Trucking Services - the Ultimate Guide

If you’re wondering what the most common and most frequently used way of transporting freight from factories to store shelves is, the answer is simple – trucking services.

Trucking services are not only popular amongst retailers in the supply chain, but they can also deliver freight to your doorstep, residentially. They cover everything from small businesses to massive retailers, nearly every part of the economy leans on trucks to keep products moving.

This guide will break down what trucking services actually are, the different ways freight gets hauled, the trucks that handle the heavy lifting, and even all the costs that drive the trucking industry.

What Are Trucking Services

Trucking services are exactly what you’re thinking about – large companies or sometimes even individuals that use their heavy vehicles to transport freight.

However, the entire thing is more than just loading and unloading boxes, as these services form a crucial part of the supply chain. They are the ultimate link between customers and retailers.

In the United States, trucking is the foundation of freight shipping. It covers everything from local deliveries within a single city to North America transportation, sometimes spanning thousands of miles.

Different Types of Trucking Services

Not all logistics trucking services use the same vehicle when it comes to the shipping options!

The right option depends on what’s being moved, how quickly it needs to arrive, and even what the weather looks like, so here is a brief walkthrough of the different trucking services out there:

Dry Van Trucking

This is the most widely used method for transporting freight by logistics experts. Dry vans are fully enclosed trailers that protect the freight from the weather, perfect for everything from packaged foods to products.

Flatbed Trucking

The flatbed trailers are wide open on all sides, making them ideal for oversized or oddly shaped loads that are not affected by the weather. This means shipping lumber, machinery, or building materials.

Refrigerated Trucking

Refrigerated trucks are designed to carry temperature-sensitive freight, such as fresh food like meat, keeping it frozen until its destination. Well, that transport service trucking is typically more expensive compared to traditional vehicles.

Tanker Trucking

Tanker freight truck services are designed to move freight in liquid form, such as water, fuel, milk, or other chemicals. These trucks are built to safely handle different substances, with special liners and pressurization as needed.

Auto Transport

The auto transportation trucking service is designed to move multiple vehicles at once, whether it’s new cars or vehicles headed to the wrecking yard. Some of these trucks drive while being wide open or via an enclosed trailer for extra protection.

Intermodal Trucking

Intermodal trucking involves moving containers that have been delivered from across the ocean via ship or train. They are specialized to pick up containers at the ports or rail yards and deliver them to their final destinations.

Expedited Trucking

When time is a critical factor of great importance, expedited trucking prioritizes speed, often using teams of drivers to keep the truck moving around the clock. It’s frequently used for urgent shipments like replacement parts or medical supplies.

Which Are the Three Most Commonly Used Types of Trucks

Not all of the aforementioned types of trucking can easily be seen on the road wherever you go, except for the most commonly used trucks.

They include:

• Dry Van Trucks: The go-to choice for general freight, as their enclosed trailers keep the freight protected from weather and theft.
• Flatbed Trucks: By being built without walls or a roof, flatbeds are perfect for carrying heavy, oversized, or oddly shaped cargo that can be loaded by crane or forklift.
• Refrigerated Trucks: These insulated, climate-controlled trailers keep perishable freight at just the right temperature, supplying stores, pharmacies, etc.

What Type of Trucking Makes the Most Money

Well, the specialized transport services trucking often come with the highest rates, no doubt.

This includes all the transportation services that handle hazardous materials, transporting goods with oversized dimensions, and temperature-sensitive freight. They cost a lot more money when compared to traditional trucking because they require extra training, permits, or equipment.

The owner-operators who run their chain of vehicles and take on these demanding jobs can see even higher profits. In short, the more risk/investment involved, the more expensive a service is.

What Is the Biggest Expense in Trucking

One word – fuel.

Fuel is by far the biggest expense in freight services, often making up more than a quarter of total cost.

For example, for US service trucking companies, even the smallest changes in fuel prices can have a huge impact on the trucking company's services.

After fuel, maintenance, insurance, and driver wages also weigh heavily on budgets. That’s why many trucking services invest in more efficient rigs and careful route planning to cut down on fuel use and keep overall transportation solutions costs manageable.

Find the Best Trucking Transportation Services via FreightRun

If you want to find cheap and reliable trucker services, try the FreightRun Quote Calculator.

It allows you to compare LTL (Less Than TruckLoad) and FTL (Full TruckLoad) rates instantly, so you can pick the option that best fits your freight size, delivery speed, and budget.

So, try the calculator now and see how simple booking reliable trucking transportation services could be.