Unishippers' Freight Manager
Picking the Perfect Carrier

Unishippers' powerful online shipping tool, Freight Manager, is available free of charge to our customers at www.unishippers.com. Freight Manager makes your shipping process more efficient, while reducing your overall costs for both outbound and inbound shipments.

One of the greatest advantages of Freight Manager is its ability to assist users in selecting the best freight carrier for their shipment. There are a lot of variables to consider when it comes to preparing your shipment: cost, timeline, coverage area, etc.

This jumble of considerations can be streamlined with the assistance of Freight Manager. Here are some of the areas that you should consider before processing your next freight shipment with Freight Manager.

Cost
Because of the tens of thousands of customers who use Freight Manager and Unishippers as their one-stop shipping solution, Unishippers enjoys a very favorable position when it comes to negotiating rates with our carriers. This generally results in substantial savings over dealing directly with a carrier. Unishippers customers can be assured that as they view each carrier's estimated cost for their shipment in Freight Manager, they are getting the best value in the industry. The estimated cost of your shipment with each carrier is clearly displayed in Freight Manager, letting you select a carrier that will fit your budget.

Timeline
Oftentimes, a shipment will be very time-sensitive and need to arrive by a certain hour or day. Freight Manger will inform you of the estimated transit time for each potential lane, allowing you to match your carrier selection with your shipment's time frame.

Interline Avoidance
If a regional carrier does not have the ability to cover the entire route of your shipment, it will often use what is called an interline carrier. If by chance there is damage to your shipment while it's being handled by the interline carrier, you will often have to deal with both carriers during the claims process. Fortunately, Freight Manager will present you with clearly labeled national carrier options that will help you to choose a long haul carrier and avoid this potential issue.

Let Unishippers' Freight Manager help you pick the perfect carrier for your next shipment. If you have any questions about accessing or using Freight Manager, your local Unishippers representative will be happy to assist you.

Customer Chronicles
Ridethisbike.com Gears for Growth

In 2005, lifelong cycling enthusiast Larry Lagarde came to a realization. His love of cycling and constant travel required a bicycle that was portable, yet durable and of quality construction. As he considered all of the options that were then available, none of them met all the requirements he was seeking. Larry realized that his best option was to build the ideal portable bicycle himself, and went to work. Partnering with a local bicycle manufacturer, Larry helped design a new bicycle model. It quickly sold out, and Larry was suddenly the owner of a new business.

Since then, Ridethisbike.com has grown into one of the most successful sellers of portable bicycles in the country. Thousands of customers have come to realize the convenience and usefulness that folding bicycles offer. They are ideal for RV and apartment dwellers that don't have a lot of space or are concerned with theft. They also allow workers a healthy, environmentally friendly method of commuting.

Larry is currently running the business out of his home, and because of continued success and growth, he has plans to move to a more prominent retail location in the near future. He is constantly researching new designs, going to trade shows, and monitoring his inventory. Like most small business owners, he doesn't have time to worry about his shipping. For the past year, Larry has trusted this crucial part of his business to Unishippers, and the results have been outstanding.

After his previous carrier lost several bicycles, a frustrated Larry was referred to his local Unishippers office, and decided to give them a try. "I was impressed with Unishippers' service from the very start," he recalls. "I have never regretted my decision to ship with them. The service is consistent and consistently good."

The unique shipping needs of Larry's business run the gamut from large folding bicycles to small overnight packages. Regardless of the shipment type, Unishippers has delivered. "From express to freight, Unishippers does a terrific job," says Larry. "The pricing is great, but the personal relationship is what keeps me shipping. My local office did a lot of research for me regarding international shipments. The time they put in was just really impressive and definitely above and beyond. I just feel like Unishippers knows me and my business, and is always looking for ways to save me money."

The time and expense that Larry's relationship with Unishippers saves him means he can spend more time focused on his core business. As his company's sales and product line continue to grow, so will its need for a trusted, reliable shipping advisor. "Unishippers is absolutely great to do business with," Larry states. "The service is consistently excellent, and the personnel are exceptional. I look forward to many years of great shipping with them."

Carrier Spotlight: Roadrunner Transportation Services

Roadrunner Transportation Services, Inc. is a logistics and supply-chain management leader in the transportation industry. It is one of Unishippers' top carrier partners, and the two companies have enjoyed an extremely beneficial relationship for several years.

