How to choose the right transport broker
You have an outright dependence
on third party resources to ship your produce and selecting the right broker
for goods transport services in your
city can make or break your business. While we understand you have only a few
options when it comes to your transportation services and freight needs – the
brokers, the truck owner or the transport company, not all options provide
equal services.
When you decide to work with a
transport broker, you obviously need to ensure you are getting the best in
customer service in terms of safety and reliability of goods transportation in India and all the formalities that make up
to an end-to-end logistics services.
The most important characteristic of engaging with a broker is to make sure
your relationship is built on trust and communication. Beyond trust, you are
also required to sign up a formal contract built on the safety features towards
the consignment they would manage.
Your broker must be specialized
and should define the areas of specialization – FTL, LTL, Flat-Bed, Muti-axel,
Reefer. Throughout the partnership, they may be able to cover your cargo
insurance in India that is fully compliant by IRDA to give you much needed
comfort. We present the top factors to consider when selecting a transport
broker:
1.
Registered
operator: You must ensure the transport broker you are negotiating with is
credible with a legal entity. As with any business, it is essential in India
for a transport broker to obtain registration and compliance certifications.
The following registrations are mandatory;
a. Registration
from the Registrar of Companies
b. GST
certification
c. Road
Transport Authority certification
d. International
Air Transport Association (IATA)
e. Air
Cargo Agent Association of India (ACCAI)
f. IRDA
approved Insurance agent
It is also
important to be a part of industry forums like Institute of Logistics to keep
track of any kind of issues raised by you. Income Tax Department registration
is another form of credible company registration in India.
2.
Area
of specialization: Out of desperation to obtain business, most transport
brokers will offer you most of the services, but it is not necessary that they
specialize in all. When choosing a broker to ship your consignment, check their
specialization through their previous records. It is important to get their
specialization to get accurate rate quotes since they would have a hold in
their vertical.
3.
Stringent
verification process: The transport broker you choose for a contract should
only be working with the most reputed truck owners or transport companies.
Before signing them you must ensure if they verify a transporter’s credentials
through their own KYC process. They should be duty bound to check the safety
ratings in India through trusted sources like Trukor.
4.
Consignment
tracking: Your consignment visibility is an essential clause when choosing
a transport broker. Using load tracker allows you to keep an eye on your
shipment and manage all troubles before they could cause much harm.
5.
Substantial
history of business:There are many fly-by-night operators in freight forwarding industry. An
established transport broker will not only have specialization and experience
on their side, but will also have deep relationships with the truckers.
When you work
with an experienced transport broker with a certain specialization that meets
your specific requirements makes a huge difference in your logistics operations
for transportation services. With
the current market dynamics, it becomes a strategic step for you to engage with
a freight broking platform like Trukor
to effectively navigate your logistics requirements through a capacity crunch.
