Carry on

Shipping doesn’t have to be a necessary “evil.” When using a common carrier, there are questions to keep in mind before hiring a new firm. And there are ways to make the relationship more affable. Tim Higham, CEO of Interstate Logistics Group, has some pointers to adopt for a better shipping experience.

Q: What are tell-tale signs it’s time to hire a new common carrier?

A: When the market is tight (usually in spring) and they are hard to reach or give you less trucks than in the offseason, you need to move on. Other issues: lots of claim issues and lots of equipment breakdowns.

Q: When it is time to hire someone new, what are some important questions to ask?

A: Other than the usual insurance, contract and authority questions, ask:

Do you understand nursery stock? Will your drivers do multi-stock loads? Are your drivers willing to (or can they) tailgate? Are you local? How much of my freight will you broker out?

Q: What are some red flags that signal you should move on to the next candidate?

A: They have done little nursery stock, they have old equipment, and financially they’re just “holding on.”

Q: When is the best time to hire a new carrier?

A: In the offseason, hire three or four and tell them one will be the primary year-round carrier if they perform. Now your eggs are not in one basket. Another strategy: Find a carrier in the offseason and start them the first day of spring. If they perform then, they will perform easily the rest of the year.

Q: Once a grower has hired a new carrier, what are the top three things they should expect from the carrier?

A: A carrier should check calls twice per day, such as driver locations. A grower should expect on-time loading. Delivery times are easily botched on multi-stops — and often not the fault of the carrier — but on-time pickup is a must. And a carrier must have running and well-maintained equipment to avoid claims.

Q: How can a grower make drivers’ duties more enjoyable? What can they do to expedite the process?

A: Use technology like a TMS (transportation management system) to make sure the driver has the right drop order, PO numbers, quantities/items, directions, and other pertinent load details. If they don’t have a TMS, they can get a free one at www.TheFreeTMS.com. For a better experience, don’t make a driver wait for hours at pickup. And by all means, pay them quickly — don’t string out payment.

Have a logistics question for Tim Higham? Email him at thigham@interstatelg.com.