Selecting the Perfect Expedited Trucking Company for Your Business

adam • April 18, 2023

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How to Choose the Right Expedited Trucking Company for Your Business

In the past few years, e-commerce has escalated significantly while the global supply chain has tried to catch up. It has forced shippers to turn to expedited shipping in substantially increasing numbers. Data from a 2021 Ware2Go consumer survey showed that following the start of the pandemic, 33% of consumers have higher expectations for fast shipping, 40% have higher expectations for free shipping, and 42% expect a two-day shipping option for every online purchase.

Faster delivery service is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. Two-day, next-day, and same-day deliveries have become more common, putting pressure on shippers to execute flawlessly. Using a 3PL provider experienced in expedited truck delivery helps shippers gain a competitive advantage in a crowded transportation landscape.

Not all expedited trucking providers are created equal. In addition to exploring expedited shipping in this blog, we will also look at tips to help you find a reliable expedited trucking provider.

Why Expedited Trucking?

The disruptions in the supply chain over the past few years have left standard shipping in a precarious situation — where exceptions frequently delay deliveries. Shippers are finding the best way to overcome these disruptions is to depend more on expedited trucking: quickly moving freight to its destination. With supply chain uncertainty, the rise of e-commerce, and changing consumer expectations, the expedited route is fast becoming the shipping method of choice.

Guaranteed delivery times undoubtedly put pressure on shippers to keep high-stakes shipments on schedule. Shipping perishables naturally goes hand-in-hand with expedited shipping because delays can lead to spoilage and rejected loads. Shipments with a high theft risk are also strong candidates for expedited shipping.

As Expedited Trucking Booms, Shippers Look to Find the Right Expedited Trucking Service for Their Business

Shippers have much to be concerned about — from driver shortages and rising fuel prices to an increasingly unpredictable economy and a marked increase in competition. It’s a lot to deal with while maintaining steady profits. Shippers must look for every advantage, and one of those advantages is expedited shipping. Finding the right expedited trucking partner has become crucial to shippers that want to improve their bottom line. Let’s look at some tips to help you find the right partner.

Be Diligent with Details

To find an expedited shipping partner, a shipper must first delve into the details of how that company handles its business. Does it get products to their destination on time and free of damage? Is it able to handle last-minute requests? Are its rates too high? How satisfied are its customers? What services does it offer, and will those services fit your requirements? There needs to be more than a cursory look into these questions. Due diligence in checking out a potential partner is imperative to finding the right one to suit your needs. For instance, it might be worth looking into how wide a network they have to ensure they can handle your concerns and that the network can help your company when unavoidable situations arise.

Consider your Timeline

Carriers handle expedited shipping in different ways. It is, therefore, important to have a 3PL provider that can work with you on your timeline and has the experience and networking skills to determine which carrier can most handle that timeline. With different types of expedited shipping incurring different costs, it is essential to remember what is in your best interest logistically and financially. For example, you do not want a provider to always select a carrier that does the more expensive same-day or next-day delivery when a two-day delivery will do. Of course you want your shipments to be dispatched quickly, but you don’t want to be in a rush to choose who will do that shipping.

Prioritize Technology

Over the last few years, technology has significantly impacted expedited delivery. Partnering with a company that is keeping up with and using the latest technology is vital to your shipments reaching their destinations as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Recent tracking technology innovations are a perfect example of why you need a tech-savvy partner. With the latest tracking technology, carrier companies can quickly determine the locations of their trucks and keep everyone in the chain apprised of expected arrival times. The driver can also be advised of potential concerns on the road ahead and make appropriate route changes to avoid delays or missing the scheduled arrival time of the expedited delivery. Streamlining communication can speed up decision-making, helping shippers avoid potential setbacks.

But there are other ways in which technology can help shippers. By partnering with a company with the right user-friendly software platform, a shipper can use a larger pool of data to gain insight into which routes might be the quickest or which might help them avoid damage during the journey.

Trust the Experts

Whether you are entering the world of expedited shipping or trying to find a way to expand your business using it, you can always benefit from having an expert working on your behalf. That’s where a 3PL partner comes in handy. The staff on a reliable 3PL has the knowledge and connections to take the difficulties out of finding the most suitable carrier. They know which companies are dependable and can suit your specific needs. For instance, if you have perishables with a small window of freshness, they can find an expedited trucking firm that focuses on fast refrigerated shipping.

3PL providers often also have experience in other areas that can prove to be quite helpful for a shipper. They can offer everything from booking to invoicing with systems that integrate with your organization’s system. They can be licensed in pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution. In markets where oversized and overweight hauls are required, your 3PL provider can help with route planning, permit pulling, and other tasks.

Capacity is Key

The most crucial factor in expedited shipping is speed — how fast can you get it there? But capacity cannot be ignored. You must have sufficient physical space, assets, and personnel to carry, store, or deliver goods to retailers and consumers who want them as soon as possible. Without the capacity, there can be no shipping, expedited or otherwise. And capacity is a crucial concern, particularly in these times of labor shortages and economic volatility. That’s why having a 3PL partner that can handle many different types of shipments gives you a keen advantage over the competition. 3PLs have the bandwidth to make all different types of transportation available — full-load, LTL, cargo van, refrigerated (reefer), or flatbed. They also can store and inventory all of your products at their warehouse.

Entourage Freight Solutions Has the Power to Help You Stay on Track With Expedited Shipping

Customer expectations have risen in recent years. They want products in their hands as soon as possible — this has become the norm, prompting many shippers to seek a competitive advantage through expedited shipping. The good news is shippers can turn to a 3PL provider that has experience in expedited truck delivery to help them through this busy and sometimes complicated landscape.

A 3PL not only can help pair a shipment with a carrier, but it can provide quite a few additional services that can ease the burdens of a shipper. To find the right 3PL, you need to consider several factors. Your 3PL must have a carrier that can stay on point with all the details of a shipment and have expert staff prepared for all potential situations. Also, a 3PL should have state-of-the-art technology that makes your shipment’s journey as easy as possible and should have the capacity to help you efficiently alter course when necessary.

Shippers can navigate that course quickly and effectively with a one-stop 3PL partner like Entourage Freight Solutions. Entourage Freight Solutions has an extensive background and expertise in logistics, especially in a foodservice world that is almost always dealing with time-sensitive shipments. Its unmatched service and extreme attention to detail are perfect for a shipper with expedited shipping needs. Using the latest cloud-based, GPS-enabled technologies, EFS platforms can track drivers regardless of their location and reroute shipments when an obstacle arises. So, to get on the right track with expedited shipping, request a quote today.

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Tariffs, Trade Policy, and the Great Freight Fallout

By Nick Terry • April 28, 2025

In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.