Freight carriers perform the vital duty of transporting goods across the country. Thousands of businesses rely on these carriers for their day-to-day operations. However, few people realize the challenges carriers must overcome when transporting freight on road. Let’s look at some of these challenges and how it is possible to work around them.
1.Poor Road Conditions
Let’s face it, the roads tend to be terrible in many cities. It’s not uncommon to see busy roads riddled with deep cracks, large potholes, and general signs of wear and tear. Many cities are reluctant or slow to correct these issues. As a result, many freight carriers encounter poor road conditions when making deliveries.
Such road conditions create delays because they slow down traffic. In some cases, they may even cause accidents. Freight carriers can avoid such problems by planning their delivery routes beforehand and avoiding such roads. It’s impossible to avoid poor road conditions in some cities, but it is still possible to minimize the amount of time spent driving on them.
2.Weather Conditions
Many states experience harsh weather conditions during different parts of the year. This could be intense rainfall or tornadoes in the summer, or icy storms in the winter. Bad weather conditions create delays and also have the potential to damage trucks. It can be difficult to avoid poor weather conditions, especially when freight carriers have planned their delivery date many weeks in advance.
Many carriers prepare for poor weather by training their drivers on how to drive safely in such conditions. They may also fit their trucks with specialized equipment such as ice tires to get around certain weather hurdles. However, extreme weather such as storms can’t be avoided, so the carrier may need to delay their shipment for a day or two.
3.Accidents
Accidents can be a relatively common occurrence for any vehicle that spends most of the day on the road. Minor accidents may not seem like cause for concern, but they can still cripple a truck and prevent drivers from driving any further. Many carriers reduce the risk of accidents by performing rigorous truck safety checks before hitting the road. However, this does not eliminate the risks posed by other vehicles or pedestrians.
Carriers can minimize the risk of accidents by offering their drivers defensive driving training.
4.Fuel Costs
Fuel makes up one of the most significant operating costs for freight carriers. After all, driving any vehicle that weighs several tons would result in high fuel costs. To make matters worse, fuel is wasted whenever these vehicles get stuck in heavy traffic and are forced to move at a snail’s pace. Some carriers get around these problems by teaching their drivers fuel saving driving methods.
Why Choose Action Transport Inc?
Most freight carriers must deal with the problems mentioned above on a regular basis. These problems can cause delays or even harm your freight. At Action Transport Inc, we can help connect you with freight carriers that prioritize safety and efficiency with their deliveries. Get your freight delivered safely and on time with the help of our freight broker services.