For shippers, logistics can sometimes seem like a nebulous cloud you send your freight into, just hoping it gets delivered on the other side. This uncertainty about what a logistics provider does to make a shipment happen allows misconceptions about the logistics industry to proliferate. The right logistics partner will be transparent with their customers, foster a relationship based on trust, and ensure that the shipper is kept informed of their freight’s progress from start to finish.

At Shaker Logistics, we know that open communication is key to making a shipment successful. For each customer load, a team of specialized logistics professionals collaborates to get the job done and keep the shipper up to date throughout the process. Here’s a look at your freight’s journey when you ship with Shaker.

Getting to Know the Freight

The first key to making a successful shipment is a detailed conversation between a shipper and their logistics partner. Shippers who ship infrequently may not know what information is most critical to share with a logistics partner for them to make the best arrangements. Because of this, shippers often provide commodity descriptions that are too general. Even the most seasoned logistics specialists can’t arrange shipping for “airplane parts” or “manufacturing item no.123” without some supplemental information. The discovery phase can seem overwhelming for inexperienced shippers, so it’s important for them to choose a logistics partner who will guide them through this process.

After 30 years of experience, the team at Shaker knows exactly what questions to ask the shipper in order to find out critical information:

The commodity type;
freight weight and dimensions;
number of pieces;
and if there are any special packing requirements necessary to move the freight.

Each detail is critical for logistics partners to provide customized service options. For example, if a shipper is sending a load of raw chemicals to a customer, that may require a truck that is temperature-controlled and hazmat certified to safely make the delivery. The carrier selected to move the semiconductors should be experienced in this commodity as well. On the other hand, a common commodity like toilet paper will have more carrier options available on the market to choose from which can allow for more flexible rate options.

A good logistics partner will also ask the shipper specific questions about the delivery:

Is it time-sensitive?
Will a team of laborers or any special rigging equipment be required to offload the item?
Is it a white-glove delivery?
Is this a one-time shipment, or will it be recurring monthly, weekly, or daily?

Equipped with the answers to these questions, a logistics specialist can move on to a discussion with the shipper about their budgetary preferences. With commodity, delivery, and budgetary information at hand, the logistics specialist collaborates with the rest of the Shaker team to formulate multiple solutions that match the shipper’s needs and budget.

Finding a Truck

With the right information in hand, the next step is securing equipment and scheduling a carrier to move the freight. Because Shaker is an asset-based 3PL, we can either pull from our extensive partner carrier network or arrange to move the freight on our own trucks, depending on geography and service needs. Our fleet often handles dry van and straight truck deliveries in the northeast, Florida, or Texas, where we can link up different legs of our customers’ freight journeys to create efficient routings.

If we determine that a partner carrier from our network is the best option, we make all arrangements with the carrier, including rate negotiation, insurance, and compliance paperwork. Our team is trained to detect fraud and vet partners carefully for safety and reliability – it’s a rigorous process for a carrier to be allowed into our network.

While continuously vetting carriers, the carrier services team builds and maintains relationships with quality carriers so Shaker can offer shippers service anywhere in the country. After years of nurturing carrier relationships, our team has curated carrier networks for everything from dry van to flatbed hazmat. We’ve even established custom carrier bases for our customers with incredibly niche service needs.

When negotiating a rate for the shipper, our carrier service team consults multiple industry pricing tools to calculate the market rates for that day and route. Our team has multiple industry pricing tools at its disposal to determine market rates for different lanes, equipment types, and days of the week. We handle pricing negotiations with carriers and ensure that quotes are inclusive of accessorial costs like waiting time, extra supplies, or specialized equipment add-ons. Our strong relationships typically mean that we can come to favorable terms with a carrier based on past or repeat business. By using the customer’s information from the beginning of the process, we can determine when and where to flex on a rate to meet a deadline or a budget constraint.

Important Paperwork

We prep all information for the shipper so that they can approve the rate and timing, and then we create and execute a bill of lading – the legal contract between the shipper and carrier that authorizes the carriage of freight.

Larger shippers often have their own process for producing and distributing the BOL for signature, but smaller shippers or businesses that don’t ship frequently often don’t have channels for this document in place. If that’s the case, Shaker is happy to produce the BOL and send it to the shipper and carrier for e-signatures.

Once that paperwork is squared away, the freight can finally get on the road!

Hitting the Road

Up until this point, the freight hasn’t left the shipper’s possession. Our logistics specialists maintain contact with the carrier for updates on every major milestone in transit:

When the carrier is on route to the shipper,
when the freight is loaded,
as the driver begins rolling to delivery,
and once delivery is completed.

We also provide estimated delivery timeline updates to the shipper or consignee at their request, any time of day. If the customer is shipping LTL with Shaker, they will have access to a web portal where they can monitor their freight directly with a real-time tracking system.

To ensure the shipper’s freight is secured properly at the time of pickup, our logistics specialists often request photos of the loaded freight. We can analyze the photo to make sure the right equipment is being used, that the correct item was loaded, and that the carrier is actually there and ready to roll.

If something goes wrong in transit, we promptly handle all communication with the carrier to understand the issue and get the shipment back on track. Our logistics specialists relay this information to the shipper and collaborate with them to resolve the issue. If a truck breaks down, Shaker has contacts along all major customer lanes for repair, trailer recovery, or van pickup. If the carrier is near our terminal at the time of an issue, we can cross dock the freight at our warehouse and complete the delivery.

Delivery

Upon delivery, Shaker communicates with the carrier to ensure that the consignee signs the BOL, authorizing that they are now in possession of the freight. Along with this document, Shaker may request photos of the delivered freight in some cases to verify the delivery. All of this information is passed on to the shipper, and the job is successfully done!

Outsourcing Your Logistics Needs

3PLs are experts in managing the relationships, rate calculations, paperwork, and other fine details that make each shipment a success. An effective logistics partner acts as a stand-in logistics department for shippers, allowing them to service their customers without unnecessary costs and stressors. Save yourself the headache and contact Shaker Logistics today for inventive logistics solutions!