What are the different steps in freight forwarding?

What are the different steps in freight forwarding?

Shipping goods by truck is the safest and most widely used shipping method in North America. In order to provide a quality service, respecting the imposed deadlines while ensuring good transport conditions, companies specializing in this field have developed a great deal of logistical expertise in freight forwarding.

Discover the different steps implemented by carriers before your cargo hits the road.

Step 1 – Planning the shipment of goods

The shipment of goods is a key step in the organization of the entire warehouse. That is why planning is essential before starting any other step.

For optimal planning, you need to identify all the orders to be prepared on a daily basis, draw up a detailed list, assign each order to a carrier with a dedicated time, plan the use of loading platforms and calculate the space required to prepare the goods.

It is crucial to consolidate all of the goods to be shipped in one place in the warehouse, often in the shipping area.

Step 2 – Preparing the merchandise to ensure good logistics

Transporting goods requires good preparation before shipping. Road transport is often the most efficient and flexible solution, regardless of the volume and distance to be covered.

Several steps must be taken to ensure that the shipment of goods is carried out in the best possible conditions:

• Packaging quality
• Packing of the goods
• Document management (receiving, picking and delivery notes, waybills, etc.)
• Proper package labeling

In all cases, the goods are diligently prepared by the carrier for safe handling during loading and unloading. Whether the goods are on pallets or not, they are carefully packaged to withstand transport and handling.

Step 3 – Identifying your goods in the shipping process

It is imperative that all goods are correctly identified for LTL transport to avoid any delivery errors and delays. Some important information must be included on the transport document, such as your contact details, the consignee’s contact details, the file reference number and, if necessary, the handling instructions.

This transport document is known as a “Bill of Lading”. You will find all the information about this document on the Quebec government website. You can also obtain a printable Bill of Lading on our website. This document must be filled out correctly, as it will be your proof of loading and delivery in case any issues arise.

Special cases

If you intend to transport explosives or any other dangerous goods, other requirements apply such as the marking of specific packaging, a safety data sheet and a shipping declaration.

In any case, we recommend that you take out transport insurance for all shipments of goods to prevent any delays or damage to the packages.

Step 4 – Logistical distribution

Once the goods have been prepared and identified, they must be loaded into the vehicle. Companies rely on the expertise of a logistics dispatcher to do this. This technician is responsible for planning and distributing pick-ups and deliveries. They also manage inventory and organize schedules and travel to avoid delays.

The logistics dispatcher has an important role in freight forwarding. They are responsible for communicating with customers and choosing the vehicle to transport the cargo. The place, time of delivery and route are carefully planned before your goods are sent. Everything is anticipated so that the transportation of the goods proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Logistics: an essential part of the road transport economy

Shipping goods by road involves many steps that must not be overlooked. At Transport Econo Nord, we implement important logistical processes to ensure that each shipment is delivered to the right recipient in a timely manner.

Contact our company for more information on your shipment of goods throughout North America.