Transpiration consultants can play a key role in helping you save time and money. We have found there are 10 major issues you should consider when hiring a transportation consultant. In part 1 of our two part series we will look at the first five. In part two we will review the remainder.
Transportation Consultants should take the long-term view that puts you, the client, first. Select a transportation consultant who has worked for leading companies for a long time and avoid consultants who have had a number of one-night stands. Long-term relationships bring value in many forms. If the transportation consultant has had long term relationships, chances are the advice he/she provides is both practical and implemented. Keeping the same transportation consultant (Not just the company but the people) means there is no need to educate them with each new assignment saving time, and time is money in consulting, It allows you to bounce ideas off them between engagements (normally for free) and it enables them to bring you new ideas when they discover them.
1. A good transportation consultant knows the difference between price and value. Transportation is not unlike any other service, the lowest cost is not always the best value. Up-front rate reductions, which are harder and harder to come by these days, are not the full story, as every manager who has been seeking trucks at month-end knows.
2. More than likely, many large companies have received much of their savings in the past few years by reducing their carrier costs by working with good transportation consultants. Informed transportation consultants understand how carriers' incur costs and how to mitigate those costs. There are many, many things that can be done to save carriers money. When companies know these things, it is possible to create a win-win situation. Also a good transportation consultant can suggest a broader range of options such as launching a private fleet if they, they know carrier cost structures. In the right situation, that can save you even more money.
3. A good transportation consultant knows the long-term viability of the carriers and the way to get last second concessions. They understand the competitive landscape and are respected by carriers. Because they have important knowledge in this area, they can quickly determine the companies that would be interested in your business and the structures that would most advantageous.
4.Using a strong understanding of the modes, good transportation consultants switch their clients among modes. Switching between modes has often been a great way to reduce costs. For example, when the automotive manufacturers are slow, many boxcars become available at very reasonable prices or when there is a high volume of imports, the shipping companies provide fantastic rates to get the containers back to the port.
5.Transportation consultants should be able to create contracts that generate advantage Too often contracts are an afterthought. Missing the legal niceties of ensuring that the contract is indeed a valid contract can be very expensive. Additionally, assessorial charges can nickel and dime you to death. Try to get the contract ready up front.
In Part 2, we will finish our two part series and cover the remaining 5 points considered essential when hiring a transportation consultant.
When you consider a Transportation consultant, Thomas Moore and his associates at Transportation | Warehouse Optimization have been working with some of the top companies in America, finding practical solutions that have resulted in saving millions of dollars. They take a long-term view, know the market place and keep the client as top priority. Contact them at www.transportationoptimization.com for transportation cost reductions or warehouse challenges. Ask for a free consultation. While visiting their website, TEST YOUR SKILLS and see how well you can load a truck or manage cost savings. - 16928
Transportation Consultants should take the long-term view that puts you, the client, first. Select a transportation consultant who has worked for leading companies for a long time and avoid consultants who have had a number of one-night stands. Long-term relationships bring value in many forms. If the transportation consultant has had long term relationships, chances are the advice he/she provides is both practical and implemented. Keeping the same transportation consultant (Not just the company but the people) means there is no need to educate them with each new assignment saving time, and time is money in consulting, It allows you to bounce ideas off them between engagements (normally for free) and it enables them to bring you new ideas when they discover them.
1. A good transportation consultant knows the difference between price and value. Transportation is not unlike any other service, the lowest cost is not always the best value. Up-front rate reductions, which are harder and harder to come by these days, are not the full story, as every manager who has been seeking trucks at month-end knows.
2. More than likely, many large companies have received much of their savings in the past few years by reducing their carrier costs by working with good transportation consultants. Informed transportation consultants understand how carriers' incur costs and how to mitigate those costs. There are many, many things that can be done to save carriers money. When companies know these things, it is possible to create a win-win situation. Also a good transportation consultant can suggest a broader range of options such as launching a private fleet if they, they know carrier cost structures. In the right situation, that can save you even more money.
3. A good transportation consultant knows the long-term viability of the carriers and the way to get last second concessions. They understand the competitive landscape and are respected by carriers. Because they have important knowledge in this area, they can quickly determine the companies that would be interested in your business and the structures that would most advantageous.
4.Using a strong understanding of the modes, good transportation consultants switch their clients among modes. Switching between modes has often been a great way to reduce costs. For example, when the automotive manufacturers are slow, many boxcars become available at very reasonable prices or when there is a high volume of imports, the shipping companies provide fantastic rates to get the containers back to the port.
5.Transportation consultants should be able to create contracts that generate advantage Too often contracts are an afterthought. Missing the legal niceties of ensuring that the contract is indeed a valid contract can be very expensive. Additionally, assessorial charges can nickel and dime you to death. Try to get the contract ready up front.
In Part 2, we will finish our two part series and cover the remaining 5 points considered essential when hiring a transportation consultant.
When you consider a Transportation consultant, Thomas Moore and his associates at Transportation | Warehouse Optimization have been working with some of the top companies in America, finding practical solutions that have resulted in saving millions of dollars. They take a long-term view, know the market place and keep the client as top priority. Contact them at www.transportationoptimization.com for transportation cost reductions or warehouse challenges. Ask for a free consultation. While visiting their website, TEST YOUR SKILLS and see how well you can load a truck or manage cost savings. - 16928
About the Author:
Thomas Moore and his Associates at Transportation & Warehouse Optimization are premier Transportation Consultants.Working with respected companies like P&G and BP they offer Transportation Consulting solutions that save you money. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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