In the dull grey of the legal world, understanding the definition of private carrier is an important part of keeping your business running. Private carriers, simply put, are transportation services that do not operate for the general public. Private carriers have customers who are restricted to only using the transportation service, and all of the service’s rates are privately negotiated with those customers.
Private carriers can use both public roads and intermodal systems to operate and provide services, such as rail, truck, or even air delivery. Private carriers are also commonly used for courier services, such as special packages, mail delivery, and for bank deposits.
Reasons to Use Private Carriers
Using private carriers for transportation is becoming more popular among businesses for a number of reasons. Private carriers provide more measures of monitoring and security when it comes to goods, as they are more exclusive and create a private relationship with customers, meaning companies can keep a better eye on products that are being transported.
Private carriers also tend to have more flexibility in terms of scheduling with customers compared to using public services. Typically, private carriers operate on a round trip system with transit time and speed alterations, meaning less time on the road and more time for loading and unloading trucks.
Choosing a Private Carrier
When it comes to selecting a private carrier, one should thoroughly research all of the different companies and their services before making a decision. It’s important to inquire about their record of reliability, how they store and transport goods, and their pricing. One should also keep in mind the services they need to be carried out, as some companies are better equipped for things such freight forwarding or other specialized services.
At the end of the day, when trying to determine whether private carriers are right for you and your business, remember a little extra work on the front-end researching the best company and services for you will save your business time and money in the end.