Carrier relationships are challenging to foster. We share helpful tips to form a working partnership with small and large shipping carriers that will allow you and your business to benefit in many ways!
Strong relationships contribute to spell out success for any business that is looking to grow! To increase the longevity of your company, constantly improve your relationships with shipping carriers, which play an integral part in your supply chain logistics.
For example, many carriers take pride in providing great customer service. Therefore, they represent you as they fulfill your last-mile delivery to customers. This means your success depends on their success! So, it is important to ensure that you build and maintain positive carrier relationships.
When it comes to negotiating contracts with your carrier, a pre-established relationship will play into the negotiation process. Set a positive tone to your negotiation conversation by developing a strong connection with the carrier account manager long before you negotiate. Who knows? You might be able to lower your overall service rates after implementing these strategies!
Trust us, it will make your life much easier and will also benefit your company in the long run.
The base of any relationship is trust. By building a trusting relationship, you set your company and your supply chain up for success!
You can build trust with your carriers by keeping them informed, meet any applicable deadlines, and express your gratitude. Essentially, be professional but also gracious! Be proactive with your desire to build relationships with your carriers. Reach out to your carriers more than once a year; send a quick email asking your account manager questions or wishing them happy holidays.
As you proceed with your professional relationship with your carrier, you’re constantly informing them the logistics of what needs to be delivered. Go above and beyond of the basics!
If you follow these ideas, you’re sure to lay a strong foundation with your carriers soon enough.
For a working relationship to be successful, you need to be transparent and honor your commitments with carriers. Even if it’s bad news, it’s better to be honest. It’s also important to keep your promises your carrier and in turn, they’ll keep their promises to you.
Full transparency helps build long-lasting relationships with your carriers. It takes time and effort, but it will pay off in the end!
Set your company apart from the others by providing carriers with value. If carriers see value in working with you, then they’ll be more likely to provide you with better benefits to keep the relationship.
Personalizing your connection with carriers makes you stand out from other companies. The value you can provide to carriers will improve your working relationship and potentially gain preferential treatment.
Building firm relationships with your carriers is just as important as building relationships with customers. You can’t provide services and meet customer expectations without a solid carrier to rely on. Therefore, it’s important to form strong carrier relationships by establishing trust, having a clear flow of communication, being transparent, and providing value to carriers.
When you approach the time for negotiating contracts, go into the conversation with a positive pre-established relationship to lower rates and learn of potential opportunities. With a strong relationship, you and your carrier can benefit from each other.