| From small breweries that distribute their beverages | | | | change flats, and the total process can sometimes |
| to a local area to large automakers that ship vehicles | | | | take hours. By reducing delivery time, small |
| internationally, every production company has a | | | | companies save money by reducing length of |
| shipping process that delivers its goods to retailers. | | | | transport costs. |
| For small companies, product delivery can be as | | | | While the same applies for large companies, the initial |
| simple as hiring a local shipper to move goods on a | | | | goal of freight management for large companies |
| weekly basis, while for large companies the delivery | | | | usually involves making the shipping process more |
| process usually consists of using a shipper who | | | | "direct", particularly by eliminating frequent stops. In |
| delivers products on a daily basis within a network of | | | | some cases, frequently delivery stops are |
| destinations. In either case, the ideal system of | | | | unavoidable, as when a product must be assembled |
| transport is that which delivers goods in the least | | | | in various steps at various locations. But when a |
| amount time and at the lowest possible cost. To | | | | company assembles a product at one location and |
| accomplish these goals, most companies opt for third | | | | then ships it cross country, the product typically rests |
| party direct freight management. Using logistics | | | | in warehouses as it awaits its next transporter, which |
| management software, direct freight managers make | | | | results in warehouse fees, increased inventory fees |
| the delivery process as "direct" as possible and | | | | and longer delivery time. A common solution to these |
| therefore reduce shipping costs. | | | | obstacles is shipping by air instead of ground. While |
| For small companies, freight management is usually | | | | more expensive in terms of shipping rate, air |
| applied to a shipping process that is already "direct", | | | | transport is often more cost effective because it |
| meaning that the goods reach the retailer without | | | | eliminates frequent stops and their associated fees. |
| making previous stops. In such cases, direct freight | | | | Without the aid of logistics management software, |
| management focuses on reducing delivery time by | | | | direct freight management can be confusing. But by |
| analyzing four aspects of the shipping process: traffic | | | | delegating freight management to an experienced |
| patterns, road construction patterns, speed limits and | | | | freight manager, companies can easily streamline their |
| quality of road ways. Because time is money in both | | | | delivery process and reduce expense as a result. In |
| the manufacturing and shipping business, finding a | | | | addition to the services mentioned above, freight |
| route that has less traffic can significantly improve | | | | managers also optimize shipment tracking and match |
| delivery time; and the same applies to finding a route | | | | carriers with destinations. As a testament to the cost |
| that averages less construction projects. Similarly, | | | | savings that can result from logistical freight |
| judging delivery routes by quality of road way helps | | | | management, studies show that companies who use |
| prevent flat tires that can be tragic to timely delivery. | | | | logistics to improve their shipping can reduce their |
| Unlike cars, semi trailers require special assistance to | | | | shipping costs by ten percent in the first year. |