A good hauler is a valuable resource for small and medium-sized municipalities. Look for a company with a large dealer network and strong technical support to maximize the long-term value of your investment.
Request detailed reports on trash, recycling, and organics end sites to understand what contaminants affect program performance. Ask your hauler about their contaminant tolerance thresholds and what they charge for rejected loads.
1. Transportation Costs
According to Osage Specialized Transport, in the trucking industry, freight costs are typically quoted by the mile. This method of pricing is used to simplify and align costs with revenue for both shippers and carriers. Various factors can influence transportation costs, including shipment size and weight, shipping method, pickup and delivery locations, and current market conditions.
To understand how these costs impact your bottom line, it is important to evaluate all the variables that go into calculating your total haulage cost per mile. Some of the key considerations include shipment density, fuel charges, container rental, equipment delivery/pickup, insurance, tracking services, and more.
For example, a shipment that takes up an entire trailer will generally take up more space in the truck than a half-load or less. Therefore, it will require more fuel and be transported longer distances than a smaller shipment. In addition, certain types of shipments may be subject to loss or damage claims. These can be a significant expense for the carrier and significantly impact your mile rate.
A second factor that impacts freight costs is the volume of your shipments. The more shipments you have, the higher your rates per mile will be. This is because you will share the truck with other shipments, and the carrier’s fuel costs and expenses are spread across multiple loads.
Similarly, the volume of materials you divert from your trash, recycling, and organics streams can affect your waste-hauling costs. You can help keep your waste hauling costs down by clearly labeling your containers, requesting containers with a wide-opening configuration to maximize diversion, and establishing a team to regularly check and train new staff on recycling and sorting initiatives.
Another cost factor is whether your shipments are full truckloads (FTL) or less than truckloads (LTL). FTL is generally more expensive than LTL because it requires an entire trailer, which increases operating and maintenance costs.
Lastly, the capacity available in your region affects your haulage costs. Flatbed spot markets offer plentiful capacity for contract and dedicated truckload services nationwide. The flatbed spot market is also more consolidated than in prior years, with most (75%-85%) of the for-hire truck market managed through commitments via hierarchical route guides or dedicated truckloads.
2. Environment
Haulers who use vehicles to transport trash, recycling, and organics must consider the environment. For example, they must be mindful of how they place their collection containers to optimize diversion and accessibility (e.g., cart size, color, lid opening configuration). Ensure that signs clearly indicate which materials are collected in each container. Look for environmentally friendly carts that are durable, easy to roll and lift, and offer latches to prevent odors and animal access.
Ask your hauler about their facilities and end sites to understand how your materials are disposed of. This information can help you avoid contamination issues that could result in the rejection of a waste load.
3. Safety
Heavy hauling is essential for many industries, whether it’s an aircraft manufacturer shipping a fuselage to a customer or construction companies sending bulldozers and cranes to the job site. However, with specialized equipment comes unique challenges and risks that require specific processes and expertise. Carriers and contractors must implement safety measures to protect their cargo and ensure the shipment arrives on time.
First and foremost, all parties involved must understand the complexities of oversized loads. This includes obtaining all necessary permits, identifying the exact measurements of the load, and understanding any special requirements that may be in place for transporting it across state lines. In addition, it’s important to establish a dedicated team responsible for picking up and dropping off all heavy equipment. This way, if any issues arise that cause a delay, the trucking company can notify the client quickly and get things moving again.
It’s also a good idea to plan and design a route that avoids major roadway obstructions. This could include construction zones, rush hour traffic, toll roads, low-hanging bridges, or other factors that impede transportation. Finally, it’s vital that the driver and any travel escorts are well-trained to handle the specific equipment and follow all applicable safety protocols.
Another important safety measure is thoroughly inspecting the trailer and vehicle before departure. This should include ensuring all lights and reflectors are working properly, tires are inflated, and tie-down points and weights are correctly set. Additionally, it’s important to ensure no debris or loose materials are left on the truck or trailer before leaving. Loose items falling off during transit can create dangerous situations for drivers and other road users.
For contractor trucks, it’s also important to ensure that all tools and supplies are properly secured. This can help reduce the risk of damage or loss, which can cost the business money in repairs and lost productivity. In addition, it’s a good idea to use quality tarps to help ensure that the weather doesn’t affect the load during transportation.