What is a freight management company? {return to top}
Very simply, it's an individual or a company that brings together a shipper that needs to transport goods with an authorized motor carrier that wants to provide the service. A freight management company falls into the category of transportation intermediary, which is a company that is neither a shipper nor an asset-owning carrier, but plays a role in the movement of cargo. Freight management companies provide an important and valuable service to both motor carriers and shippers. They help carriers fill the trucks and they help shippers find reliable motor carriers that they (the shippers) might not have otherwise known about. In fact, some companies use freight management companies as their traffic department, allowing them to coordinate all their shipping needs.
Why use a freight management company? {return to top}
Many businesses have limited resources to staff an in-house traffic or logistics department. Instead, they source that work out to a freight management company. These companies are in daily communication with the trucking industry and have the expertise to negotiate competitive freight rates while maintaining the customer’s delivery schedule. So, why use a freight management company?
A shipper’s main business is in making and selling their product(s). The freight management company’s business is moving those products from origin to destination. It is very expensive for the shipper to have the in-house expertise to handle all of the details in getting a product from the manufacturer to the warehouse or from the warehouse to the retailer. Shippers will do better by focusing on what they do best and outsourcing the transportation to a freight management company.
A freight management company also has access to a much larger base of carriers than a shipper does. Even though the shipper may work with a number of carriers, the freight management company works with thousands of carriers, giving them the types and availability of equipment the shipper needs.
Freight management companies also use the size of their network and the volume of freight they manage as leverage for the best service at the best price. The majority of trucking companies do not have a sales staff. They rely on freight management companies to identify available loads. So, a carrier has a greater chance of securing regular moves because the freight management company is dealing with various shippers across the country.
In summary, freight management companies serve as excellent transportation managers and consultants so the shipper can free up their resources to do other things.
How long has San Antonio Merchant Shippers been in business? {return to top}
San Antonio Merchant Shippers, LLC was founded in the mid 1980’s and is based in San Antonio, TX.
What transportation services do you provide? {return to top}
San Antonio Merchant Shippers, LLC offers full and partial truckloads, LTL freight consolidation, and heavyweight airfreight for our customers across the United States.
What tpe of equipment does San Antonio Merchant Shippers have access to? {return to top}
We have access to a wide variety of equipment.
What are your hours of operation? {return to top}
Our office is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, Monday through Friday.
Are you a member of any national associations? {return to top}
San Antonio Merchant Shippers is a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association. TIA is the only national organization exclusively representing transportation intermediaries of all disciplines doing business in domestic and international commerce.
Through TIA, San Antonio Merchant Shippers is also a member of the Platinum Performance Program (P3). P3 is a contractual best practices agreement for property brokers, freight forwarders, motor carriers, and freight bill audit/payment companies that desire to achieve a higher level of customer service and operating performance. P3 was developed by TIA for its member brokers and forwarders as well as freight bill audit/payment and trucking companies wishing to conduct business using common terms and conditions.
There is a link on your website to Bee Trucking, Inc. Who are they? {return to top}
Bee Trucking, LLC is a sister company to San Antonio Merchant Shippers. They operate about 140 trucks and over 200 dry van trailers all over the U.S. Both companies have worked together since the 1980’s to bring dedicated transportation services to their customers. With a debt-free balance sheet, both companies continue to expand with friendly personnel and satisfied customers.
What territory do you cover? {return to top}
We cover the lower 48 United States and into Canada.
Do you handle permit loads? {return to top}
Yes. San Antonio Merchant Shippers, LLC has the ability to move oversize (length, width or height) equipment in a safe and reliable manner.
What about insurance coverage for my truckload freight? {return to top}
San Antonio Merchant Shippers only conducts business with truckload carriers who contractually agree in writing that they meet or exceed the following insurance requirements: public liability and property damage, $1,000,000; motor vehicle liability, $1,000,000; cargo loss and damage, $100,000. If the value of the shipment is greater than the carrier’s motor cargo coverage, then arrangements can be made for additional coverage.
