Here at ShippingDiscounts.com, we serve many customers who are starting or expanding a small business and looking for ways to save on freight costs. It’s important to keep your costs down when every cent counts, and ShippingDiscounts.com can help! If you’re a small business owner and you’re new to freight, here are some pointers tailored to you:

Know Your Freight Class

If you’re shipping the same type of goods frequently, you’ll want to know the freight class of your goods so that you can get an accurate shipping quote. You can read more about freight class here.

Package Items Properly

The best packaging for most items is usually a pallet or crate. See our guide to palletizing.

Break it Down

If you’re shipping items that require assembly, such as furniture or outdoor structures, consider shipping them in “knocked down” form. This not only protects the goods but may allow you to ship at a lower (and cheaper) freight class.

Use a Terminal

Do you often ship to or from a residence? Avoid accessorial charges by delivering to or from a shipping terminal.

And When In Rome…

In today’s global economy, more small businesses are shipping internationally. International shipping has much in common with LTL (“less than truckload”) shipping, but the dimensions and weight are even more important since the cargo will be aboard an aircraft. Be sure to weigh and measure your goods accurately and know the value for customs.

Article From Shippers Voice:

The Future of Air Freight: Shippers are part of the solution not the problem

This article discusses the fall and rise of air freight rates during 2009. Many differing points of view exist on the matter. In late 2009, shippers who ship freight more often did not feel the pricing increase as harsh as those who do not ship air freight regularly. In the last quarter of 2009, prices went up while number of flights went down. This caused major issues for shippers and their customers, especially those shippers that did not have regular shipping contracts previously set with freight brokers and carriers. Shippers are concerned about the future with regards to air freight prices and capacity. Overall, joint partnerships between carriers, brokers, and shippers need to continue in order to further the growth of this portion of the freight industry.

At Shipping Discounts, customers often ask about freight insurance and what it means. Simply put, freight insurance is a contract or an agreement between an individual or a business and an insurance company wherein the insured party is awarded an indemnity in case something happens to their goods.

Consignors and consignees face potential risks when shipping products. A consignee who has already paid for his goods can potentially lose money if the goods are lost or damaged. Likewise, a consignor who has invested an amount of money on the goods he is shipping also stands the potential to lose money in case of an accident. Freight insurance offers them a safety net in case their goods are somehow lost or damaged while in transit.

Most carriers already provide insurance – it is included in their rate of transporting the shipment. The amount that carriers will insure varies, but universally the insurance covers an amount on a per pound basis. If the value of your freight exceeds this amount per pound, then it is advisable to purchase freight insurance.

Freight insurance terms usually follow the guidelines of Incoterms. Incoterms, also known as International Commerce Terms, are a set of sales terms that are considered to be the industry standard for many countries. These terms are often referred to when dividing the responsibilities and transaction costs between the sellers and buyers involved in a particular transaction. These terms are also guided by the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Incoterms also set the conditions on where the responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved begin and end. These terms are all described in the documentation created by the International Chamber of Commerce.

There are many different kinds of freight insurance terms and an understanding of shipping services will help businesses and individuals avoid losing money over shipping mishaps. Planning and research can assist you when dealing with freight insurance policies. You can familiarize yourself with the basics of shipping with online research. The following article would be a good place to start: Shipping Basics.

At Shipping Discounts, we are often asked by customers how to improve shipping services with regards to pallets. Customers want to ensure that their freight will not be damaged in transit. The orientation of cartons in your LTL freight can have a big impact on the integrity of your shipments. Palletized and shrink-wrapped cargo has much higher probability to reach destinations without damages or loss. Palletizing is placing and securing units or containers on pallets. The average size of a U.S. pallet, also known as a “skid”, is 48″(1.2m) x 40″(1.0m) x 6″(0.15m). The sizes of pallets are mandated by the International Organization for Standardization.

The following are some recommendations for palletizing your freight:

Column stack your pallets. In most cases this increases the top-to-bottom compression strength for palletized shipments.

Use an interlocking stack. If the carton contents are rigid, interlocking cartons will result in increased stability. Stack boxes corner-to-corner and edge-to-edge. This improves stack strength.  Not Recommended: Overhanging Stack. Don’t overhang the pallet with packaged products because it can reduce compression strength. It also subjects packages to tears, punctures and other impacts due to normal handling and sorting.

Not Recommended: Pyramid Stacking. Pyramid stacks don’t provide a level surface, as the top cartons are exposed to potential damage from other shipments. Pallets with a level surface provide better strength and stability. Pyramid stacks also have a higher likelihood of toppling.

Make sure the label on your freight is clearly visible and securely attached to the freight. This precaution alleviates possible confusion that can occur when the freight is in transit.

When shrink wrapping pallets, use a shrink wrap with a gauge of 50 or higher. Remember, the higher the gauge, the thicker your shrink wrap will be. Thicker shrink wrap is more protective of your freight, as it compresses the freight better. Here is what an ideal pallet looks like: