6 Reasons It’s Time to Hire a Freight Shipping Service

industrial crane loading freight ship
 

With all the environmental concerns, rules, and regulations these days, it can be difficult to stay current with the legal and carrier requirements for shipping goods. Materials like explosives, gases, and infectious or toxic substances, for example, require specific handling, packaging, and labeling that follows appropriate rules and guidelines laid down by the UN.

Every country, it seems, is constantly changing its import and export requirements. Countries and organizations implement new rules regularly.

Even public pressure through social media channels and activist investors can affect the method and manner that you ship materials.

When you run a business that ships internationally, you probably don’t have time to keep up with changes to these guidelines. That’s why it may be time to hire a freight shipping service to save you time and money.

Here are six reasons why you should hire a freight shipping service rather than try to do it yourself and possibly get into a lot of trouble or cause damage to the environment.

people taking notes during meeting

1. Competent and Properly Trained Staff


Many different types of business use or produce hazardous materials. This production means you also need properly trained staff to ensure the shipping arrangements follow regulations. This transaction can be an enormous expense for an occasional event, and well outside of the usual scope of your employees’ duties. A freight shipping service specializes in these kinds of services. Their staff is properly trained and up to date with all the recent changes in regulations as well as information about hazardous material classes.

2. Regulatory Differences Depending on Mode of Transport


There are many regulations guiding transportation of different types of goods. Shipping materials by air, road, or sea requires different handling, labeling, and packaging and, without a real understanding of the government guidelines and regulations, it can be easy to make a mistake, which can result in a large fine from the government or damage to the environment or personnel.

Choosing a freight shipping service will ensure you get the right knowledge and advice to make the right shipping choices no matter how you transport your goods.

3. Numerous Classes of Hazardous Materials


Some materials obviously require special handling. However, some materials that may need special shipping arrangments aren’t so obvious.

Did you know that many commonly used items such as batteries, computers, or phones that contain batteries are considered hazardous and need special handling during shipping?

The list of what the laws and regulations consider hazardous goods is nearly endless and changing rapidly. That’s why, if you have any doubts about whether your materials require special handling, it’s always best to refer it to the experts.

wooden shipping crates graphic

4. A Variety of Packaging Options


A freight shipping service will have a variety of packaging options to fit any shape, size, or amount. No matter what you are shipping, whether liquid, gas, or solid, you can find steel drums, custom cardboard boxes and eco-friendly packaging options that protect the environment in the long and in the short term.

Some items may require environmentally-sealed containers, depending on the destination. Others may require special packaging and sealing materials, special labels, and more.

With all these potential requirements, using a freight shipping company to handle the details will help you avoid missed shipments and fines.

5. Experience in a Variety of Industries


No matter what kind of business niche you fill, a freight shipping company will have experience with the goods you ship. This experience means they can provide you with the necessary information you need to ensure you and your freight are always in compliance with the relevant regulations.

A good freight company will remain current concerning industry trends or changes and can tell you when regulations change, or when different options become available for your industry shipping needs.

6. Forms and Labels


No matter what you try to do these days, there’s always paperwork to go with it. When you are trying to ship goods internationally, the paperwork is complicated and dependent on a lot of different regulations. A freight-shipping service will make sure you have the right shipping forms and labels for your shipment.

Final Thoughts


Don’t let changing and complex shipping regulations adversely affect your business. A quality freight shipping concern can make this potentially complex and frustrating chore much easier and far less stressful while ensuring you meet all required shipping and safety regulations.

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