Transporting heavy loads on a regular basis could cost you a fortune sometimes when you don’t calculate carefully. It might seem trivial, but there are a few factors that may affect some additional costs in your shipment.
Whether you own a shipping company or a product distributor on a regular basis, you might want to know some useful tips to reduce the cost of transporting cargo.
On a larger scale, you may consider the type and size of the shipping container that you are going to use; the bigger size of storage container means carrying a bigger volume of cargo. In a more specific manner, there are little things you might not think about that can help you maximize transportation costs. Here are some helpful ways to boost your cost efficiency in transporting your products.
1. Modify Your Packaging
When trying to reduce shipping costs, packaging sometimes isn’t suggested since wrapping can make cargo even bigger. The more rooms your payload takes, the higher the delivery charge will cost. You can alter your packaging by making it smaller by packing more items into a single container or deflating plastic packaging. These can minimize the amount of space that your cargo occupies and consequently cut costs.
Utilizing the right materials could also help you optimize the space and keep your expenses under control. Some various options available are using customized brown paper or oil paper for the paper packaging type, foam chips or silica gel for the stuffing packaging type, or some lightweight materials like padded envelopes for smaller items instead of boxes. Each alternative works depending on the type of package being shipped.
Some eco-friendly alternatives are better suited to maintain sustainability. For instance, you may use biodegradable air peanuts that work the same way as styrofoam, using recycled cardboard and paper instead of new ones, or green cell foam packaging for wrapping electronic items. These options are made of natural and non-toxic materials. The good news is, they are also less expensive and biodegradable which means that they don’t take years to decompose, a win-win and kind solution to the environment.
2. Consider Transporting in Bulk
You can maximize less frequent orders to minimize your shipping costs if you ship frequently. To illustrate this, think about shipping cargo in bulk rather than sending it weekly or periodically. This scheduling strategy will lower the frequency of your shipments and the cost of each shipment. Meanwhile, this wouldn’t be an option for shipments that must be delivered immediately.
The types of goods that will be efficient for bulk shipping are dry or solid bulk, break bulk, and liquid bulk. Solid bulk commodities include sugar, coffee, coal, grains, metals, and more. Then there is breakbulk such as manufacturing equipment, structural steel, heavy or oversized goods, construction equipment, and more. While the liquid bulks are normally carried unpackaged and are generally classified into edible, non-edible, hazardous, and non-hazardous liquids.
Considering delivery in bulk will minimize expenses depending on how you optimize the orders.
3. Picking the Right Container Type
Lastly, choosing the right container type will also help you most in cutting the cost for regular shippers. Generally, larger containers such as 40 feet containers tend to cost more to transport than smaller containers like 20 feet containers. This is because larger containers require larger trucks and handling equipment, besides, the size of the shipping container also determines the cost.
Additionally, different container types and materials may also have varying costs. For example, refrigerated or insulated containers may cost more than standard containers due to their specialized features. It’s important to consider all of these factors when selecting a shipping container size and type, as well as when calculating the overall cost of shipping. This can help ensure that you choose the most cost-effective and efficient shipping solution for your specific needs.
If you’re uncertain about how to choose the right container for your business, or which one will best suit your needs, don’t hesitate to seek our expert advice. At Tradecorp, we offer a wide range of shipping containers in various sizes and types, including standard, tank, and specialized containers. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality containers at reasonable prices. To get started, simply fill out a quote request on our website and we’ll respond to your inquiry promptly. Our team of professionals will work with you to find the most suitable container for your business needs and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. Let us help you find the perfect container solution for your business today.