The Top 5 Inbound Freight Best Practices for Furniture Retailers

Big rig long haul industrial freight white semi truck loading commercial cargo to dry van semi trailer standing at the warehouse dock gate in row with another loaded semi trucks and semi trailers

When you think about optimizing your shipping operations, the freight you receive from manufacturers and vendors might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, you have more control over your inbound shipping than you may realize, and when you have the right understanding, it can be easy to master. The HFA partner specializing in shipping, PartnerShip, has put together some of their top best practices that will help HFA members better manage inbound shipments.

Understand the difference between “prepaid” and “collect.” 

Inbound Management 101 starts with looking at how you pay for your freight. A common misconception is thinking that you need to pay for your inbound shipping when you’re not paying for it. This video will help you gain a good understanding of prepaid and collect and how you can make a switch that will help you save in the long run.

Learn how to accept freight and handle claims properly. 

You probably already know that sometimes the freight you receive can arrive damaged. It’s never ideal, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a total disaster. Having the proper procedures with your warehouse staff is the key to getting claims approved and paid out when the unthinkable happens. Find out the best steps to take with this helpful white paper.

Learn how to create and use routing instructions. 

Creating routing instructions for your vendors is a great way to ensure your inbound freight gets shipped at the best price and in the most efficient way for your business operations. Getting started is the hardest part, but we have you covered. With this blog post, we show you some examples, explain how to create your routings and give guidance on how to communicate them to your vendors.

Achieve vendor compliance. 

You’ve perfected your routing instructions, and you know exactly how to cut your costs. The only thing that needs to be added is getting your vendors to follow your lead. This blog post gives you a few pro tips to get those relationships on track.

Follow the four steps to gain control of your inbound shipping. 

When you’re ready to look at your inbound shipping operations, you’ll want to check out this all-encompassing white paper. It’ll guide you through the four important steps you’ll need to take to cut your costs and help everything run smoothly. Find out exactly what you need to do and get tips for executing them.

Figuring out how to effectively manage your inbound shipping can be easy. These resources can point you in the right direction, but you can do some things with others. PartnerShip can help members implement these important strategies and save time. Get set up with discounted pricing, create your routing instructions, and help ensure vendor compliance. Contact PartnerShip to learn more.

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