4 Tips for Choosing the Best Cargo Shipping Company

Containerized cargo makes the world go ‘round. In fact, it’s estimated that there are around 20 million shipping containers in the world, making up to 200 million trips in a single year. 

That goes to show you the essential role containers play in our lives. From medicine to food- it’s on the shelves at your neighborhood corner store because cargo shipping got it there.

If your business is looking for containerized cargo services, how can you be sure to choose the best shipping company for the job?

In this post, I’ll share 4 tips to get you started on the right path!

1. Ask yourself: what shipping services am I looking for?

Before you go with the first logistics company you see on Google, sit down and work out the fine details of your shipment. 

Some shipping companies may focus on one distinct service, while others may offer a wide range of logistics services and equipment all in one place. 

You may already have the fleet to take care of the drayage once your containers roll into port, or you may need warehousing specifically for containers. 

Whatever your load requires, get the details down pat to help you narrow down the shipping companies that adequately meet your needs.

2. Ask about container sizes and capacity

Do you know containers or are you new to the game? When shopping around for a shipping company, ask about container sizes and capacity. 

Depending on your load size, you’ll want to make sure that you have access to containers that have enough room to carry it. Duh...but this is very important. For example, say you have a LTL load that doesn’t fill an entire container. 

You’ll end up spending extra for unused space, when instead, you could’ve gone with a dry van or even shared a large container with other shipments to save money.

3. What kind of supply chain management tools are used?

It’s 2021, and technology is king. It most certainly makes shipping containers a lot easier, with fast tools that automatically record, track and provide status updates from point A to point B. 

Security technology is also important, especially if your container will be traveling on a truck overnight. 

Ask the shipping company about the logistics software they use to monitor and track cargo for more streamlined service and real-time updates.

4. Are they licensed, registered and insured?

One way to check if a shipping company is reputable is by asking about licensing and insurance. 

They should have no problem showing you their records, including a NVOCC number with the Department of Maritime commission. 

Take it to another level by asking for customer testimonials. This is usually easy to find online since business reviews are common nowadays, but these are the little questions that can help you make a mindful choice when selecting a responsible and reliable shipping partner.