3 Reasons it May Be Time to Change Freight Forwarders
Unless your current freight forwarding company is offering rates way outside of what is fair and competitive, then price should never be a primary reason for changing your freight forwarder.
As a business owner, there’s enough to manage without the added burden of changing freight forwarders.
It can quickly turn into a costly and difficult process to bring in a new untested partner.
Even when your current provider is no longer able to meet your needs, it’s still difficult to make the necessary changes because you’ve got more important things to focus on, right?
Not if you want your business to succeed and continue to grow.
Taking all of this into consideration, how do you know that it’s time to start shopping around for a new freight forwarding company?
Below are three reasons that highlight when it may be worth the effort.
1. Internal Changes
-Your company has experienced growth and your current provider does not have the service capabilities that you now need.
All freight forwarders are not created equal.
Do you get to speak with the same person that quoted your shipment and knows every detail about your operation?
Or do feel that your provider is a stranger and not a true partner without really understanding or seeming to care about your current and future needs.
Has the scope of your business changed and maybe your current forwarding agent only offers over-the-road freight transport in the United States, but now you need international air and ocean freight services because you are selling and shipping your products overseas.
If one or more of these changes have taken place, now is the time to start identifying any shortcomings.
Once you have identified the issues, make a list of the major pain points that you can use in your initial discussion with the new forwarder.
2. Incompatible Technology
-Times have changed. The days of pouring over stacks of spreadsheets to monitor your supply chain are gone.
Valuable information should never be more than a click away
If your current forwarder lacks the necessary technology to assist in managing your day-to-day business it is definitely time to select a new forwarder that is more modernized.
At the same time, how can you quickly address an issue if all you have is an avatar from a website messaging service to turn to when you have a problem?
An online freight service may not be right for your business model either.
If you find yourself having to explain your issue over and over because you get a different person on the phone every time you call, that ends up wasting not just your time but your customer’s time as well.
if they can’t provide you with a dedicated team or even just a reliable point of contact it may be time to find a new forwarding company
3. Service Standards
-Customer service is more than just a polite voice on the other end of the phone.
Are you being blindsided by calls from clients regarding late or damaged deliveries?
Are you experiencing longer than usual transit times or your invoices are often different than the quotes you receive?
Pretty much all freight forwarders can provide a logistics solution for moving a box from point A to point B., but what about on-time performance and proactive reporting?
Are you receiving accurate updates promptly?
If you have very little communication despite ongoing problems, this could mean that they are unwilling to address existing issues or simply don’t care because they can just take advantage of the next customer in the pipeline.
Is the claims process quick and painless or are you having to fight your own provider for resolution?
Does your forwarder express an eagerness to provide stellar service and is committed to constant improvement?
If not, these are some major red flags that indicate you should be getting more from your forwarding company.
If you are suffering from any of these transportation services shortcomings then it is time to get busy finding a new forwarder right away.
Many of you may be thinking “What about price?” Well, unless your current provider is offering rates way outside of what is fair and competitive, then price should never be a primary reason for changing freight forwarders.
Remember, your time is money too.
Are you really saving your company’s resources if you are spending time away from your primary responsibilities chasing after updates, following up on claims, or resolving billing issues?
If this is happening then it may be time to change freight forwarding companies.
The Bottom Line
What you should be looking for, in any freight forwarding company or logistics service provider, is value.
Value is having a partner that can offer competitive rates without sacrificing the highest level of quality, customer service, and modern-age technology.
Value is honesty and integrity in all transactions.
It is a provider that takes time to get to know you and the unique needs of your supply chain while offering the flexibility and expertise to accommodate changes in your organization.
But most of all, value is having a freight transportation provider that wants to help you and your company grow and succeed every single day.
Switching freight service providers may seem like a hassle, but the right one should make the transition seamless and make you look like a star.
If having a dedicated point of contact for all of your shipping needs and working with a forwarder that believes in creating long-term partnerships sounds like a breath of fresh air, give BGI Worldwide Logistics a chance to show you that not all freight forwarding companies are equal.
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE
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