Choosing the right carrier is critical to shipping success. Many businesses make the mistake of forgetting that this a very important step in the fulfillment process.

A logistics team can do everything right in terms of their shipping strategy, but if they don’t select a reliable carrier to ship their products, they are at risk of:

• Paying too much for shipping
• Delayed delivery of products
• Frustrating customers

When a business’s products leave the warehouse, they must be certain that they are in good hands. To make sure that the fulfillment process is perfect from end-to-end, consider the following when choosing a carrier.

Type of products carried
This is more of a requirement than a consideration. Not all shippers carry every type of product. The first step businesses must take in choosing a carrier is to ensure that they are willing and able to deliver whatever products the business ships. This is especially the case if a business deals in products that are:

• Oversized or especially heavy
• Extremely delicate
• Perishable
• Hazardous

Shipping locations
Choosing the right carrier also depends on where they are willing to ship products. Some carriers only offer local shipping while others offer coast-to-coast and even international shipping options.

Reliability and speed
Since a business is trusting their products with carriers, they want to make sure that they form a relationship with the right partners.

When it comes to a carrier’s reputation and reliability, ask the following questions:

• What are their rates of loss, theft and accidents?
• Do they provide tracking accurate tracking?
• How long have they been in the business?
• Do they carry insurance?

When it comes to speed, businesses should find out whether or not specific carriers offer expedited shipping as well as what their average transit time is to specific locations.

Price
It is completely natural and more than necessary to discuss price with a carrier before partnering with them. This is especially important if the business is going to offer free shipping to its customers.

At King Solutions, we have formed partnerships with many carriers, allowing us to get the best price for our clients. Our carriers are reliable, fast and will provide your customers with the best service possible. To find out more about our carrier partnerships, contact our team today.