Evaluating Carrier Relationships for Third-Party Logistics Providers

A Guide for Your Short and Long-Term Carrier Sourcing Needs 

Over the last year, the amount of goods being shipped has dramatically increased, straining capacity for freight carriers around the world. Logistics providers are left struggling to find carriers at competitive prices. You need to be competitive now, so you might turn to the spot market. But with so much market uncertainty, how can you know whether you’re signing an agreement that will still be viable three months down the road? Do you establish new contracts with incumbent carriers or reach out to new suppliers? No one can predict the future, so you need to build a transportation sourcing strategy for your clients that will solve their immediate needs but also last into the future.

With a dedicated sourcing tool for complex sourcing events, you can quickly set up new events to find carriers for your customers’ rapidly changing needs. Constantly reoptimize shipping lanes to take advantage of shifting prices. Detailed bid requirements and constraints, risk analysis, and supplier communications all help you determine which carriers will be viable now through the crisis recovery period. While you might be worried about rocking the boat with current carriers, your top priority is finding the right vendors for your customers without fear of price changes and spotty reliability. With our guide, see how you can get an accurate picture of the transportation landscape and make informed award decisions.

Are you ready to start managing your urgent carrier needs?

In this checklist, you’ll get clear steps to: 

• Determine whether you need a short-term or long-term carrier  
• Consider price and non-price factors in your transportation bids 
• Evaluate your carriers’ current situations and opportunities 

• Consider risk factors of changing carriers 

Get clear direction on how to balance your customers’ short-term needs with long term stability and manage future carrier requirements while considering incumbents. Download the checklist now!