LTL Costs Remain Competitive as eCommerce Spending Grows
According to a recent article in Logistics Management, the future of the LTL market is looking a little brighter thanks to advancements in technology and networking. Another major boon to the industry is the growth of eCommerce. As this sector of LTL business continues to grow, LTL costs will remain competitive.
Keep Growing in LTL from 2017 into 2018
The second half of 2017 looks bright, according to Stifel Inc. LTL analyst David Ross. According to his interview in Logistics Management, there’s a definite expectation for “better times ahead in LTL” due to a potential loosening in regulation and a focus on creating domestic jobs and infrastructure.
Of course, there are also some other market factors in play as we finish out 2017 and move into a bright 2018. Demand for LTL is already picking up, and with many companies investing in new technology, that could continue.
eCommerce is Driving Change in LTL Market
In past years, LTL or less-than-load shipping has been a market mainly for mid-size and large companies looking to save a buck on shipping. But in more recent years, carriers have worked hard to add small businesses to their regular clientele.
With the growth of technology, eCommerce has become a legitimate business venture for anyone with ambition, a laptop, and an internet connection. That means that shipping companies also have had to improve the quality and availability of technology features, like tracking and pricing, to earn and keep the business of new and growing eCommerce clients.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Today’s LTL customer wants the ability to get a price quote from multiple shipping companies, choose the route that best suits their needs, and track their product all through one single platform. But finding the right shipping technology for a small company could be a bit more challenging than it seems.
With so many options on the market right now for LTL shipping, choosing the platform with the most features might not be the best choice. It’s more important to choose the platform that has the right features instead. But what are those features? And how does one determine whether the program is the right fit for the business?
Choosing Your LTL Shipping Platform
Amrate is a web-based 3PL software platform that consolidates the entire shipping process into one easy-to-use program. Amrate is a proprietary software from Amware – a full-service freight and logistics provider – that offers shipment tracking and tracing, customized reporting, and freight bill auditing and payment.
The best part about the Amrate platform is that it’s available for 30 days for free, which makes it easy to test out during the free trial and see if it’s the best fit before committing. On average, clients who use the Amrate platform save about 30% annually on LTL shipping. Between the cost-saving and the up-to-the-minute carrier management and internal claims resolution, you really can’t go wrong.