12 Ways to Stay Profitable as a Freight Carrier

by Sari Cada Published on February 28, 2023

It’s not always easy to scrape a profit if you work in the world of logistics, and so you need to do whatever you can to optimize your freight-carrying operations and thus bolster your margins.

To that end, here are a handful of strategies to try out if you’re currently struggling to turn a profit as a freight carrier.

Maximize Your Profit Margin with Efficient Load Planning

To stay profitable as a freight carrier, it pays to plan how to best use your trucking capacity. When planning for each load, consider the cost of fuel, shipping container used and other expenses associated with it. Then calculate whether or not taking on certain loads will be worth it based on expected profit margins after costs. This way, you’re able to maximize profits without overspending too much money in fuel and labor.

Additionally, look at alternate routes when available. Using shorter distances where possible can significantly reduce overall transportation time as well as save money on gas consumption.

Use Technology to Streamline Operations and Stay Profitable as a Freight Carrier

In this industry more than most, time is money. So to stay competitive, it’s necessary to find ways of streamlining operations so that you aren’t wasting this precious resource.

Investing in technology such as automated dispatch systems and GPS tracking tools can reduce the amount of manual processes involved. It will also improve communication with customers – ultimately resulting in cost savings for your business.

Also, using software solutions like electronic logging devices (ELDs) keeps drivers compliant with regulations while they focus on other tasks. This cuts back on paperwork associated with compliance, which further reduces expenses over time.

Finding Jobs Using a Good Load Board

Another of the top tools is load boards, which make searching for truck loads in an efficient manner a breeze.

When choosing which load board to use, it’s important to look for ones with accurate information and reliable customer service. Also remember that sending out well-prepared bids can increase your chances of acceptance while avoiding wasted time on low-rate loads.

Try negotiating better rates when possible by leveraging relationships with customers. Also aim to understand market movements so that you get more bang for every buck you spend.

Keeping on Top of Industry Trends

As with any business, it pays to note any changes to industry regulations or trends in the freight carrier field.

Remaining in the loop on the latest news in transportation can give you an edge when competing against other carriers. You can adjust your operations according to what’s happening right now while avoiding potential penalties due to lack of compliance.

You’ll also benefit from understanding market shifts, such as fuel prices or economic cycles, by making your pricing competitive. It’s all part of allowing for profitability without undercutting yourself or allowing rivals to get the better of you.

Optimizing Your Fleet Utilization to Stay Profitable as a Freight Carrier

Optimizing your fleet utilization is key to remaining profitable. That means making sure every vehicle is being put to work effectively, without waste occurring.

Start by understanding the costs associated with running each vehicle and their current utilization rate. Analyze past data for potential areas of improvement, such as reducing empty runs or optimizing routes for better efficiency.

Also, put in place strategies like load consolidation and dynamic scheduling. This will ensure you’re making the most of all available resources while minimizing operating costs. Including reliable fleet maintenance software will allow you to track spare parts, avoid stockouts, and reduce costs, ensuring smooth operations and maximizing your fleet’s profitability as a freight carrier.

Taking Advantage of Bulk Shipping Deals

Taking advantage of bulk shipping deals is another option if profitability is out of reach. Research the market for potential discounts and other savings opportunities that may be available when purchasing in large quantities.

Also, consider entering into long-term contracts with carriers who offer competitive rates over time. Negotiate on behalf of your customers if you are offering logistics services, so they can benefit from these deals too.

Finally, explore new markets, such as cross-border or global shipments, where there may be even more substantial savings available.

Making the Most of Shipping Materials & Third-Party Resources

The materials you consume in pursuit of your business goals can be an overlooked area of waste. To avoid this, review current material options and consider affordable alternatives.

One example is using recycled packaging and even encouraging customers to return packaging for repeat use. This will help you stay profitable as a freight carrier, and also boost your eco credentials.

