Australia is a vast country, and transporting goods to, from, and within it can be a complex process. There are a number of transport services and shipping options available in Australia, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of transport and shipping available here in Australia, and discuss which option might be best for your business. We will also look at some of the challenges businesses face when transporting goods.
Type of transport or shipping required
Before choosing a freight company, you need to know what kind of transportation option your business needs. There are many different kinds of transportation in Australia, including road freight, rail freight, and shipping by sea. It is important to decide which type best suits your business before you begin looking for a supplier. Some questions that may help you decide include:
– Which route will the goods take? (Will they be staying in NSW or travelling between states?)
– Is speed or cost most important?
– How much time can be lost while the goods are in transit?
– Will the goods need to be moved around within Australia during their journey? For example, will they have to switch from road to rail in Brisbane, or from rail to the road in Perth?
– How big are the goods being transported? Will they fit onto a standard truck or train?
How much will it cost?
Once you have decided on the type of transport required, you can begin looking for a company. There are many freight and transport companies operating in Australia. Considering factors such as speed and price is important when choosing a company that suits your budget and time constraints. You should search online for quotations from different companies before making a decision.
What are your shipping requirements?
This is the first question you should ask yourself when you’re looking into transport and freight companies.
You’ll need to look into and define what your needs are and how much volume you’re planning to ship before you start. This basic information is crucial for your freight forwarder selection as well as for the companies to judge if they have the bandwidth to carry out the job for you.
These requirements also go beyond volume, but intend to cover how often are you looking to deliver to your customers or if are you anticipating a big sale or fluctuating sales over the upcoming period.
Preparing an answer for these questions and staying on top of what you need will put you ahead of the competition and save you the most money in the long run.
Know the restrictions and limitations of your freight company
There are many freight companies in Australia, but there are also many different types of deliveries. How can you be sure your supplier is meeting your requirements? While there are benefits to using one company for your entire delivery, it may not always be the best option depending on what you need transporting.
The more time spent researching possible suppliers, the better equipped you will be to make a choice about which company would suit your specific needs. Keep in mind that if several suppliers have similar prices and service quality, then price should play an important deciding factor when choosing between them.
You need to also ask yourself questions when you’re doing interstate travel as well such as:
- Are the travel restrictions different between the states you’re delivering to?
- Are there any restrictions on vehicles and weight restrictions?
- Will there be any issues with the types of products you’re shipping between different states?
You may find it helpful to sketch out a map with delivery routes and timeframes. This will enable you to begin communicating with potential suppliers and give them an idea of whether they can meet your needs or not.
Being able to answer these questions beforehand will save precious time later on in discussions with companies because you’ll already have thought through everything clearly. Not being prepared when talking to suppliers is one reason why people end up dissatisfied with the service they receive, so it’s important that you’re ready ahead of time.
What has the company done for others?
By doing some research into other customers who have used the company, you should be able to see potential clients and testimonials they might have which helps build trust before you’ve even made that first point of contact with them.
Do you need to transport potentially hazardous products or unframed equipment? Not all Australian transportation companies are responsible for these items, and a lot of times you might run into issues as transport companies could be liable for extra costs, warranties, and more.
What’s their permit status?
Interstate transportation is often subject to numerous regulations, with Australian states having different taxes, permits, and laws behind transport and freighting.
It’s important as well to check with a freight company whether their trailers and drivers have a nationwide license. This will help you avoid any licensing issues and complications, for example, if a driver only has a Victorian driver’s license and you’re hoping to get an order transported across to New South Wales, then they’ll likely be pulled over and can put both the driver and your order in a bad position.
Dealing with risks and unanticipated events
Another thing to consider is how well they deal with risks and any unanticipated events. A change in schedules or complications can usually occur when trying to deliver things across the country.
It’s important that the transportation firm you’re looking into can keep an eye on both their drivers and vehicles in order to guarantee that they run smoothly.
How much can they handle?
As you research transport companies in Melbourne and Australia-wide, be sure that they have the capacity to handle regular or multiple shipments. It’s usually a good idea to keep to one freight carrier for smoother operations and quicker turnarounds and potentially find another for longer more drawn-out deliveries. For the day-to-day operations, you can look into how many employees and trucks they employ which should give you a sense of the company’s scale as a whole.
How do they keep you in the loop?
Communication is critical in freight and in business. You should be able to know where your goods are and when they will be delivered. You should also be able to inquire with your freight carrier if they provide real-time tracking. This will allow you to stay on top of your shipping and keep an overview of your entire logistics process.
If you’re looking to start outsourcing your transport and logistics processes, get in touch with the team at TMS to see how we can help.
We determine and figure out the best approach to working with you and your customer’s needs and requirements, as well as being cost-effective while we do so. Together, we can get you on the right track to a better transport solution.
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