How to Choose the Best Logistics Partner for Your Business

Choosing a freight and logistics partner for your company is one of the most important business decisions you will make when starting or revamping your operations. Whichever company you choose will be responsible for making sure your floor displays are stocked and your customers are receiving their orders. This is not a decision to be taken lightly, and it’s important to know what you should be looking for to make sure you find the best company for you. In this blog, we will highlight the traits that make a great logistics partner!

1. Willing to Learn About Your Business

A supply chain can only be as efficient as the people who run it, and that is a tall task if you aren’t aware of how the industry you are serving works. A company that is willing to learn about your brand and industry is able to maximize their potential in regards to the efficiency of managing your goods.

It may seem like a simple ask, but not every logistics partner will have this dedication. If your logistics partner doesn’t understand your business, it could lead to frequent stockouts, late deliveries, or damaged goods—the dissatisfaction caused by this would be pushed onto your customers.

Avoid this headache altogether by going with a logistics company that is invested in you, your company, and your work. A company that knows your business and industry is more likely to complete your deliveries on time with your products intact. This will lead to your company being more likely to meet your customers’ expectations.

2. Types of Freight

Trucking companies specialize in different types of freight, such as dry goods, refrigerated goods, hazardous materials, and oversized loads. It is important to select a company that offers the specific type of freight transportation your company is looking for. Our services page highlights the freight services we offer here at Bender, including reefers, shuttles, and dedicated fleets!

3. Flexibility

Nothing is more important than your dedicated fleet partner being able to meet your needs within your timeline. If you anticipate having differently sized loads, it’s important that you choose a company with a diverse fleet of trucks that can deliver small batches or large bulk loads.

The company should also be able to scale its operations for your business as you continue to grow and need more out of your supply chain. Whether business is booming or you’re in a downtime, your logistics partner should be ready to accommodate your needs. If you fail to account for whether your logistics partner can scale with your business, you are setting yourself up for undue stress and delays in the future.

4. High Customer Satisfaction Rate

Customer satisfaction rates should come as no surprise as a measure to consider when deciding on a shipping company. You want your partner to be trustworthy and reliable, and a great way to gauge that is by looking at their reviews from past or current clients.

If a fleet has a reputation for being unreliable, then there is a greater chance of that being the case for your business as well. Do your due diligence on companies—how they served other businesses in similar industries to yours will give you a better idea of the level of service you will receive from them.

5. Emphasis on Safety

Focusing on safety is not only the duty of a trucking company but also a good business decision. You want to make sure you pick a company with good values that protects their drivers along with your products. When driving as your dedicated fleet, drivers are an extension of your business, and you want to make sure that they are keeping themselves and the freight they are carrying safe. Partnering with a company that emphasizes safety in their training and operations and invests in the newest safety technology will ensure a reliable partnership for years to come.

Find Out if Bender Is Right for You

At Bender, we are large enough to matter yet small enough to care. We have the equipment and flexibility of a large trucking company, but the care and integrity of a small business. Exemplary customer service is important to us, and we will make sure to take the necessary steps needed for your business to succeed. Contact us today, and receive a quote to learn more about how Bender is right for you!