Getting goods where they need to go quickly and efficiently is always going to be something of a challenge in business. Logistics professionals pour a lot of resources into coordinating long-haul transportation solutions. But let’s not overlook local cartage. It is easily just as – if not more – important when it comes to effectively managing time and expenses in your supply chain.

As a longtime provider of Cleveland local cartage services, On Time Delivery & Warehouse is committed to supply chain efficiency on every leg of the journey.

What is Local Cartage?

Local cartage is the term we use to describe the short-distance transport of goods within a defined local area, typically within a city or between cities in close proximity.

These services are central to businesses that need a lot of deliveries in a given area. Examples include:

• Retailers moving inventory between stores
• Manufacturers delivering products to nearby warehouses
• Businesses requiring quick delivery to customers in an urban region

Local cartage usually leverages the use of smaller commercial vehicles, such as fans or box trucks, allowing for better maneuverability around tight metropolitan streets. Sometimes, though, larger trucks might be used. It just depends on the volume of goods that need to be transported per delivery.

Understanding the Ohio Freight System

Virtually everything that is produced and/or consumed in Ohio is dependent on some part of the freight transport system. Ohio local cartage services are a part of that.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio’s freight system transported over 1 billion tons of goods worth $1.2 trillion in a single recent year – the 7th largest value of freight moved by state in the country. Most of that is concentrated in the Cleveland-Akron area (where On Time Delivery & Warehouse is headquartered), as well as the Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Youngstown metro regions. Trucking in particular is key because it’s sometimes the only immediate modal connection to which some establishments have access, and it’s also essential for first- and last-mile movement of goods.

TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, reports the annual freight volume by weight in Ohio is expected to increase 56% by weight and 99% by value by 2050.

Ohio Local Cartage Challenges And Solutions

With increasing transportation on local, state and interstate roads, traffic congestion, heightened crash risk and longer delays are likely become growing concerns for local cartage.

Other challenges with local cartage in Ohio can include:

• Regulatory and zoning restrictions. Local governments often impose regulations that impact delivery times, truck routes, vehicle sizes, and noise ordinances – especially in areas that are densely-populated. Awareness of these rules is essential to ensuring smooth delivery.
• Limited parking and loading zones. Available parking to load and unload is an ever-constant and significant hurdle in crowded cities. Without careful planning, trucks may have to circle their destination a few times or park farther from their destination than ideal – ultimately a waste of time and money.
• Driver shortages. Finding reliable drivers for short-haul operations can be particularly tough – especially during peak seasons (like the upcoming holidays) or in areas with high demand for deliveries.
• Fleet management and optimization. Efficiently managing a fleet of dry vans or other smaller vehicles for local cartage can be logistically difficult. It usually requires route optimization, real-time GPS monitoring and sophisticated management tools. Inefficiencies on this front are going to cause delays and cost increases.
• Higher fuel and operating costs. Frequent stop-and-go driving, particularly in cities, is inevitably going to increase consumption of fuel, as well as wear-and-tear on vehicles.
• Security risks. There’s a risk of theft in local cartage from unattended vehicles while drivers are making drop-offs. The fact that these items are smaller/easier to carry than those transported by larger trucks increases the risk. Local cartage service providers have to ensure truck/van security while making deliveries speedy.
• Last-mile delivery complexity. Last-mile delivery is perhaps one of the most challenging parts of local cartage. It’s rife with potential pitfalls, from delivery address issues to poor package handling to unpredictable delivery windows. Yet research shows time and again that last mile delivery is perhaps the most important in the supply chain for customer satisfaction.

So how do operations tackle all this will completing local cartage functions?

Outsourcing.

Outsourcing to a Cleveland local cartage service provider with third-party logistics (3PL) and fourth-party logistics (4PL) can go a long way toward minimizing these impacts.

At On Time Delivery & Warehouse, our local cartage services are efficient, secure, reliable, scalable and cost-effective. We’re well-versed in local regulations, and our routes are fully optimized. Our team also offers real-time tracking and visibility.

By leveraging the expertise of a 3PL Ohio delivery company, our clients stay competitive in increasingly demanding markets.

Have questions? Our logistics pros are happy to provide further insights – or a quote!

Contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.

Additional Resources:

What is Cartage in Shipping and Logistics? Definition, Types, and Process, April 2024, Inbound Logistics

More Blog Entries:

Dial Us for Deals on Getting Cleveland Delivery Appointment Scheduled, Aug. 27, 2024, On Time Delivery & Warehouse Cleveland Cartage Blog