is a messaging platform so the entire shipment personnel can ask questions, provide updates, and prepare for changes.

Shipwell is trying to make the world of freight as delightful as we can. We know the inefficiencies of this industry and provide solutions to them so shippers, brokers, and carriers can make more money by working smarter.

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