Why would I use a third party LTL freight shipping transportation firm like MoveFreight when I can often just call a trucking company directly?

MoveFreight has contracts in place with several larger and independent carriers all of whom offer us excellent rates that we can pass on to you. Our firm is offered deep discounts by the trucking companies because of the volume of business we are able to bring them. Most of the time you will find that the rate quoted to you by MoveFreight is less than if you called the carrier direct because of the concept of “economies of scale.” In addition, MoveFreight and our LTL freight shipping deals directly with the carrier for issues such as tracing & tracking, over/short & damages, improperly routed shipments, etc. Since we are in the industry and used to communicating with carriers on a daily basis, we know how to get answers and achieve things that may frustrate the average shipper.

Why are so many companies turning to third party transportation firms to transport their goods?

In addition to the answer given in question #1, a third party transportation firm is a one stop shop solution. Instead of calling one carrier to transport your goods that require an enclosed dry van and another to transport your flatbed goods then ANOTHER for your expedited or guaranteed shipments, you can call us and we can handle all aspects of your LTL freight shipping and other transportation requirements. Quite often our customers are so busy dealing with the day to day duties of their business that they do not have time to call other people and locations to get the shipment information & details. All we need is a telephone number of the location where the goods are located. We can contact the pick up location and get all the details of the order so you do not have to. We then come back to you and discuss time requirements, additional details and offer you a rate for the shipment. If you like the LTL freight shipping rate, you can book it right then and there or log onto our site and book the load entirely online.

Does MoveFreight carry the cargo insurance required for the load?

MoveFreight itself does not carry the cargo insurance required to transport the loads. However, we do not work with ANY carriers that do not provide us with proof of active, valid insurance. We keep this information on file here in our corporate office and can provide proof of insurance upon request. In addition, MoveFreight has a strict policy in place where we refuse to work with carriers that have less than an A or a B safety and performance rating. These ratings and insurance requirements are requested BEFORE any new carrier is accepted as a new MoveFreight approved carrier.

I have never heard of MoveFreight. How do we know you are a reputable company?

We invite all of our customers to thoroughly investigate our background and business practices. MoveFreight is proud to have at all times a 95%-100% credit rating; we pay all of our carriers in a timely fashion. We invite customers to go online to any search engine and type in “reviews for MoveFreight” and see what comes back. Since we are dealing with vendors on a daily basis we know how important it is to trust the company you are working with. We can also provide references from customers that have worked with us in the past. Please check out our testimonials page to see what others think of our services.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept, VISA & M/C, American Express, and Discover. If you have regular shipments you can fill out a credit application and open an account with terms of net 30 upon approval. We also offer payment via COD, money order, wire transfers, and check by fax/phone/e-mail.

Who do I call if I need to track a shipment?

You can call us directly at toll free 877-898-7447 (SHIP), or visit our site at www.movefreight.com and click on “shipment tracking.” You will need to enter the load number that was given to you when the shipment was quoted. If you have specific, detailed questions or requests related to the delivery you can call us at toll free 877-898-7447 (SHIP) or send an e-mail to info@movefreight.com referring to your specific load number.

Does the rate I am quoted ever change after the goods are picked up?

Any trucking or transportation firm who tells you there is no chance of the quoted rate being different than the final rate is not telling you the truth. MOST of the time the quoted rate is also the invoiced rate. However, there are times when the weight or class provided by the customer is not accurate or the shipment required some other type of service that was not included in the original quote. It IS NOT our practice to increase the rate for no reason. We make the customer aware of the additional charges as soon as they are brought to our attention and we ALWAYS provide proof by way of weight certificate or delivery receipt. We KNOW that operating in an honest fashion will keep customers coming back.

What happens if my goods are damaged during transport?

MoveFreight will usually know before you do if the goods are damaged during transportation because we track all our shipments daily. In the event of damage, we first call the carrier to see how the goods were signed for. If damage was noted on the bill of lading, or delivery receipt at the time of delivery, we will file a claim directly with the carrier using the invoice for replacement provided to us by the customer. When MoveFreight is paid on the claim we will either issue you a credit memo that can be used for future shipments or send you a check directly. This takes the pain and hassle off of our customers of having to file a claim with the carrier directly.

Does MoveFreight offer any incentives for referring other companies to them?

YES! A considerable amount of our business is from referrals. We offer the company who referred new customers to us a 5% discount on any shipment regardless of the amount of that invoice.

What You Need to Know About Cold Weather Shipping

We face a lot of challenges when we try to travel during the winter.

Road conditions, weather-related delays, the effect of snow and ice on our vehicles, these are all factors that can impact our journey.

The same thing is true for transporting goods. Whether you’re using truckload or LTL shipping, there are certain issues you’ll need to contend with between November and April each year.

It’s not just highways getting shut down and drivers becoming stranded at truck stops waiting for the weather to clear. Bad weather can cause businesses to close, further disrupting shipping.

Here are a few things to consider when dealing with freight during the cold weather months.

1 – Expect Delays

We’re based in southern California, writing this blog entry on a sunny, 63-degree day. But on the other side of the country, people are digging out from a pretty significant snowstorm.

Why do we mention this? Because it’s important to know what weather conditions are around the country if you’ll be shipping from, say, Florida to Michigan or vice versa. Expect delays this time of year — either due to cold weather or the winter holidays — and try to plan accordingly when scheduling your shipping.

Talk to your carrier as early as possible to plan for delays – remember, these can result from both icy road conditions and storm-related power outages — and work with someone who offers tracking so you know where your shipment is.

2 – Think About What You’re Shipping

Whether you’re shipping gallons of milk or machinery with a lot of small, moving parts, freezing temperatures can be bad for your products.

If you can, try to ship using a temperature-controlled truck. It will cost more in the short run, but not as much as the cost of losing an entire shipment to cold weather.

3 – Communication is Key

We can’t control the weather but we can control how we communicate with vendors and/or customers during a storm-related delay. Be up front with them from the beginning and be sure to never over-promise.

It’s also important here to communicate with your team, making sure everyone is in the loop and able to step in as needed.

4 – Consider Cold Weather Shipping by Rail

The roads may be shut down by the weather, but trains may still be operational, making rail shipping an attractive option.

Just keep in mind that the rail industry has its own winter woes to contend with, such as snow drifts piling along tracks, cold weather causing rails to warp and moisture affecting brakes.

5 – Choose an experienced freight transportation service

You have a lot to worry about when running a business. Why not allow an experienced freight transportation service to help you make sure your goods get to where they need to go, regardless of the weather?

Let MoveFreight provide that service.

Our Southern California freight transportation service can save you both time and money by matching your goods with the appropriate carrier and equipment, comparing several carriers to find competitive rates, tracking shipments and even helping you with claims when needed.

We use the highest standards possible for LTL and truckload shipping, air freight and sea and rail transport to make sure your cargo gets to where it needs to be as fast and efficiently as possible. Contact us today to learn more.