Spring brings blooming flowers, warmer weather, and, let’s face it, lots of objectives for the new year to get accomplished ASAP! The daily fires get in the way of accomplishing all the objectives you need to complete before the next peak season rolls in.
Spring typically means wrapping up those annual carrier bids and getting the annual contract carriers awards established. Those awesome new technology projects are best tackled in the Spring.
Yet unplanned initiatives coming from your C-suite or the tactical issues can wreak havoc on your shipping optimization plans, but with a proactive approach, you can handle all these “Big Hairy Goals” like a seasoned pro.
Let’s break down how to prepare for the unpredictable nature of spring shipping.
1. Forecast Early - The best way to avoid surprises is to predict them. Dive into last year’s shipping data to identify when and where volume spikes occurred. Are certain products or regions more active in spring? Knowing this now can help you stay one step ahead.
2. Optimize Your Routes - It’s not solely about speed. It’s about efficiency. Smarter routes reduce transit times and cut costs. Use data to pinpoint unnecessary detours or bottlenecks and adjust your routes to match demand patterns.
3. Review Carrier Capacity - Assuming your carriers can handle spring’s unplanned surge is risky business. Touch base with them now to confirm capacity and avoid unpleasant surprises later. A little communication today can save you a lot of frustration tomorrow.
4. Limited Resources – You have a lot to do, higher fractional support to move the projects forward faster. Do it in a smart way that allows you to bring the experienced resources on as you need, set the assignment, and then let them run with the project.
Spring shipping doesn’t have to be a thorn in your side. With careful planning, route optimization, and strong carrier relationships, you can breeze through the season while keeping your customers happy.
Need help navigating the spring rush?
Freight Think has you covered.
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