It’s that time of year again. Shippers are bracing for the onslaught of holiday peak shopping and shipping season. As carrier rates increase in response to stronger-than-average demand on e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retailers, carrier freight rates will set new records. Meanwhile, the fears over the driver shortage and a desire for faster delivery will add fuel for higher costs and undermine your current carrier rate selection processes. According to William B. Cassidy of the Journal of Commerce, driver problems top the list of issues for shippers. Unfortunately, issues with drivers can amount to direct increases in freight spend, including the alienation of carriers that will refuse to work with individual shippers. Shippers that wish to keep freight spend under control need to understand why rates are still climbing, how the best rates lead to business benefits, and a few tips for getting the best deal at the negotiating table.
Why Are Rates Still Climbing?
As explained by FreightWaves, continued increases in freight rates are the result of tightening capacity. Yet, ample capacity exists. It’s a confusing topic. While capacity is there, the drivers are not. As a result, freight rates increase. Pair that with the approaching peak season, the demand for 2020, uncertainty regarding the political state, and Amazon’s relentless push for world dominance, and shippers will see higher freight rates. Unfortunately, higher rates cannot directly be passed along to customers. Forcing customers to pay for higher rates will result in more customers choosing to do business with your competitors. That brings up another integral part of the discussion—the value of the best rates.