Truck Freight — Road Transportation Road transportation has come a long way since the days of horse and wagon shipments. Truck freight alone accounts for more than 54% of all northern border freight between Canada and the United States. Truck transportation is ideal for industries that require quick, small shipments directly to a business, warehouse or consumer’s door and is equipped to handle possible delays. The top three commodities in trans-border truck shipping are computers and computer parts, electrical machinery and vehicles and motor parts. Other industries that rely on truck freight include grocery and retail, eCommerce, construction and agriculture. The top benefits of truck freight include: Implements fewer restrictions: Compared to other modes of transportation — especially air transport — there are far fewer restrictions for truck freight, including heavy or hazardous materials. Trucks are also easier to track than other modes of transportation, due to built-in navigational systems and real-time tracking abilities, so you always know exactly where your shipment is located. Costs less than air and ship transportation: Truck freight is very economical compared to air and ship transportation because associated expenses, such as fuel and truck maintenance, are far less costly. Allows for more accessibility: Road transportation is highly accessible. Most companies have easy access to a major highway system, while not every company has access to railroads, airports or ships for other forms of transportation. Offers more options: With truck freight, you have limitless options available to you. There are many different specialized trucking companies that can accommodate perishable, hazardous or oversized goods. Depending on the shipping company, you can also choose from things like parcel, full truck and less than truckload shipping. When you only need to ship a small number of packages, parcel shipments are an excellent option. Similar to parcel shipping is less than truckload (LTL) shipping. LTL freight services are ideal when your shipment is less than a truckload but too large or oddly shaped for parcel shipments. When compared to full truckload shipments, parcel and LTL provide an enticing level of flexibility that other transportation methods cannot. Allows for door-to-door shipment: Perhaps the most significant benefit associated with truck freight is the ability to ship a product directly to the consumer’s front door. Although last-mile delivery is not always available due to the type and size of the product or final destination, the possibility of door-to-door shipment is why many companies opt for truck freight over other methods. Despite these numerous benefits, there are a few important factors to consider before selecting truck freight, such as: Time: Truck freight can take longer and is more susceptible to shipment delays than other methods. The average truck travels roughly 50 to 60 miles per hour on major roadways. Other factors, such as road closures, bad weather or heavy traffic, can also have unpredictable impacts on delivery times. Control Due to how truck freight works, you do not have as much control over how your products are handled. Road travel can be rough on some shipments, and some companies may mishandle your product — that’s why it’s crucial to work with a trusted logistics company backed by awards and client testimonials.
