Eight Money-saving Ideas for 2005

Negotiate your own freight contracts with a large carrier or with a freight consolidator such as DM Transportation Management. Name your carrier on your purchase orders.

Such companies ship freight for hundreds of customers; they can negotiate fantastic rates and pass them on to you. In addition, they can provide audit services to ensure that tariff codes are properly applied, which can dramatically affect freight rates. Ship UPS or FedEx Ground inbound only if the weight of the shipment is less than 100 pounds.