Better yet, consider offering discounts to customers who can provide their own packing materials. This makes you less reliant on in-house resources. Obviously, you’ll need to establish clear guidelines for the types and sizes accepted for each shipment type. Once done, this can be a powerful profit margin-pushing maneuver.

Finally, use technology solutions like tracking systems to ensure all packages are accounted for throughout transit. This will help reduce losses from damages or theft, both of which are the bane of freight carriers.

Establishing a Robust Risk Management System to Stay Profitable as a Freight Carrier

In this industry, there are lots of moving parts to manage, and a lot of things can go wrong. As such, establishing an effective risk management system is necessary to make your operations financially viable.

Here’s how:

Identify and assess the risks associated with your business operations, such as unexpected delays or accidents. Put in place procedures to minimize these potential threats, giving you a way to overcome them on the fly.
Establish protocols for dealing with any issues that may arise during transit, including appropriate notifications and documentation requirements.
Invest in insurance coverage to protect yourself from losses due to unforeseen circumstances. Combine this with having back plans for dealing with disasters, such as alternative routes or carriers, to cover all the bases.

Assessing Current Logistics Practices for Opportunities to Streamline

We’ve already discussed a few ways to stay profitable as a freight carrier through efficiency improvements. But there are a couple of other considerations to take onboard in this context.

For instance, it’s worth taking the opportunity to regularly renegotiate contracts with partners. Any services you use regularly should be assessed to ensure that they’re giving you value. If they aren’t, then it’s time to rethink whether you can justify them.

Also, don’t be afraid to explore bold new ways of doing things. Seismic change is sometimes the best option for injecting profitability back into a business. This might include using part-time drivers instead of full-time staff, giving you more flexibility when seasonal shifts in demand strike.

Take Your Marketing Strategy Back to the Drawing Board

You’ve got to spend money to make money, and effective marketing comes under this umbrella statement. If you want to stay profitable as a freight carrier, it’s a must. Here’s how:

Analyze past efforts and assess what worked well, and where you could have done better. Also, see if the market has shifted in a way that renders previously impactful tactics redundant.
Re-evaluate all aspects of your current strategies, such as pricing models or promotional activities, for greater efficiency. If you aren’t getting a good return from a particular approach, retool it or scrap it.
Identify new opportunities for targeting potential customers through digital marketing tactics like SEO, social media, or email campaigns. Digital marketing is a potent tool for freight carriers, as well as for businesses across the board. That doesn’t mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater. Set aside some of your marketing budget for traditional methods, if this gels with the expectations of your audience.
Finally, create measurable goals so you can track progress over time and adjust plans accordingly. Marketing is not something that can be left ticking over; perpetual evolution is best.

Finding an Untapped Niche

Staying on top of what’s going on in the industry isn’t just about compliance. The more research you do, the easier it will be to pinpoint movements that are ripe for exploitation.

The most obvious option here is offering services or products not currently available from competitors. This could include specialized packaging or temperature-controlled shipments.

Also, don’t forget about new markets which aren’t currently covered by your operations. If you can step in and snap up customers in a niche that’s under-served, you’ll be onto a winner.

Whatever you do, focus on customer service and provide value-added features that break the mold. The more unique your proposition, the more it will appeal.

Establish Long-Term Relationships With Customers for Repeat Business

Finally, one of the best ways to stay profitable is by developing long-term relationships with customers, as touched upon earlier.

This can be done through providing excellent service that exceeds expectations and building trust and loyalty with them over time.

When you have established a good rapport with your clients, they are more likely to come back for future jobs. This results in repeat business, which helps reduce marketing costs.

Try offering incentives such as flexible payment terms or discounts when possible. You’ll be able to attract new customers, and keep current clients happy.

Establishing strong customer relationships enables sustainable growth within your business and keeps it competitive, even in challenging periods.

Wrapping Up

You can’t expect to stay profitable as a freight carrier overnight. This takes time and effort, both of which you can now focus on the right areas thanks to this article.