In the logistics and distribution industry, trucks are one of the most reliable land transport modes.

Properly loaded trucks can improve shipping efficiency, reduce operating costs, and ensure safe arrival at the destination.

Truck cargo should not be haphazardly arranged to ensure everything runs smoothly. There are specific techniques and strategies to consider for the optimal distribution process.

This article will discuss the advantages of truck shipping, how to organize cargo efficiently, the challenges in truck shipping, and tips for choosing the best trucking service for business purposes.

The Advantages of Truck Shipping

Truck shipping remains the backbone of goods distribution in Indonesia. Some of the advantages are:

Flexible routes and timing

Trucks can reach a wide range of destinations, whether in industrial areas or remote villages, without following fixed schedules like ships or trains do. As a result, truck shipping is more flexible and easier to adapt to customers’ needs.

Varied and large capacities

There are various types of trucks, including Fuso, light-duty, and heavy-duty. This wide variety allows for transporting different types of goods with different capacities, from light loads, such as consumer goods, to heavy loads, such as building materials or industrial machinery.

Door-to-door shipping

Trucks allow for a door-to-door arrangement, that is, delivering goods from the point of origin directly to the destination without switching to other transport modes.

Competitive operating costs

Compared to other transport modes, trucks offer a balance between cost and efficiency, especially for intercity deliveries within an island.

How to Organize Cargo for Maximum and Efficient Shipping

Properly loading the truck is key to successful shipping. Here are some crucial steps you should consider when organizing the cargo:

Group the goods

Split the goods by size, weight, and material. Light goods should be placed on top of heavier goods or at the back of the cargo to keep the truck stable.

Evenly distribute the weight

The cargo must be evenly distributed over the entire container. Trucks with uneven distribution can lose stability and are at risk of overturning when cornering or going uphill.

Apply proper cargo securement

Use pallets, straps, or cargo nets to secure the goods in transit. This step is essential to prevent items from shifting or being damaged in transit.

Calculate the weight of the load

Make sure the load’s total weight does not exceed the payload capacity. Overloading is a violation of traffic laws and can cause premature wear and tear to the trucks.

Use a monitoring system

Some modern logistics services now use GPS tracking and load monitoring systems to monitor the location and condition of cargo in real time, improving safety and efficiency.

The Challenges in Truck Shipping

Despite the numerous advantages, truck shipping also poses some of the following challenges:

Road and weather conditions. Damaged roads or flooding can slow down the shipping process and increase the risk of damaged goods.

Congestion and transit time. Especially in big cities, congestion can affect the speed of the distribution process.

Certain cargo limitation. Dangerous or perishable goods require special handling, such as refrigeration or extra packaging.

Traffic regulations and load restrictions. Some areas apply tonnage restrictions or traffic bans for large vehicles during certain hours, making route planning crucial.

With proper logistics management and the right trucking service, though, these challenges can be effectively overcome.

Tips for Choosing the Best Trucking Service

For safer and more efficient shipping, here are some tips you need to consider when choosing a trucking service:

Check the reputation and experience of the service provider

Choose an experienced logistics company with an excellent track record in handling large-scale shipments.

Ensure the truck meets your needs

Different cargoes require different trucks. For example, refrigerated trucks for transporting food products or wing-body trucks for large items.

Ensure a tracking system is available

This system helps customers track their shipments in real-time, thus increasing transparency and trust.

Ensure a wide distribution network

Services with national or regional coverage will facilitate shipping to many destinations without having to switch to other providers.

Properly loaded trucks are not only about efficiency, but also about safety and professionalism in the shipping process.

With careful planning and the best logistics support, your business can save costs, improve shipping times, and maintain product quality until it reaches end consumers.

Trucking Services by SELOG

When choosing the best truck, you should partner with an experienced logistics company. SELOG, a subsidiary of PT Serasi Autoraya (SERA) and part of the Astra Group, is here to provide you with comprehensive logistics services.

SELOG has essential trucking services that offer shipping solutions to many destinations. These include:

Last-Mile Delivery for delivery to the end consumer.

Long Haul for inter-city or inter-island distribution.

Less Than Truckload (LTL) for shipping a low volume of goods.

SELOG has an extensive fleet that includes blind vans, single-rear-axle four-wheel Colt Diesel (CDE) trucks, and wing-body trucks. The fleet is powered by the latest digital technology in Astra Fleet Management Solution (AstraFMS) to track its movement in real-time.

In addition to Trucking, SELOG provides other comprehensive logistics services, such as Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Warehousing, and Project Cargo.

 
For more information about SELOG services, visit www.selog.astra.co.id or contact (021) 26605333.

Follow SELOG’s social media account @selog_astra on Instagram and SELOG on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest news on the logistics industry.