For shippers, finding a carrier for bulk transportation freight, dry or liquid, can cause issues resulting in a fast decline of business. To find bulk carriers and gain more of a competitive advantage in the industry with technology advancements, improved visibility, and connections in networking a freight broker can help. In discussing the benefits a broker can bring to a shipper’s business in terms of a 3PL, Logistics Management mentioned, “Third Party Logistics play a critical role in helping shippers with end-to-end inventory visibility, real-time order monitoring and super-reverse logistics. These capabilities allow shippers to make more informed, strategic decisions and act quickly with greater precision, fact-based certainty and full alignment to their overarching business strategy.” In the bulk industry, partnering with a 3PL and evolving with technology can provide an advantage in all operations and improve the business overall, not to mention reduce the hassle of managing bulk foods, including liquids. Let's take a closer look at bulk transport, the value of partnerships in managing it, and a few tips for finding bulk foods carriers. 

Items that are not packaged qualify as bulk shipping, generally sold by weight or volume rather than individual pieces. Due to the materials not having packaging, there must be a significant difference between bulk transportation equipment and regular trucking equipment. The most crucial difference with dry bulk involves the danger of contamination, which can make a load completely useless. Bulk trucking breaks down to dry bulk or liquid bulk and requires specific tanks and trailers to ensure proper handling. 

Using a freight broker can take the hassle out of searching for and negotiating with bulk carriers. For any size company, a good freight broker can make an enormous impact on how quickly a carrier is found. To find a trustworthy carrier, freight brokers can use past partnerships and platforms to find a carrier for any load and price point. The best brokerages maintain relationships with carriers and customers, having more options and mutual beneficial partnerships. This allows for shippers to gain the broker’s knowledge of carriers and have more options through a trusting partnership.

Due to freight brokers working on shipping logistics full time, they have more insight into the current status of freight shipping rates and concerns. Additionally, a freight broker can tell at a glance whether a price is a good deal or if a lower price can happen. Freight brokers have a better understanding of market variables and current events affecting possible fuel and transportation costs. 

Having an agile and streamlined system through a freight broker can provide the ability for more accurate forecasting to efficiently fulfill customer demands. With the advanced analytics redeemed through a broker and automated offerings for pricing, booking, and documentation can provide faster decision-making and reporting for all operations. New advancements in a mobile platform can provide shippers with seamless visibility and competitive market rates while speeding the velocity of transactions by offering relevant, attractive freight to highly qualified bulk carriers.

Optimizing with a freight broker can give shippers a new outlook on the existing market and opportunities to expand in the new market. Freight brokers can allow for more focus on important shifts in the business by providing insights through transparency and automation in logistics. Shippers must adapt to the ever-changing market and economic conditions by partnering with a 3PL to prioritize value chain transformation. Freight brokers can also provide services with finding a carrier, tracking shipments, and receiving the best rates possible to save time and money.

If problems arise or a shipment requires rerouting, a freight broker can provide assistance to avoid a delay in arrival. When rerouting occurs brokers can determine the shipment’s status and new estimated arrival date is easier with a dedicated freight broker that can send essential updates and address concerns. Partnering with a freight broker who utilizes a digitally powered freight platform to source capacity across all modes can provide one-stop solutions and full transparency into all operations. In turn, that amounts to increased troubleshooting of issues, e.g., managing by exception when things go wrong. 

To find a qualified bulk transportation carrier, it never hurts to learn about the company before working with them.When vetting potential carrier partners, consider the following: 

• Experience: See how many years of safe and compliant shipments they have been done.

• Equipment: Make sure the company has the equipment needed for the commodity and process in shipment.

• Coverage: Take point on if there is service on a regular basis and in what parts of the country, and ensure the locations are for pick up and delivery.

• Authority: The proper licensing is needed for the state(s) where the service takes place.

• References: Seek out some of the company’s past customers  to learn how the carrier works and about the quality of the service provided. 

• Safety: Check the carrier’s records of data through commercial and government sources to learn about the background of the company.
• Insurance: Make sure the carrier has the right level of liability and cargo insurance for the material.
  
  

Load boards can make it very convenient to find freight loads by providing multiple listings to choose from with the shipping details. To avoid wasting time, find a good load board that meets your needs, one that may offer a free trial or has a mobile app to ensure a high-paying load is never missed. Load boards offer the opportunity to look through thousands of load posts in real time; most pertain to spot market loads. After learning about the load, negotiating the rate and learning more details about the shipment, the actual post takes place. A benefit with load boards is that truckers can check reviews of freight brokers and creditworthiness before accepting the load. 

An easy way to gain access to a wide variety of carefully prequalified carriers is through a freight broker. Brokers take the struggle of handling all the ins and outs of bulk transportation shipments and finding a carrier off your shoulders. A large portion of a freight broker’s efforts focus on maintaining a relationship with the carriers in networks. This will allow the best carriers for specific needs and price points to be easily identified through the network. 

In the trucking market, having the competitive advantage of technology with new initiatives can increase visibility and resilience. Having a platform or digital approach to communication can provide easier access and allow for constant communication everywhere on an app. As the market evolves so must companies, using a platform like CAPACITY through Edge Logistics can allow communication to remain a key component in any partnership. 

Look for Carriers With Experience in Bulk Goods, Including Liquids

To ensure efficiency requires having the best technology advancements available—and that includes a platform which can utilize proprietary algorithms. Having this platform can allow for more efficient data research and history for increased analytics. Platforms can also provide assistance with:

• Digital freight matching
• Expert broker support
• Routing guide
• Business intelligence reporting
• Full transparency
• 24/7 support

Having a digital platform can promote a better partnership and have the opportunity to use freight matching to book and bid on loads, track payments, and get matched with the best freight.

Managing the commodities of bulk transportation is not simple and can become overwhelming rather quickly. Requirements will differ depending on the shipment and the challenge of finding a carrier can increase the issues at hand.  A freight broker can provide advanced solutions to every problem with an easy-to-use, on-hand platform. At Edge Logistics, the CAPACITY Platform can provide more efficient visibility, and makes finding a carrier even easier with the touch of a button. To gain visibility and more carrier options in bulk trucking contact Edge Logistics today and discover the value we could add for your business.