FIND A CROSS-BORDER SHIPPING COMPANY YOU CAN COUNT ON
1. What is its geographic reach?
The U.S. and Canada continue to be each other’s largest trading partner. Yet, some freight carriers ship only regionally within Canada or the U.S., which can result in additional handling for your freight. Opting for a carrier with a wide geographic reach ensures your shipping needs will be met even if you expand.
2. How many service centres does it have?
Some carriers ship irregularly. Opting for a carrier with plenty of service centres ensures your loads can be moved regularly and predictably. Old Dominion currently operates 231 service centers, 32 transfer points, with more than 20,000 employees providing full coverage of the US and proximity to all major ports and hub points.
3. What is its claims ratio?
A freight company’s claims ratio tells you how often goods are lost or damaged en route to their endpoint. Although the claims ratio is not a guarantee of future performance, it’s a pretty good indicator. “At Old Dominion we pride ourselves on having one of the lowest claims ratios in the industry, at .32 percent,” says Jerry Aaron, Director, Global North America for ODFL.
4. Does it use state-of-theart trucks and packaging procedures?
Cutting-edge equipment and packing systems reduce the possibility that goods will be damaged during transport. Seek a carrier that consistently utilises damage prevention tools such as adjustable truck decks, straps for securing loads and air bags for cushioning loads against bumps and bangs.
5. What happens if things go wrong?
When things go awry, voicemail just doesn’t cut it. Opt for a carrier with a strong reputation for customer service. A strong shipping partner will offer advice and guidance on secure packaging, customs procedures and forms, and will review the complete handling and shipment process with you.
6. Can you follow your load along the shipping route?
There’s plenty of anxiety associated with waiting for an important supply shipment without which your line will come to a grinding halt, or wondering whether the promotional inventory advertised will actually arrive before the sale. But sophisticated software can provide peace of mind that your shipment is proceeding as it should. Old Dominion’s awardwinning technology offers many ways to get information and keep up with your LTL shipments.In addition to enhanced tracking and tracing, its online tool, ODFL4me, gives registered customers access to online rate estimators, pickup scheduling, reports, payment history and more.
7. Has the freight carrier earned any awards for service?
Past awards give you a sense of whether you can expect stellar customer service from your freight line. OD is regularly recognized within the shipping industry, from organizations as varied as the Environmental Protection Agency, B2B consulting firm Mastio and Company, and the American Trucking Association.
8. How long has it been in business?
Longevity is an indicator that a company has managed to satisfy its customers over time. “Old Dominion was founded in 1934, so we’ve been around more than 80 years and we’ve been bringing loads into Canada for the past 30 years,” says Aaron. “You don’t stick around that long if you aren’t doing things right.”