How has transportation evolved over the years?
If you say it’s much faster, you’re right. If you say it’s also more efficient, you’re well onto what makes LTL freight companies such a competitive edge in today’s market. With many businesses finding the ‘make it or break it’ aspect of their brand being not their products, but their shipping, you’ll want to keep reading to learn more about what less than truckload entails. Not only is it a convenient method of transportation across land, it’s considered one of the best ways of matching growing e-commerce demands and the needs of a cost-effective business.
Let’s take a deeper look at transportation and what it stands to do for any business that wants to save money and provide quality. Today’s LTL market is valued at an impressive $35 million and remaining steady. That means you have more than enough wiggle room to figure out what makes your business’s shipping method stand out from the pack. Expedited freight companies are working night and day to make sure products and materials aren’t just safe, but delivered on-time.
Studies have been conducted to analyze the development of aerospace logistics and LTL freight companies over the years. According to the U.S. Department Of Transportation, the value of freight moved is expected to increase from $880 per ton to $1,300 per ton. This is an incredibly high annual rate, to say the least, and can seriously change how you look at your business strategy.
What else should we know? According to Satish Jindel, the president of the SJ Consulting Group, the length of haul has actually declined. Public truckload carriers today report an average length of haul that’s gone down 4% or so between 2011 and 2016. Businesses both large and small are becoming more clever about how long they take to get from place to place, prioritizing everything from gas to the demands of long-distance customers.
Take a look at today’s transportation network to get an even bigger idea of the total picture. The United States’ e-commerce revenue is at a staggering $420 billion and is still climbing. This includes not just LTL freight companies, but full truckload and parcel. Carriers, overall, are having no choice but to adjust to changes in the retail industry as these numbers become even harder to ignore. If you’re going to make any changes, now would be the time.
Today the three most valuable commodities moved by the American freight transportation system are electronics, motorized vehicles and machinery. Even a small business can stand to benefit greatly from smarter intermodal shipping ventures, however, and recent studies have found spending in American logistics and transportation has reached 8% of the country’s gross domestic product.
With shipping such an important issue trade shows are cropping up more and more to address multiple parties. As of October there were over 250 centers across the country, with Florida and California leading the pack with over 20 locations each. This is followed close behind by Nevada, though these numbers could absolutely change as LTL freight companies continue to gain prominence. From expedited international to more eco-friendly initiatives, there’s always more work to be done. Thankfully, our resources have never looked better.
How can you be part of the transportation movement?