Updated September 4, 2024
When it comes to shippers and carriers, the balance of power shifts back and forth, creating uncertainty with unpredictable rates that wreak havoc on budgets. This occurs whether its full truckload (FTL) freight or less than truckload (LTL) freight.
Shippers can choose to go at it alone and be at the mercy of changes in market forces, or they can minimize volatility by partnering with the right freight brokerage provider. By doing so, you’ll gain predictive pricing, capacity as needed, and sidestep seasonal volatility and market spikes and troughs, and keep a clear view of the process.
Any industry can gain these benefits. With a freight brokerage partner, you’ll tap into an agile transportation network that ships and delivers goods on time – advantage you.
One obvious benefit of freight brokerages is strong carrier relationships. As a shipper, you only have to deal with one person, and utilizing a broker means avoiding the long, complicated process of negotiating with various carriers.
A brokerage’s extensive experience means fewer logistical worries–routes are streamlined, and your entire supply chain becomes more effective. Brokers have established relationships with thousands of regularly monitored carriers to ensure their dependability, proper operating licensing, and appropriate insurance.
Other benefits of working with a freight broker include:
Expertise
Freight brokers stay on top of trends and changes impacting capacity and rates, and communicate special requirements for your shipments. Expect them to follow any processes you already have in place, advise you on more efficient methods, and answer any questions you have.
Predictive Pricing
No one wants to operate in the dark. With prescriptive pricing data, brokers:
Predictive pricing requires advanced technology that provides tools to make decisions that bolster sales and revenue forecasts.
Flexibility
Businesses rarely operate at the same capacity year-round. As seasons change, so does demand. What’s popular today may not be tomorrow, or a product can sell rapidly and require shipping more -- fast. For example, it’s complicated to negotiate LTL rates on your own. Hidden fees abound, and you need a solid inventory list before getting prices. Calculating the freight class suited to your goods can be a nightmare. A freight brokerage partner can offer you more or less capacity as needed, and you find the right fit at the right price.
Agility
Many factors can impact your shipment after a carrier accepts it. Let’s say you had an LTL freight shipment, and the customer has upped their order (good news!), and now you need an FTL freight shipment. Without a broker, you likely would have to wait a day for another truck (if one is available), which means you won’t deliver on time, creating a disappointed customer. An agile freight broker addresses issues quickly and finds creative solutions and successful results.
Saving Time and Money
A freight broker saves time–you don’t have to conduct extensive searches to find a suitable carrier. Time savings come from other tasks that a broker will handle, including:
You likely don’t have time to shop around to get the best shipping rates and settle for the first offer you find reasonable. Finding carriers takes time you could spend creating revenue-boosting products and services. Freight brokers have deep industry knowledge and can find the best available rates, resulting in long-term cost savings that help you grow your business.
Meeting Deadlines
You risk missing delivery deadlines when you cannot find a carrier to efficiently haul your loads. If this happens frequently, count on damage to your reputation - which means lost customers and revenue. While freight brokers cannot guarantee on-time delivery, they can leverage relationships to significantly improve delivery timeliness.
Keeping Customers Happy
Building customer relationships, engendering loyalty, and maximizing profits requires keeping your clients happy. Freight brokers can ensure pickup times, estimated delivery dates, and shipping rates are clearly communicated to keep everyone on the same page.
The Benefits Are There, But Choosing The Right Partner Is Key
Modern logistics depends on freight and transportation management technology, but not all brokers have invested in platforms that automate manual processes. Siloed and disconnected systems create confusion and miscalculations, and it’s no better than managing yourself. How important is that technology? It’s what gives your freight broker and your vital information that puts you in control. Through the right technology you gain:
Load visibility: To find capacity at the best price, your load must reach the right carrier -- no more being “lost in the inbox.” You want a broker that maintains a vast carrier network that secures capacity quickly.
Carrier Matching and Retention: Freight brokers require an extensive database of trusted and vetted carriers. Finding the best carrier with the capacity for any particular load takes specialized skills. Knowing which carrier has trucks available and its load preferences is critical to both load matching and success. This takes automation and integration with carrier systems. Presenting carriers with too little load information with irrelevant freight in a lane they don’t prefer can break relationships by decimating trust and a willingness to work with that broker. It takes work and dedication to cultivate, grow, and maintain the carrier relationships required for the best pricing and service.
Support: You want a single reliable point of contact 24/7, 365 days a year. Your broker should provide a dedicated account expert invested in your business success.