Roadrunner operates 17 strategically located nationwide terminals that provide outbound operations with full-state capabilities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Roadrunner offers customized LTL, Truckload, Expedited, Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and Specialized Service solutions. It doesn't use distribution centers, which results in a dramatic reduction in shipment transfers and minimizes product damage. Due to Roadrunner's centralized, light-asset based business model, low overhead costs ensure extremely competitive market rates.

"Overall, Roadrunner does a really great job for us," says Miles Shepard, Unishippers' Transportation Products Director. "They have a strong network across most of the country, they are very competitive on price, and they work exclusively in long hauls. This cuts the risk of damaged or lost shipments, and also increases speed."

"They are also really good about follow up," continues Miles. "If there are ever any issues, Roadrunner is responsive and attentive. Their people are really sensitive to shipment problems, and their customer service is well above most of the industry. Roadrunner is a highly valued carrier partner."

Guaranteed Service: What You Need To Know

One item to consider as you make your shipping preparations is Guaranteed Service. This option means exactly what it sounds like: for an additional fee, the carrier will guarantee that your shipment will arrive by a certain time on a certain day. Estimates of transit and deliver times given by carriers are exactly those: estimates. If you need to make sure your shipment gets priority from the carrier and arrives when you need it to, you need Guaranteed Service.

One advantage to Guaranteed Service is the fact that many carriers back the guarantee up with the promise of a complete refund if the shipment does not arrive at the specified time.

An additional advantage to Guaranteed Service is a reduced chance of damaged items or a lost shipment. Typically, Guaranteed Service shipments are sent out with two drivers, so that one may rest while the other one drives. Using two drivers to deliver the shipment straight to the destination means that the truck will not need to be unloaded and its contents transferred to other trucks en route, which can increase the chances of lost or damaged items.

It is important to remember that for many carriers, certain conditions have to be met for the guarantee to be effective. These conditions can include having an appointment, calling in the pickup by a certain time and having the pickup and/or deliver take place during normal business hours. Conditions vary by carrier, so make sure you make the proper inquiries before you select Guaranteed Service.

The only downside to Guaranteed Service is the increased cost. Depending on the lane and the carrier, the surcharge could vary from 20-40%. For extremely time-sensitive shipments, the reliability and timeliness of Guaranteed Service is well worth the extra expense. Conversely, if an absolute delivery date and time are less important, this service may not be necessary. Your local Unishippers office is happy to answer any questions regarding this or any other aspect of your shipment.

Saving You Time, Trouble and Money
Insurance: When Does it Make Sense?

Some of the most common questions from Unishippers customers deal with insurance. When does it make sense to purchase it? When is it better to pass on it? Here are a few guidelines to assist you in the decision-making process.

High-Value and Fragile Items
The most important thing to know about insurance is that if you have a high-value item, you should always add insurance through the carrier or a third-party underwriter. Anything valued at a few thousand dollars or more should be insured. Additionally, more damage-prone items such as glass and machinery are good candidates for insurance.

Liability Limit Issues
Standard coverage by carriers differs greatly between new and used equipment. Many customers are surprised to learn that coverage on used equipment can be as little as $.10 per pound with some carriers. Shippers who will be sending used machinery and similar items are advised to strongly consider purchasing additional insurance.

Shipments that have received a spot quote also generally have a liability limit that is much lower among most carriers. In these cases, it is again advisable to consider purchasing supplemental insurance.

When Insurance May Not Be Necessary
If you have a shipment that falls into the "50" weight class, such as steel and other durable materials, it is usually not necessary to purchase additional insurance. The odds of such a shipment becoming damaged are sufficiently small so as to negate any benefit supplemental insurance could offer.

Even well-informed shippers can occasionally be confused about when it is appropriate to purchase insurance. Your local Unishippers office is staffed with qualified, knowledgeable professionals who will help you make informed decisions about protecting your valuable shipments.

Fast Facts: Managed Items in Freight Manager

One of the many time- and trouble-saving features of Unishippers' Freight Manager tool is the ability to manage items. This useful feature can store the particulars you enter on a shipment, such as the commodity type, class, NMFC code, notes, description, etc. The next time you ship the same items, Freight Manager will automatically repopulate these fields with the managed items, saving you time and trouble.

Conveniently, if one of your future shipments varies in one or more of the particulars you entered, you can select a certain item and change it without needing to fill in the rest again.

To enjoy the benefits of this feature, simply click "Managed Items" when you are in the main Freight Manager screen.