Container Transportation - Supra National Express

Shippers know that hauling containers can sometimes be more complicated than expected. Different container moving companies have various moving solutions for local and long-distance transportation. When is it best to use a full-service mover versus renting a moving truck? Is it possible that temporary storage options will be required?

Shippers and BCOs must consider these questions proactively unless they want to simply deal with the aftermath. In 2018, container and trailer damage costs were in the billions, according to Brian Straight of FreightWaves, but those costs have likely risen as demand grew since 2020. Proper container hauling can be done in five simple steps.

1. Know the Details of the Container’s Contents

While cargo shipping containers may appear uniform from afar, the size, material, and contents vary. Storage units come at 20 feet long on average, but 40 feet long containers are also common amongst oceanic shipping contracts. Shippers and BCOs must especially consider the length because the logistics of longer containers and high cubes can eliminate certain standardized shipping options.

Additionally, it’s critical to know what the cargo shipping containers hold. Are the contents living? Is it refrigerated? Cargo contents within these two categories would not qualify for transport solutions such as long-term storage. The content details are pertinent long past simply packing and loading, they are essential to ensure the end-to-end transport is stress-free.

2. Ensure You’re Properly Licensed to Use Shipping Container Equipment

Sometimes cargo shipping containers simply need a local move across the yard, street, or city. A moving quote might deter the cost-savvy shipper from wanting to pay for a short-distance full-service move.

A shipper must first decide if they need to rent a specialized forklift or crane to move the container to its final location or onto a truck bed. Then they must consider whether they have a team member with a commercial driving license (CDL). While a CDL is essential for most container hauling, there are certain situations where one might not be needed. With the container’s weight and dimensions in hand, shippers can consult state regulations and the Department of Transportation to determine if it’s within towing regulations.

3. Have a Shareable, Concise, and Well-Thought-Out Plan for Container Hauling

When hauling containers, it’s important to have a distribution plan that is clear every step of the way. Streamlined communication is imperative from the first time loading until unloading at the final destination. Long-distance moves often acquire additional team members to keep in the loop, such as a storage facility or rail hub manager.

A concise and communicable plan is not just about knowing who to communicate with, but what information to share. Staying on top of industry and partnership news will guide shippers to the right documents and data they need for every leg of the journey.

4. Outsource Shipping Container Transport to Experts

The need for a professional rise with the complexity of individual containers. Is it open side? Are the measurements outside of typical sizes? Does it require specific connections to engage refrigeration elements?

Ultimately, when it’s time to move containers, it’s time to call in the experts. Supply chain professionals are in their field for a reason – offering specialized expertise to make your daily job easier. An expert at hauling containers will offer the right insurance options and customer service to ensure that cargo shipping containers go exactly where they need to go every time.

5. Stay in Contact and Track the Status of the Container 24/7

Container transport is more than just getting commodities from one place to another. Timing is key! Constant contact and container visibility protects shippers and BCOs from losing valuable product. Miscommunicated timelines can leave a driver idling for extended times, or even cause a container drop off at an unmanned loading deck.

The right container-moving companies will go above and beyond to ensure their shippers and BCOs have access to their tracking data. With contact opportunities and real-time locations, shippers gain the right tools for the job to conquer disruptions.

Supra National Express enables full visibility of their shipments and cargo documents to speed up the traceability process and enable more dynamic and agile management. Users can:

Search the load history
Check load status: pending, completed or billed
Export load history to CSV or Excel sheet
Check the uploaded documents in the trips of each Load
Check the load details: Arrivals/Departures, Pending Check Points, and Charges

Choose Supra National Express for All Your Shipping Container Needs

Shippers will likely see a variety of techniques when shopping container moving companies and pods offers. Hauling containers across twenty feet or twenty miles requires data, the proper licenses, logistics, the right team members, and constant visibility. Supra National Express understands this which is why they stand out among its competitors as a container-hauling solution. Get your questions answered and your freight moving by Supra today!

