| By :
Mark Etinger
Freight rates are on the rise -- FedEx and UPS' raised their rates by roughly 7% and 6% respectively, and a town in Australia recently had to appeal to the city council because of the effects rising rates were having on their cost of living. In lieu of the increases, here are a few ways to save money when you ship freight. 1. Open an Account - Freight shippers are more likely to give you a discount and offer more payment options if you open an account with them. It doesn't matter if you only plan on using it once -- in the long run it will be worth it. 2. Ask About Discounts. - Many shippers will be happy to oblige if you ask about a discount (especially if you've opened an account with them); since every company's discount policies are different, just ask if they can give you any sort of discount. 3. Don't Wait Until the Last Minute - The premiums on expedited shipping can be astronomical; unless it's absolutely necessary, don't overnight anything. 4. Request a Longer Route - Similarly, if you ship far ahead of time, or don't need your goods to arrive by a specified date, you can ask them to be sent with a carrier that will need to make several stops before reaching its final destination. Freight rates are lower for things that don't need to go directly to their destination. 5. Be Ready on Time - Make sure you're prepared at the time of the scheduled pick-up, as many companies will charge an extra fee if the item isn't ready on time because they're losing time, and therefore money. 6. Only Ship at Certain Times - Check to see if any overrate fees apply during certain times of the day; if they do, do what you can to avoid shipping during those times. 7. Do Your Research - Look into every shipping method the company offers to see which is the least expensive. For example, if you're shipping abroad, by air is more costly than by sea. Of course this means that you'll need to plan farther ahead in advance so that your package arrives when you want it to. Ground shipping, as well, is much less expensive than sending it on a plane. 8. Choose an Open Pallet - Certain containers offer higher levels of security and protection than others; these, however, will be more expensive. Closed containers, typically in sizes of 20 feet and 40 feet, are the most costly, or you can get a smaller container if you don't need that much space. A shared container is a bit less expensive, and an open pallet, on which the shipment will simply be stacked and then wrapped in cellophane, is the least expensive. If you choose an open pallet, you will have to put more effort into making sure your shipment is packed securely. The economy might be on its way back to stability, but regardless of what kind of condition it's in, it's always smart to save money when you can. Keep these tips in mind the next time you use a freight shipper and save that money for a rainy day!
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