No matter whether you are sending large items overseas as gifts to relatives, or sending some small item across the country, when choosing a transport company it’s important to do a little research so you can find the right one for the job. Otherwise, it will waste your time and theirs and your sending your goods may be delayed while waiting for the freight company to get back to you.
Here are 7 tips on transporting your goods safely
- Safety is paramount for your goods so find out how they will be packed and transported. In some cases a container may be used and you will most likely have to share one with other people, unless you have a lot of goods to send all at once. Safety also includes the condition of the trucks. If their trucks are not well maintained and end up crashing, your goods could be smashed to pieces.
- Pricing can vary greatly from one transporter to another. The cheapest is not always the best, as this price may be achieved through non-maintenance of trucks or other cost cutting measures likely to put your goods at risk.
- Do they pick up your goods at home and deliver them to the door at their destination? Other services can include parcel tracking so you can see where your goods are at any given time. They may also pack your goods and provide good labelling.
- If you phone a business and they don’t get back to you quickly, it can be very frustrating. Sure, everyone who works can be busy, but when their work is dependent on being in communication with their customers, not getting back to you quickly is something that should be avoided.
- Movement of the goods. Booking one company and finding that your goods are then taken away by their subcontractors puts you out of control. If you choose a company for their good reputation, when the goods are then taken by another company, you have no way of knowing that the second company has as good a reputation.
- Insurance is an important part of sending goods. The trouble is, the insurance held by the company may only be for them, not for you or your goods. It is better to have your own insurance for the goods that you send than to rely on insurance from the company to pay for your damaged goods. Still and all, make sure the company does have some kind of insurance.
- Labelling can often come off goods and then no one knows where to send them. Ask the company if they provide additional labelling; commercial labelling that is stronger than the paper and sticky tape you may be using.
