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Shipping items, no matter their size, can be complicated. You must choose the right company, coordinate the proper paperwork, and ensure your shipment is on time. Whether you are shipping to Canada or from Canada to another country for business or personal reasons, you will want to partner with a reputable freight company in Canada.
In this post, we'll break down everything you need to know about shipping in and from Canada and how you can save money when working with freight companies in Canada.
Time to truck on with it!
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Who Are Freight Companies in Canada
Freight companies are companies that specialize in transporting cargo. They can be local, regional, national or international. Freight companies use land, air, rail, and water transportation to move goods from one place to another. There can also be companies specializing in freight forwarding and freight customs, among other 3PL services.
Basically, a freight company can be a small business running only a few trucks or it can be part of a large multinational corporation with thousands of employees and many different locations around the world offering an array of services!
Types of Canada Freight Companies
The first thing to understand about freight companies in Canada is that there are many different types of these businesses. This can make it difficult to know where to begin when looking for one that suits your needs.
However, once you understand what common Canadian freight companies do, it will be easy to find the right company for your freight needs.
The table below shows a breakdown of common types of Canadian freight companies.
Type of Canada Freight Companies |
Description |
Freight Brokerage Services |
These are companies that specialize in helping clients find and book space on trucks owned by other companies. They don't own their own trucks but instead make money by getting a percentage of the cost of transporting goods between two locations. |
Freight Forwarding Companies |
Businesses that specialize in arranging freight on behalf of third parties are called freight forwarders. Freight forwarders typically handle your freight until it reaches its destination and can provide a range of benefits, especially for fast-growing companies with small teams. |
Freight Transportation Providers |
Companies that focus primarily on the transportation of goods. |
Customs Brokerage |
Companies that help customers such as shippers and other businesses clear international customs processes with ease. |
Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Companies |
Businesses that help other businesses outsource fulfillment, warehousing, and inventory management to a third party. Among other things, they help automate retail order fulfillment and manage shipping. |
How to Choose a Canada Freight Company
Choosing a freight company in Canada can be tricky – especially if you don’t do your homework!
You need to know a few crucial things about freight companies in Canada as well as how to choose the right one for you.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a freight company in Canada:
- Look for a company that has been in business for a long time. A reliable, reputable freight company will have been around for years and may even be a member of the Better Business Bureau or other organization that monitors local businesses.
- Search for reviews on the Canada freight companies you're considering.
- Consider how easily you can reach them when you need to get in touch with someone from their organization. If they only take calls during office hours, this might not be an ideal option if you run your own business and need to contact them outside those hours – or if there's an emergency situation where calling right away is essential.
- Check out their website before choosing one over another company. It should look professional and easy to navigate while also providing helpful information like rates or service options available (such as free delivery).
- In order to find the right company for your needs, it’s important that you do your research. Look at their website and make sure they are honest about their history and qualifications. They should also have insurance coverage so that if anything happens on the road with your cargo, they take care of it immediately without causing any problems for themselves or others involved. If this doesn't sound like something they would provide, then maybe another company might be better suited for what you need to be done because not only does trust matter, but safety does too!
If you’ve never dealt with freight before and don’t know how it works, working with a reliable, independent company like Moto is one way to capture not only a wide network of carriers and partners but also to get A+ customer service and easy tracking capabilities. This way, you can relax and trust that your freight is travelling safely.
Tips to Save When Working With Freight Companies Canada
Saving money is something every business owner or manager wants to achieve at some level. After all, saving money means a healthier bottom line and business success.
But when it comes to expenses in your business like shipping and logistics, it can feel hard to avoid overspending because they are so essential.
The good news is that you can save money on your shipping and logistics costs – you just need to have the right team on your side to help. In this case, that is freight companies in Canada.
Whether you’re choosing trucking transportation companies or 3PL providers, or a mix of several freight services, follow these three tips for a smooth, cost-efficient experience.
Tip #1: Get Quotes From Multiple Freight Companies in Canada
If you're looking for the best freight rates, it's important to get quotes from multiple companies.
A freight quote offers an estimate of the total cost of shipping based on the information you have provided, including weight, dimensions, type of product being imported and more. That way, you can choose a freight company that can give you the best rates based on your needs.
Providing accurate information will likely lead to the final price matching the initial freight quote from carriers or logistics companies. Providing inaccurate information may result in higher final prices due to re-weighing fees or other additional charges.
In order to provide accurate information when requesting a quote from carriers or logistics companies, make sure they have all relevant details surrounding your shipment:
- Size of shipment
- FTL or LTL
- Special handling requirements
- Oriandtination
- Value of shipment
- Timeliness of delivery
- Type of handling unit (pallet, carton, box)
- Goods description or classification
- Weight of shipment
When you provide the full extensive list of information and details to your Canada freight company, you can be sure your quote is as accurate as possible, and avoid those annoying surprise fees.
Tip #2: Save Time and Money by Choosing the Right Freight Company
If you choose a company that has a good reputation, they will have more people than just you using them. They will understand this, and they will work hard to keep their customers happy and satisfied so that those same customers will continue to use them for future shipments.
If you choose a company that has an excellent reputation for being responsive to customer needs, then it means they’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure your shipment arrives safely at its destination on time. You want this because when something goes wrong in shipping (and believe me, there are many things that can go wrong), having someone who is quick and responsive makes life much easier on everyone involved!
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If there's an issue from the start where someone hasn't responded fast enough or hasn't been flexible enough in their approach towards your needs, let’s just say things aren’t likely to get better from there. Thankfully, when you’re doing research and weighing options for the best freight companies in Canada, you can spot red flags like these and walk away before it’s too late.
