In today’s highly-competitive supply chain environment, moving freight isn’t just about trucks and routes now, it’s about information, flexibility and having the best systems in place handle the unexpected. If you’re a distributor trying to manage multiple shipments within the span of a day or a manufacturing company trying to meet deadlines, your logistics company should provide more than basic solutions. They should be able to provide control, confidence and clarity.
Modern freight brokerage services and 3PL companies that are based on technology could change this.
The modern Freight Broker is more than an Middleman
A freight broker used to be thought of as someone who was merely a link between transporters and shippers. The modern freight broker has become a strategic partner who manages the intricate logistics of transportation for their clients. They can assist clients to avoid delays, negotiate better rates and choose reliable carriers.
Image credit: translogisticsinc.com
The best freight broker will make you money but also from logistical issues that can hurt the bottom line.
Translogistics, Inc., (TLI) companies are changing the way this relationship is viewed. By offering multimodal freight brokerage services, they allow businesses to shift between parcel, LTL (less-than-truckload), and volume LTL shipments depending on urgency, budget, or customer needs. The flexibility of this kind is needed more than ever.
The 3PL Provider: An Extra Layer of Strategic Planning That You Didn’t Have
It may be an appropriate time to think about the idea of a 3PL service provider if you have multiple carriers, are having trouble juggling costs, tracking shipments manually and managing claims using an Excel spreadsheet. Third-party logistic partners can assist you to reduce time by assisting with these tasks.
They bring structure, strategies and knowledge to your department of logistics. They can analyze your shipping patterns and suggest more efficient solutions. They also incorporate technology-driven processes to the logistics department. It’s not about reacting to issues, but preventing these from happening. And in an industry which efficiency and transparency are not a matter of debate, it’s actually the software behind the scenes that make the most difference.
The role of a Transportation Management System
Imagine the Transportation Management System as the mission control of your freight. It’s the digital brain that lets you manage, track, and optimize your freight shipments on the same platform. TMSs provide you with visibility and control you’ve never experienced before. From real-time prices for carriers to creating Bills of Lading, and checking freight bills.
Translogistics’ ViewPoint TMS platform is an example, and was created with the same goals in mind. It doesn’t just compare prices between modes, but it also allows drag-and-drop shipment data entry powered by AI, which eliminates the manual typing that slows down teams. It’s one illustration of how technology in logistics is evolving to support quicker, more efficient and more accurate operations.
The partnership is the key to the success
It’s not all about the services and systems, but is also about people. It’s important to have a team of professionals who are aware of what is at stake in the event of a delivery being delayed or a carrier that isn’t reliable.
That’s why choosing a 3PL provider or freight broker isn’t just a transactional decision.
It’s also a decision that’s strategic.
Search for a supply chain partner who can listen, adapt, and invest in the latest technology to ensure that your supply chains are in good shape. Someone who treats your shipments with the same urgency and care as you would. If you have the right support system that can handle the complexities of freight turns into a streamlined operation and your company is better and better positioned to expand. Modern logistics is not simply moving freight. It’s about being more efficient.