Choosing the right trucking company for your business needs is important but most people only look at the cost. This, though understandable, is not really the right way to go about it. There are more things to know and questions that need answering in order to choose the right one, so don’t base a decision solely on a quote.

Even though the costs are important, you should also ask yourself what are you getting out of the quoted price. You will need a Canadian trucking company that is affordable but also offers the services that you need and require in order that your freight reaches its destination, safe and on time. Here are a few things to look for.

1. How Long Have They Been In Business?

One thing you should find out is how long the company has been in business. This is a good start, as this will give you an indication of their experience. A newer company may not have the greatest of experience yet and could still be ‘feeling’ their way around. This is not something you want for your business.

The newer companies may still be trying to figure out how to get merchandise to a destination on time while keeping it all intact. The experienced guys have done it and worn the t-shirt, so you would feel more confident with them.

A larger, more experienced company would also be more likely to have ongoing training for employees covering important areas such as efficiency and safety. You can ask the company if they have ongoing training and if they do, you should consider doing business with them.

2. Fee Structure

Cost is important, but don’t be too thrilled if you think it is cheap and sounds great. Remember, if this is the case, then you have to think that perhaps the cost is low because they may be cutting corners or sacrificing other areas, so the service may not be that great. It may also be risky, so proceed with caution.

Make sure to understand the fee structure so that it meets with your requirements. You do not want any hidden fees or surprises later on, so the more transparent, the better. A good trucking company will be able to provide you with fees and billing that suits your business.

3. Availability

A trucking company has to be available for 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. This also means that whenever you call, there must be a ‘live’ person there that you should be able to talk to, so that any questions or concerns are answered immediately.

4. Are Expedited Services Offered?

Sometimes, you may need to make a difficult or near-impossible delivery and meet a specific deadline. You need to be confident that the trucking company can offer you a team of drivers as well as expedited services in order to make the delivery deadline.

5. Load Sizes

Some companies only offer a full-size load while others will accept smaller or partial loads. Only you know what you require, so if you require both, keep this in mind. If not, you will end up going back and forth between companies according to the load size.

6. Equipment & Staff

You never know what’s round the corner and your business could boom overnight. You need to go with a trucking company that has all the necessary equipment and manpower to load and deliver everything in a timely manner. If this becomes an issue, you will end up paying extra even for small and easy tasks.

You need to hire a trucking company that provides the type of services that you require for your business. There are trucking companies that can handle a variety of needs and can meet with your demands which will allow you to run your business smoothly.