Get your quote now by trying Don’t forget to give Supra’s new Online Rate Tool a try as well!

Or get in touch with Supra’s Sales Team at (424) 267-1155 or by email: rfp@snecorp.com

Did you know that a street turn container can lessen your costs? With pressure rising within the transportation industry, the popularity of street turn empty containers is worth looking at more closely. This is especially true within import and export logistics in the business port areas along the coasts. With global movements across the sea so common, west coast ports stand to benefit the most from better use every movement, and that begins with more use of street turn container capabilities. But what is a street turn container, and why does the street turn container meaning always seem to change by audience? The answer rests in understanding the street turn container meaning, doing more with less in logisticthat a street turn empty container is more valuable than a traditional dual transaction where a container returns to port with each movement.

As highlighted by The Port of Los Angeles, “When data for the Port of Los Angeles is combined with the Port of Long Beach, the two ports handled 31% of all containerized international waterborne trade in the U.S.—meaning 31% of everything the U.S. imported or exported in containers over the water came through the San Pedro Bay port complex, which includes the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.”

A critical component that has allowed these ports to handle so much volume is the continual updating of logistics processes, and the fact that more shippers and carriers are embracing a street turn container approach.

What Is a Street Turn Container?

The innovative approach seen in the industry today with street turn containers makes it easier to manage live loads, port loading and unloading, transportation hauling, and more. But what is a street turn container exactly? Rather than traveling back to the port to pick up an empty container, drivers can simply pick up an empty container from another facility. That may be a warehouse, a rail yard or an importer’s or exporter’s business location.

With a street turn empty container, there is no need for a return trip with an empty container. Shippers can complete another load without returning and spending money hauling an empty container, as shown in the below comparison:

Carriers like street turns because they cut down on time spent on each trip and speed up downtime. Uncovering the specific street turn container meaning is vital in improving container transportation and distribution.

What Are the Benefits of More Street Turned Containers?

Unlike dual transactions, which mean drivers must return to the original location to pick up a loaded container and drop off the empty one, street turned containers are much more efficient and bring several benefits to the industry:

Faster Loading and Unloading: with a street turn, container loads can be dropped off and new ones quickly picked up.
Improve Efficiency Overall: fewer dead haul miles and less idle dwell time mean a street turn container can be utilized more efficiently.
Better Profitability Per Load: more intelligent driving means a street turn empty container transport costs less while earning more.
Better Service and Higher Satisfaction: shippers, carriers, retailers, and end customers all benefit from the use of street turn containers.
Easier Logistics During Bottlenecks: in the face of ongoing recovery, understanding street turn container meaning has improved overall logistics.

How to Implement More Street Turns in Your Supply Chain

Transportation managers interested in reaping the benefits of street turn containers can implement this innovative approach by following these simple steps:

Embrace advances in smart tech, automation, and digitalization within the supply chain.

Focus on improving transparency and insight with real-time data analysis when possible.

Ensure staff and 3PLs and all involved parties are properly trained and onboarded.

Streamlining communications with improved supply chain technology and platforms.

Find trucking service providers familiar with street turn container meaning and application.

Shift resources to allow for better predictive planning and collaboration within the industry.

Keep growth and recovery front and center with capacity procurement and management.

Implementing street turn empty container processes and improving end-to-end logistics with transportation jobs and duties is easier with the proper insight and service. Supra is ready to offer all this and more.

Choose Supra National Express for Your Import Transportation Needs

Street turned containers are a critical step to achieving more value from your supply chain. To learn more about freedom, flexibility, scalability, and dependability offered by street turn container logistics, it’s all about finding the right industry partnership. Supra has years of experience with transportation service providers and shipping companies of all sizes. Sign up to check out our empty container inventory today to see how street turned container logistics can make a difference in your operation, and you can do it all with our new rate tool: DrayMaster.

Category: Container Transportation