Did you know that last year, about 7.95 million people got a job in the trucking industry? Now, a total of 3.6 million people are professional truck drivers.
As you can see, the trucking industry is expansive, serving as a reliable service for businesses of all types. If you run a business that involves frequent delivery of goods or services from places, you’ll need to hire trucking services.
Trucking can be helpful in various situations; however, each type has its pros and cons. Here are five commonly used trucking services that can help you succeed in the industry.
What Are Trucking Services Good For?
Hiring a trucking service for your business is necessary if you’re business depends on transporting goods. You can transport items like meals, household items, raw materials, construction supplies, and finished or processed products.
Some of the most common uses for trucking in this niche industry include:
- Produce, dairy, and dry goods
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, and meats
- Building materials, asphalt, and gravel
Various types of trucking services are available depending on your needs and preferences. Some businesses prefer to haul perishable goods due to the potential hazards of using air freight.
1. Partial Truckload
A partial truckload involves loading just a portion of the shipment at one time. For example, if you have a 20-foot container of goods that you need to ship, you can drop off your first 5 feet at the same time. The remaining 15 feet of cargo will be loaded into another container or onto a trailer that follows behind the first.
Once you’ve finished unloading your cargo, you can take the second container or trailer and return it to its origin. This allows you to complete the entire shipment in one trip.
Partial trucking services are often used when you have very large shipments that don’t fit into a single shipping container. And since you only need to transport a portion of the cargo at once, there’s less chance of damage during transit.
Businesses hire partial trucking services that need to ship their goods from one location to another as quickly as possible. In addition, these services are more affordable than full truckload shipments. That’s because they involve fewer trips back and forth between origin and destination.
2. Full Truckload
Full truckload is a type of freight transportation service that involves shipping a load of one or more containers from point A to point B. Full truckload is the industry standard for inter-city shipping. Yet, it also has some specific applications.
Full truckload is also useful when transporting goods from one country to another. This service is also the best way to ship large items, such as machinery and large vehicles. Plus, companies hire full truckload services to transport small loads if they are not too heavy.
3. Flatbed Trucking Service
Flatbed trucks are very common in the transportation industry. These trucks are designed to carry very heavy goods that need to be transported over longer distances.
Flatbeds have a much larger capacity than other types of trucks, making it possible to transport a large amount of cargo. Flatbed trucks can also be customized to fit your needs so that you can choose the right configuration for your specific shipment.
They are usually used to transport food, machinery, and fuel. Flatbed trucks usually carry around 70% more cargo than regular tractor-trailers. They have a higher range and can be loaded more slowly.
This allows them to complete more daily trips without stopping for fuel or maintenance. When choosing a flatbed trucking company, it’s important to look at their track record, insurance status, and licensing. You want a reputable company with experience working with heavy loads and the necessary insurance coverage.
4. Refrigerated Trucks
Refrigerated trucks transport perishable goods like fruits, meats, dairy products, and produce. Refrigerated trucks have special compartments designed to hold these goods, allowing safe transportation to their destination.
Grocery stores also use refrigerated trucks to transport their goods directly to the customer. Refrigerated trucks can come in a wide range of sizes depending on the type of goods being transported.
They can either tow one or more trailers or be self-powered. Everyday tasks for truck drivers include:
- Loading and unloading freight
- Making delivery runs and picking up loads
- Driving through congested traffic
- Driving off-road
- Operating heavy equipment in remote areas
A driver’s day typically begins before sunrise and ends long after sunset. Overtime is common as punctual delivery times are crucial to a company’s bottom line.
5. Intermodal Freight Shipping
Intermodal freight transportation involves transporting freight from one mode to another. The most common intermodal shipment is moving cargo from a truck to a train. This kind of service is also referred to as “heavy hauling.”
It’s also called “general intermodal,” “wholesale intermodal,” or “wholesale transportation.” It includes non-trucked or containerized freight.
Many industries use intermodal services, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and construction. Intermodal services are cheaper than trucking and more efficient than shipping by air. This is due to their ability to move larger volumes of cargo at a faster rate.
They are also more environmentally friendly since they require less fuel and produce fewer emissions. Intermodal services can speed up the delivery time of shipments by combining multiple modes of transport such as trucking and rail.
Hire Trucking Services For Your Business
Trucking companies are a great option if you need to transport many goods quickly and over a long distance. Not only does it provide a reliable service, but it also ensures that your goods travel safely and arrive on time.
At Patriot Freight Group, we offer a wide variety of trucking services that will definitely help your business. Contact us today for more information!
