There’s no denying that road freight is a crucial backbone of any country’s logistics network. Those long-distance vehicles transport goods from airports and seaports to distribution centers and goods hubs in key cities across the land.
The trouble is, not every road freight business is a success, and the sad truth is the reasons for that are down to simple omissions. If you run a road freight company, you want to ensure it’s successful for many decades to come.
Keeping that in mind, here are some essential things your business must have to remain successful and a key player in the logistics sector:
Secure fleet storage
Let’s face it: the last thing you want to happen is for some criminals to steal your expensive semi-trucks. Such an action will be disruptive for any road freight firm and could even put small companies out of business.
Ensure that your fleet storage location is secure with perimeter fencing, access controls, and security personnel.
GPS tracking
You’ll also want to know where your fleet is at any given moment. When your team is out on the road, they will seldom have much opportunity to call your head office and tell you their current location.
GPS tracking ensures your company knows where each vehicle is currently and that all updates are live. You’ll also find that some insurance companies won’t provide cover for your fleet without an active GPS tracking solution in place.
Depot fuel dispensing pumps
When you maintain a fleet of several semi-trucks, it’s convenient to have a way of fueling those vehicles at your depot. You might not know it, but you can have fuel dispensing pumps and tanks for diesel and DEF installed at your premises.
Companies such as Gilbarco Veeder-Root offer diesel fuel dispensing solutions similar to what you’d find at gas stations.
The only difference, of course, is they’re for commercial use rather than retail. And companies like PEAKHD can provide pumping systems for DEF that meet and exceed all relevant EPA standards.
The right talent pool
When people look at what makes a business successful, most will just assume it’s to do with the products or services offered. The thing is, any company’s most important assets and the reasons for their success are the people working in it.
There’s no point offering a product or service if you don’t have the right employees in your team to deliver those products and services. That’s why it makes sense to take your time when hiring new team members.
For example, you only want the best drivers transporting your customer’s products across the country. Plus, you want to ensure they have the utmost care, attention, and respect for both the vehicles they drive and the loads they carry.
Final thoughts
It’s relatively straightforward to set up a new road freight business, even on a limited budget. But, it can often be challenging to make it successful, especially in a saturated market. Hopefully, the above points will have given you some food for thought on the subject.
Thanks for reading – and good luck.
