(604) 757 2441
Have you ever thought about how your favorite snack, gadget, or outfit made it to your local store shelves? Behind every item is a massive logistics network. While trains, ships, and planes move goods across oceans and continents, they can’t finish the job. Trucks are always involved, handling the final and most crucial stretch to get products exactly where they need to be.
Despite being the backbone of delivery, trucking rarely gets the spotlight—only when something goes wrong and disrupts the supply chain do people actually acknowledge how essential it is.
Much of the freight moved by trucks is handled through LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping. Think of it as carpooling for freight: instead of dedicating an entire truck to one shipment, multiple customers’ shipments share the same truck, making it more efficient and cost-effective.
If you’ve ever shipped freight, this might sound familiar: You get a quote to send a pallet from Arizona to BC. It says, "2-3 days transit," and you think, Perfect! Fast forward a week, and your shipment’s still AWOL. Frustrated, you’re left wondering: If I drove myself, I’d be there by now. How hard can it be to move one pallet?
It’s harder than it looks. Once you say “yes” to a quote, a chain reaction involving at least 12 people kicks off—each one capable of speeding up or delaying your shipment’s journey.
1. The Pick-Up Game 🎯
It all starts with data entry. Every detail—addresses, hours, unit numbers—needs to be spot-on. Whether handled by humans or robots 🤖, even one typo can throw the whole process off track.
Once the details are squared away, the dispatcher assigns a local driver to bring it back to the first terminal. Drivers have jam-packed schedules, and your shipper needs to be ready—no missing pallets or snail-paced loading.
After pickup, the freight heads to a busy terminal where it’s unloaded and sorted. With hundreds of shipments in play, even a small misstep—a mislabel or dock delay—can snowball into a much bigger issue.
2. Tetris on Wheels
Your pallet doesn’t travel alone. It shares truck space with 20-30 other shipments, and planners carefully piece everything together to maximize space and efficiency.
But what if there isn’t enough freight to fill the truck? Should they wait another day to load it up or send it half-full and lose money? It’s a tough call—and one that might add extra time to your shipment’s transit.
3. The Paperwork Showdown
Shipping across the border? Customs paperwork enters the chat. Every detail must be flawless. One mistake—or even a customs agent having an off day—and your shipment could get stuck at the border. Worse, the entire trailer of consolidated shipments might be turned around, forcing everyone involved to start over. And let’s be honest: many customs brokers treat your shipment’s urgency with... let’s call it "zen indifference".
4. Don’t Forget to Thank Your Truck Drivers!
Once your freight hits the road, linehaul drivers take over—and their job is anything but easy. They face bad weather, traffic jams, and even life-threatening situations like people jumping into traffic or cargo theft.
Theft isn’t just about stolen goods—drivers are often held up at gunpoint. In 2023, cargo theft rose by 59%, with thieves targeting high-value loads like electronics and pharmaceuticals.
And the job is grueling: drivers spend long hours on the road, often isolated and exhausted. In fact, 54% of drivers spend less than 24 hours a week at home, sacrificing time with family and friends. It’s one of the toughest jobs out there, and even small disruptions can derail the schedule.
5. The Freight Relay Race 🏃
If your freight passes through multiple terminals, it’s like a relay race—but instead of batons, it’s your shipment being handed off. At each stop, it’s unloaded, sorted, and reloaded.
And just like in a relay, one slip—a misrouted box or a terminal delay—can mess up the entire process. Timing is everything.
6. Final Mile Delivery: So Close, Yet So Far 🛣️
Your shipment’s nearly there! But unless it’s headed to a major city, it’s probably handed off to a partner carrier. Why? Because no single carrier has enough equipment to service every remote corner of North America.
Partner carriers often wait to fill their trucks before making the trip. And if the delivery before yours takes five hours to unload? Yep, your shipment gets bumped down the line.
2-3 Days: A Perfect World Scenario 🌎
That "2-3 day" transit time assumes everyone—12+ people—nails their job with zero mistakes. Be honest: can you name 12 people who never mess up?
Exactly. In shipping, you’re counting on strangers, weather, and even luck to align perfectly. It’s a tall order, but we always aim to make it happen.
Want to improve your shipping experience? Here’s how YOU can help:🤔
- Provide Accurate Info: Clear details for pickup, customs, and delivery are a must.
- Get Your Shipper Ready: Packaged, labeled, and good to go on time.
- Ask About Routing: Fewer terminals = fewer chances for delays.
- Know the Timing: Transit starts when the linehaul truck departs, not at pickup.
- Choose an All-in-One Carrier: Opt for a carrier that manages both freight and customs clearance to streamline the process (like Moto! 😉)
- Consider Dedicated Services: If on-time delivery is critical, investing in a dedicated truck might be your best option.
Reality Check
No one’s sitting around twiddling their thumbs delaying your shipment—the process is just incredibly complex. At Moto, we’re all about "no bullshit". If something goes sideways, we’ll tell you what’s happening, fix it, and give you options.
Transparency should be the standard, right?
But here’s the deal: the trucking and freight industry is a zoo 🦁. Over 577,000 carriers are out there, plus a sea of brokers 🌊. Many are barely keeping their heads above water.
Some drop the ball, some leave you in the dark, and some just flat-out lie 🤥.
This is why you’ve gotta vet your carriers like your shipment depends on it (because it does!). Don’t hand over your freight to just anyone.
And if on-time delivery is a must, talk to your carrier early.