And lastly: choose a reputable company like Moto whose safety record speaks volumes about how important it is for us –
Tip #3: Ensure Your Freight is Packaged Properly
Costs related to freight packaging can come from two places:
- Damage-related costs
- Fees from improper packaging
First, you should ensure your freight is packaged properly because it could help reduce the chances of damage during transit. If your freight is damaged, it could be costly for your business to deal with, not to mention that damaged goods can put off customers who may buy from you in the future.
Additionally, when freight is not packed properly, you may incur fees from the shipper due to insurance claims or poor conditions at the delivery point – which means you can end up paying for freight to be repacked, and it may even delay your shipment. This includes not displaying documentation properly on the packaging.
Canadian freight companies need you to display documentation on packaging including
- Labels
- BOLs (Bills of Lading)
- Customs documentation
- Handling labels
Carriers are responsible for moving freight to the destination, not preparing it for shipping.
Make sure that your freight is packaged properly in a pallet by following the steps laid out below:
Step in Freight Packing |
What to Do |
|
1 |
Packing boxes |
Make sure the boxes are full and that no air is present. Your products can be crushed and damaged during shipping if the boxes contain air. Be sure to secure the boxes with tape. |
2 |
Stack and load boxes |
Stack or align your boxes. Heavy boxes go at the bottom, light boxes at the top. Ensure that boxes don't overhang or aren't misaligned on the pallet, otherwise, it may act as a bumper, or the boxes will move and end up damaged. |
3 |
Distribute weight appropriately |
Make sure that the weight of each box and each box on the pallet is distributed evenly to avoid damage. |
4 |
Solidify the stack |
All loose boxes should be solidified by using a flat piece of cardboard every couple of rows. You can also use cardboard corner beads around the pallet to strengthen it as a whole. |
5 |
Shrink wrap the pallet |
Wrap the pallet 3 to 5 times, ensuring the shrink-wrap adheres to the product. Don't cut corners -- use quality shrink wrap! Wrap the top part of the pallet, too, so that when the forklift tilts to transport, the pallet does not separate from the boxes. |
6 |
Strap the pallet |
Use a nylon strap to attach the boxes to the pallet for extra security. |
Benefits of Working With Freight Services in Canada
Wondering what the benefits of working with freight services in Canada are? For every business, unique benefits are realized by outsourcing certain aspects of the shipping and logistics end of your business. From time and money saved, to a more professional approach, you can reap the benefits of hiring freight services in Canada in more ways than one.
As we said, there are unique benefits to realize for each and every business, but we’re going to cover a few of the key ones for you here.
Reduce Costs
When you work with a freight company, they can help you reduce costs by improving your supply chain. Your company's freight and logistics expenses are one of the largest opportunities to significantly reduce costs and improve performance.
Freight companies can help you reduce costs by increasing efficiency, gaining consistency, and negotiating better freight prices. Some types of freight companies, like 3PLs (Third Party Logistics), have lower warehousing costs than other types of wholesalers or distributors. These savings are then passed on to you—allowing you to provide your consumers with lower shipping prices and therefore increase demand for your products or services.
Gain Consistency
Freight companies are highly experienced in the business of shipping goods, and that experience can be a tremendous benefit to you.
They have the tools and processes necessary to get your shipment from point A to point B safely and consistently.
With the right freight company, you can count on them for:
- Expertly handling your cargo so it arrives in great shape – and on time!
- The best equipment for moving cargo around town or across the country.
- Expertise in picking up cargo from stores (or wherever else) and delivering it efficiently without damaging any goods inside or losing any packages along the way.
Improve Speed
You can improve speed and efficiency in several areas by using freight companies. Outsourcing your operations to professionals who know how to do it inside and out is the best way to save time and resources. Without having to deal with all the logistical aspects of the backend, you now have the space to focus on product development, forecasting, customer service, marketing, and sales – not just logistics.
Additionally, freight companies like 3PLs have an interconnected network of carriers and distributors which means a partnership grants you access to this network as well.
Unlock Agility
When you work with a freight company, it offers enterprises the flexibility and scalability to utilize supply and distribution resources based on current business needs. That way when sales are down, there are no redundant investments and unutilized resources, and when there’s a surge in demand, enterprises can upscale.
This method allows you to manage inventory in a new market without having to spend money on warehousing, equipment, and labour. In fact, this is one of the most popular benefits of utilizing 3PLs and other freight companies in Canada: it can save money as well as the effort of learning logistical nuances of a new market on your own by using an experienced third-party logistics provider who has experience in that space already.
When a new market opens up for you (or an existing one expands), perhaps due to changing consumer tastes or economic conditions that affect supply chains in general), you might not have the capital available immediately for building out your warehouse infrastructure or hiring staff – but through freight companies, businesses can still get started quickly without worrying about these expenses because they aren’t required until later down the road once demand has increased enough so that additional capacity becomes necessary.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve given you enough tools to be able to find the freight services in Canada that will best suit your needs, whether you need delivery of a small package across town or shipping of an entire container overseas.
Don’t forget that there are many ways to transport goods, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re not sure which method is right for you – or if it might change depending on where and how far your goods are going – it’s best to talk with someone at one of these companies who can help guide you through all the possibilities.
Someone like Moto. A company you can trust to get ship done and get your freight to the finish line – from small transportation jobs to complex 3PL projects to freight forwarding and beyond.
Get in touch with us, or request a quote if you’re ready to get started.