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Two Tips To Help You Grow Your Hot Shot Shipping Service

by Harry Martin

If you're in the hot shot shipping industry, you're likely always looking for ways to run your business more efficiently.  Because hot shot shipping involves lots of last minute orders, it can be difficult to plan correctly so that you are not making trips with less than a full load.  Use this information to learn more about what you can do to streamline your business so that you can increase your bottom line.

Staying Connected Is The Key

Some hot shot shippers make the mistake of relying solely on the computers that are located at their main building facility. This is a mistake because orders are constantly coming through that need to be shipped, and the information that you are working with even two hours after you last checked the job boards is likely to be completely different.

For example, you may be scheduled to drop off a load in Los Angeles, California.  However, if you only have a partial load, you may be looking to pick up another haul so that you can maximize your gas mileage and time.

If you are connected while you are on the road, you may notice that a load has just been posted online that needs to be taken from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, CA.  Since this is already along your route, it's the perfect way for you to make the most of your trip.  If you are not connected while on the road, you just missed out on the chance to grab the job and increase your profits.

The best way to avoid this is to install a laptop stand in your truck.  The laptop stands are usually situated adjacent to the driver's seat so that you can easily access the laptop that is on top of the stand when you are stopped for rest or food.  You can even choose to keep the laptop continually mounted so that you can see the jobs that are coming through in real time and nab one the fits into your route.

Avoid Cancelling A Job At All Costs

One of the worst things you can do as a hot shot shipper is to cancel a job.  The hauls that you pick up are already considered urgent because the individual sending them out is willing to pay the extra bucks to have them hauled overnight.  If you cancel an assignment, not only is it going to cause the sender to lose money, you also stand to lose out because the sender may post negative information onto the job boards that cause other senders to avoid using your services.

If some unavoidable emergency has come up that you absolutely must fulfill, be sure to offer a thorough explanation for the cancellation to your client.  You may even want to offer a free or discounted haul in the future as compensation so that you will remain in their good graces.

Growing your hot shot shipping service doesn't have to be difficult if you know what to do.  Start using these tips right away so you can watch your business expand. For more information, contact a business such as OCEAN Hauling & Hotshot Ltd.

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