If you’re looking to ship something quickly, then overland freight is an excellent option for you. When it comes to shipping, speed often dictates the cost of your transport.
But with overland freight, you can get the speed that you want without having to spend an arm and a leg on shipping costs! Overland freight involves transporting goods by boat, rail, or truck through certain regions around the world.
In this post, we’ll take a look at how overland freight works, what some of its benefits are, and why companies should consider using it!
What is Overland Freight?
Freight shipping is a form of cargo transport that uses land-based vehicles such as trucks, trains, or ships. It’s also known as overland transport or road freight.
Carrying freight by truck is the most common type of overland freight. It can be a cost-effective way for businesses to transport goods.
There are different types of freight shipping including international, regional, and local freight, depending on how far away the shipment is going.
One type of international overland shipping would be using a trucking service to deliver cargo abroad while regional could mean transporting goods within North America. Local shipments can include taking groceries home after shopping or delivering merchandise bought online to your home or office building.
Shipping containers are often used for overland freight, though not all vehicles are appropriate for transporting shipping containers.
So, before you make your decision, it’s important that you know what type of vehicle will be carrying the shipment and where it will go.
How Does It Work?
The first step is to find a trucker with the right equipment that can haul your cargo and has space in their schedule.
Once you’ve found the perfect match, you’ll need to negotiate a rate and make sure there is a contract signed specifying what happens if something goes wrong.
The next step is getting your goods ready for transport which can include packing them into wooden crates or loading them onto pallets. Finally, it’s time for the trucker to come and pick up your shipment and deliver it where it needs to go.
What Do I Need to Know About Pricing?
The cost of overland shipping depends primarily on three factors: weight, size, and distance traveled. That’s because there is usually a minimum fee for any given load regardless of how much space it takes up inside the vehicle/container.
Weight is typically determined by pounds, but it might also be measured in kilograms or tons. The measure of volume is generally cubic feet, but that’s not always the case either.
Remember too that you’ll likely have to pay extra fees for loading and unloading services. Finally, don’t forget that fuel costs might change according to where you are located and how long your trip will take.
Advantages of Hiring an Import Forwarder
If you’re looking for a shipping company, then you’re going to have a lot of different companies vying for your business.
The best thing that you can do is research the companies that are available, find out what they offer, and see if it matches up with what you need.
A good way to start this process is by talking to people who have hired import forwarders before and seeing what they had to say about the experience. There are many advantages of hiring an import forwarder instead of doing the shipping yourself.
These include:
- Lower Costs: Shipping is expensive and outsourcing the work, it will save money in both time and money.
- Less Risky: By not handling the goods yourself, there’s less risk of loss or damage during transport.
- Access to International Markets: One of the biggest benefits is being able to tap into international markets where you might otherwise be locked out due to your lack of knowledge on how to navigate those countries’ customs regulations.
- Easier On-Boarding Processes: Import forwarders deal with many different suppliers from all over the world, so they often have easier access and better relationships with customs agencies around the world which makes importing much easier than it would be without one.
- Expertise: Importing isn’t easy and requires knowledge that most people don’t have on hand.
Conclusion
Overland freight can be a great option for businesses that don’t want to spend the time and money on ocean freight.
With overland freight, you can send goods anywhere in the world without waiting weeks or months. And, with so many shipping options, there is no reason not to try it out!