It doesn’t matter if your company is a new startup or an experienced business. When you’re dealing with physical goods, you’ll need to ship items from one destination to another. Most companies don’t have the bandwidth or resources to handle their own shipping internally. So, they may outsource to a third-party logistics company (3pl.)
When vetting the right logistics company for your business, you may face the decision of whether to choose a national or local partner. But while you might assume that bigger is better, that may not always be the case. In fact, sometimes a smaller logistics provider could be a better fit for your needs.
Below, learn about the potential benefits of working with a local logistics provider, and discover a New England trucking company that’s ready for the task.
What is a Logistics Provider?
A logistics company is an organization who can handle business needs like warehousing, packing and shipping, trucking, and distribution.
Logistics companies can come in several different sizes, from international corporations to local small or medium-sized businesses. They may also offer a different scale or scope of their overall services.
For example, a national carrier might directly transport items cross-country while hiring local contractors for specific regions. On the other hand, a smaller transportation company might directly deliver throughout the local area, while contracting through partner carriers for long-distance deliveries.
Benefits of Working With a Local Logistics Provider
Centralized Location
A local logistics company’s warehouse may sit in the heart of your community, often near major freeways or infrastructure. Therefore, your shipments won’t need to travel cross-country to reach their destination, and they can make it out of the facility faster.
Familiar Drivers
A regional transportation company will have contracts with local truck drivers, who are already familiar with your area. Therefore, they can rely on years of experience to choose the roads with the fastest routes. They know when and where traffic will likely clog roadways, and they can switch to a more efficient route.
Local Logistics = Lower overhead
Smaller companies have less overhead than bigger corporations. Therefore, while a local trucking company may have access to fewer overall resources, they also don’t need to pay for the upkeep. This means that they can pass these cost-savings onto your business.
What’s more, a local logistics provider may have closer connections or standing deals with independent contractors, like truck drivers, allowing them to secure lower rates for shipping.
More Personalized Service With Local Logistics
Because a bigger company has more clients, their customer service team will be spread thin handling the workload. Therefore, they may try to fit you into a standardized service package, rather than customizing their services to fit your needs.
Meanwhile, a local company with fewer overall clients can devote more time and attention to your logistics needs. This could give you a closer working relationship with your logistics company and allow them to tailor their services especially for you.
Increased Bandwidth
Supply chains are usually the busiest between late summer to fall. During this time, national logistics companies may struggle to meet the needs of thousands of clients. Meanwhile, a local company can narrow their focus to you and your specific region. They won’t need to divert resources to someone on the other side of the country.
Support Your Local Community
Lastly, supporting a local company allows you to put your money back into the local economy. You’re directly supporting the economy in your community, and developing a working relationship with a fellow business owner.
Work with a Local New England Trucking Company
If you’re ready to work with a local transportation company that goes above and beyond, N&D is here to help. We’ve served the Rhode Island community for over 50 years, and we’re happy to bring our in-depth logistics experience to your business.
Our 12-acre Rhode Island facility has a centralized location just off I-46, allowing us to get shipments on the road as soon as possible. We offer direct distribution services throughout the New England area, including Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.
Additionally, we also have full-time local truck drivers and own over 100 pieces of equipment ready to deploy, allowing us to ship your items quickly, efficiently, and with the level of care your business deserves.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can fulfill your local logistics needs.