The Right Solution for Every Load, Every Time
No matter the size, mode, or complexity, your freight brokers appropriate capacity and service in any lane:
Transparency
Track your freight shipment anytime, anywhere, with an easy-to-use interface that also provides strategic market intelligence for benchmarking and forecasting, all from your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.
Load Tracking and Freight Matching
Connect to the right capacity, capture important documents, and get faster freight visibility with Ryder’s industry-leading and most trusted load tracking and predictive freight matching solutions.
Mode Management
High-level analytics help you manage all transportation modes on demand to view real-time status and load history. You can also scale up or down to suit your needs.
Streamlined LTL
Connect to a portfolio of LTL carriers with aggressive blanket-rate programs, price matching, and end-to-end tracking.
Partner With a Freight Brokerage Leader
Each year, Ryder manages more than $11 billion in freight moves across the continental United States, Mexico, and Canada, including $246 million in brokerage services. Our constant expansion creates greater capacity, more lanes, and increased flexibility. This means you can manage seasonal and market surges stress-free.
Our technology provides real-time visibility and collaboration, digital freight matching with backhaul opportunities, and business analytics and intelligence tools you need to boost profitability. Ryder’s brokerage service uses 85,000+ qualified carrier partners. No loads are turned back after acceptance. Ryder provides full transparency, and a dedicated concierge available 24/7. Click here to more about Ryder freight brokerage solutions.
Freight Brokerage FAQs
What is Full Truckload Freight?
Full Truckload (FTL) freight is a shipping method where an entire truck is dedicated to a single shipment. Imagine you have a large amount of goods to transport—so much that they fill up a whole truck. Instead of sharing space with other shipments, your goods take up the entire trailer.
FTL is a popular choice when you have enough cargo to fill a truck or when you want the added security and faster delivery that comes with not having to make multiple stops to pick up or drop off other loads. Since the truck is moving directly from the pickup location to the destination, transit times are usually shorter compared to less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, where your freight might be combined with others.
This method is commonly used by businesses that move large quantities of goods at once, especially if the cargo is time-sensitive or fragile, reducing the risk of damage that could occur when loading and unloading at multiple points. It’s like booking an entire bus for just you and your friends instead of sharing it with strangers—more space, more control, and a direct route to where you need to go.
What is Less than Truckload Freight?
Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight is a shipping option perfect for when you don’t have enough cargo to fill an entire truck. Instead of paying for an entire truck, you share the space with shipments from other businesses. It’s like carpooling for your freight!
With LTL, your goods are consolidated with other shipments heading in the same direction. This means your freight will make a few stops along the way, picking up and dropping off other cargo. While it may take a bit longer to reach its destination compared to FTL shipping, it’s a more cost-effective option if you don’t need a whole truck.
LTL is ideal for businesses that ship smaller loads or don’t need their products to be delivered urgently. Plus, it offers flexibility in shipment sizes, making it a go-to option for many small to mid-sized companies. The beauty of LTL is that you only pay for the space your freight occupies, so you’re not wasting money on unused truck space. It’s an efficient way to ship without breaking the bank.
What other modes can be used through freight brokerage?
Freight brokerage offers a variety of shipping modes beyond just FTL and LTL. Depending on your needs, you can choose from several options:
Intermodal: This mode combines multiple types of transportation, such as rail and truck, to move freight efficiently. It’s ideal for long-distance shipping and can be more cost-effective than using just one mode of transport.
Expedited Shipping: When time is of the essence, expedited shipping ensures your freight moves as quickly as possible. This can involve dedicated trucks or even air transport to meet tight deadlines.
Partial Truckload: Similar to LTL but with fewer stops, partial truckload shipping is perfect when your freight is too large for LTL but doesn’t quite fill a whole truck. You share space with one or two other shipments, reducing costs while minimizing handling.
Flatbed Shipping: If your freight is oversized, heavy, or oddly shaped, flatbed trucks offer the flexibility needed to transport it. This mode is commonly used for construction materials, machinery, or large equipment that can't fit into a standard trailer.
Refrigerated (Reefer) Shipping: For temperature-sensitive goods like food, pharmaceuticals, or perishable items, refrigerated trucks ensure your cargo stays within a specific temperature range throughout its journey.
Drayage: This involves the short-distance transport of freight, usually between ports, rail yards, and warehouses. Drayage services are a key part of the supply chain for intermodal shipments.
Cross-Border Shipping: Freight brokerage can also help with cross-border logistics, ensuring your shipments move smoothly between countries with the necessary customs clearance and documentation.
These modes offer flexibility depending on your shipment’s size, destination, and urgency, allowing you to tailor your logistics strategy to your specific needs.
