What is dedicated transportation? Here’s what you need to know

For any business shipping freight across the US and beyond, managing freight transportation in-house can be complex and time-consuming. This is particularly challenging for small businesses with a packed schedule and a growing list of locations to ship to. 

Finding a way to make your shipping process reliable, consistent, and straightforward is crucial to streamline your logistics. Dedicated transportation services are a popular solution for businesses across the country. 

But what benefits do dedicated transportation services offer, and how do you know if it’s the right fit for your shipping needs? Here’s what you need to know.

What is dedicated transportation?

Dedicated transport is a logistics service that allocates a fixed portion of a trucking company’s fleet to a specific shipper for a set period of time. This is also commonly referred to as “dedicated trucking” or “dedicated freight”. 

Whatever the term used for this service, “dedicated” is the key: carriers dedicate a set number of trucks to haul a customer’s freight for the duration of their contract. 

As a result, a dedicated transport service is an effective way for businesses to access reliable shipping and logistics without the stress or responsibility of managing your own fleet of trucks. 

Benefits of dedicated transportation services

Here are some of the top benefits of using a dedicated trucking service:

Easier to comply with regulations and minimize risks

Transportation regulations can be complicated and change often. Keeping up to date with the latest compliance requirements can be challenging, but a dedicated freight transportation service will shoulder the burden for you.

Providers are responsible for complying with all relevant regulations, applying to everything from the carbon emissions generated by their fleet to their Hours of Service (HOS). 

As a result, you can minimize the risk of non-compliance and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your trucking company is playing by the rules. 

You always have the right fleet size for your shipping needs

When you sign up with a dedicated trucking provider, you’ll never need to worry about having too much or too little shipping capacity again. You won’t be paying for trucks that go unused for weeks or months, nor will you face the frustration of trying to find a vehicle to transport goods during busy periods. 

Trucking companies providing dedicated transport services will ensure that you always have the agreed level of shipping capacity. 

Dedicated transportation services help you stay flexible 

A company offering dedicated trucking services will allow you to scale up or down in line with current demand. They can recommend changes based on their experience during the off-season and peak periods. 

This gives you the flexibility to adjust your dedicated shipping as needed. Dedicated transportation lets you find the right arrangement for current (and expected) demand. 

Enjoy better budgeting and stable pricing

With dedicated freight transportation solutions, you pay a set price for your shipping for a specific period. 

Because both parties need to abide by the contract until it’s time to negotiate a new deal,

you can avoid fluctuating costs and manage your budget more effectively. 

Provide clients with reliable and consistent deliveries

A reputable trucking company will help keep to schedule and deliver timely services. This reliable shipping gives your customers and retailers a positive impression of your business. In return, they may be more likely to continue their contracts with you and recommend your business. 

When to choose dedicated transportation

Dedicated freight trucking may be the best option for you if:

• You have high-volume shipping needs
• You deal with short-mile shipments of 250 miles or less 
• You need greater shipping and scheduling consistency
• You would prefer not to manage your own fleet
• You want to set up a longer-term contract (most dedicated freight service contracts are three to five years long)

If one or more of these apply to you, it may be time to try a dedicated transport service. 

Work with DTS for dedicated transportation

Dedicated trucking services can optimize your shipping and provide a consistent, cost-effective solution. They make compliance easier, guarantee capacity, and help with managing costs. 

However, understanding your options and organizing any shipping method can be difficult. Fortunately, partnering with an experienced shipping logistics company makes it easy to find the right solution for you. 
DTS is your ideal transportation partner, with 35 years of experience helping businesses with domestic and international shipping services. To find out how we can help your business, get in touch today.