A new year is the perfect time to look ahead toward long-term gains for your company. For many, that means considering a dedicated transport service program.
Dedicated transport services offer many benefits that can save your company time and money while making it easier to reach your goals.
But what exactly is a dedicated transport service and why should you consider it?
What is a Dedicated Transport Service?
A dedicated transportation program is, essentially, a simple way to outsource your transportation needs. Rather than investing in your own fleet, hiring drivers, and maintaining your vehicles, you rely on a third-party service provider to get the job done.
The service provider is responsible for maintaining the fleet and everything that goes along with it.
In addition to offloading ownership costs, dedicated transportation services also ensure that you have guaranteed freight capacity for your shipping needs. When creating your transportation plan, you and your service provider will determine:
- How many trucks and trailers you will need
- Your predefined routes
Dedicated transportation service providers are always available when you need them, making them a convenient and cost-effective option. In addition, because you are guaranteed freight capacity, you never have to scramble to cover your shipping needs or settle for subpar service.
Plus, if your shipping volume increases, your service provider can leverage its network to keep your freight moving on time. In this way, dedicated transportation services make it easy to scale your operations with minimal upfront costs.
3 Reasons to Consider Dedicated Transportation Services
Dedicated transport services offer many advantages for firms, from cost and time savings to more predictable costs and better efficiency. Here are three reasons to consider a dedicated transportation program for your firm:
1. No Ownership Costs
Owning and maintaining a fleet is a costly venture. When you use a dedicated transportation service, you never have to worry about ownership costs. Dedicated transportation services have their own:
- Reliable fleet
- Trained and experienced drivers
- Logistics in place for streamlined shipments
The service provider assumes all operational costs, including labor, equipment, and potential liabilities. Your shipments get where they need to go with minimal financial risk to you.
Additionally, when you leave the complicated logistics to an experienced service provider, you also reduce your own liabilities. Reduced liability risk will give you peace of mind and allow you to stay more focused on core operations.
2. Save Time and Improve Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages of using a dedicated transport service is that it saves you valuable time. Owning and maintaining a fleet is time-consuming and resource intensive.
If trucking isn’t your core business, then your time is better spent focusing on the tasks that will help your operations grow.
When you transfer the burden of logistics to an experienced professional, you also help improve efficiency, which can also save you time.
It’s important to remember that service providers specialize in transportation services, which means that they have:
- The most efficient scheduling and routing programs
- Advanced reporting and tracking
- A more streamlined administrative process
You enjoy peace of mind that your shipments move consistently, and if a problem arises, your service provider will have the knowledge and experience to handle it. Outsourcing your transportation needs can free up time for more important things while improving overall efficiency.
Additionally, if your needs change, you can easily modify your route scheduling to accommodate your needs. When you own and manage your own fleet, it’s not easy to modify routes without impacting other shipments or impacting your schedule.
Dedicated transportation can also save you time and improve efficiency in other less obvious ways. For example, if your shipments require special handling or if you have more complex deliveries, a dedicated transport service is ideal. Your provider will have a team of drivers who can handle these needs while maintaining efficiency.
3. Predictable Costs
When you’re in charge of your transportation needs, the costs can be unpredictable. For example, your fleet may require a significant investment one year and then have lower costs the next year.
With a dedicated transportation service program, your costs are predictable. Your transportation plan will outline all of your costs so that you know how much you’ll spend on your transportation needs – with no hidden fees.
Entering into a longer contract will make your costs even more predictable for a longer period of time.
Additionally, when your volume increases, there’s no need to worry about making a big investment in expanding your fleet or delaying shipments. Alternatively, when volumes are lower, you won’t have assets sitting idle and costing you money.
Dedicated transportation services make it easier for firms to control costs without sacrificing efficiency or quality.
The Bottom Line for Dedicated Transport
With a dedicated transportation program, you enjoy all the perks of having a private fleet without the hassle that comes with it. You spend more time growing and improving your business and less time worrying about logistics.
At TCI, we offer dedicated transportation service programs that are tailored to your individual needs. Our team will work closely with you to develop a plan that meets your needs while staying within your budget. Drop us a note today to discuss your dedicated transportation needs.
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