- Rate, of course: Sometimes if the rate is slightly higher than other, it's recommended to give it a try too, maybe that transporter can give much more valuable services to you
- Company history: For safety purpose, is your transporter long enough in the market? Will they be the problem run-away type? Is it safe to let them handle your delivery? If one company is in the market for more than 30 years, you can rest assure that they must have done something right to be in the market for so long.
- Facilities: Do they own their fleet of lorries or they just rely on outsourcing transporter? If they outsource to others, normally the rate is higher due to certain mark-up for their margin and in addition, they have lesser control on the lorries. Furthermore, the outsourcing transporter will normally not put your delivery in their priority because they have their first hand customers to deal with too. When it comes to peak season, your delivery will be at risk for delay.
- Goods Collection: Do your transporters do door-to-door service? If yes, do they normally come to pick up your goods on time? If the transporter always come in late to collect your goods, say after your working hour, that will incur OT cost for your company. So you need to rate your transporter whether they will collect your goods early.
- Prompt Statement: How fast your transporter can return the stamp-signed copy of your DO? Because that will affect your own payment collection too. The faster you receive your statment, the faster you can get your money from your customers. So, the transporters have played a major role in here.
- Management: Are your transport closely monitor your delivery? Do they communicate or respond to you promptly? Are they good at solving your problem?
If your transporter fulfill the above basic criteria, keep them and work with them. Otherwise, it's time to look for other transporter.
