Effective ways to find cargo for reefers

The main types of cargo transported in refrigerated containers are fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and poultry. However, many other goods are also transported in reefer containers, including flowers and pharmaceuticals. Transport companies will be able to find customers and suitable cargo for their refrigerated trucks.

When the transportation market seems saturated with offers, doubts arise about whether it will be possible to find requests for the delivery of products that require temperature control. This question is particularly relevant for companies starting their journey in the transportation field. It is never known in advance whether it will be possible to attract a sufficient number of orders so that the refrigerated trucks do not stand idle and the business is profitable. 
Competitors, with whom you will have to compete for profitable orders, have not been canceled. But the need for customers can also arise for experienced carriers for various reasons: a break in relationships with old clients, an unstable economic situation, an attempt to expand the business at an unfavorable time, and many others. If you are facing problems finding cargo for refrigerated trucks, we will tell you how to find customers and attract them for long-term cooperation. 

Where to look for transportation requests to avoid wasting time 

You can advertise your services online and offline. If the option of posting ads on boards and poles does not appeal to you, it is time to consider more progressive ways to promote refrigerated cargo delivery services:

●    the transport exchange com-stil.com;
●    online classifieds;
●    specialized forums for carriers;
●    contextual targeted advertising;
●    media advertising, for example, banners and videos with information about your company;
●    communities in social networks and messengers.

Some of the above-mentioned methods of promoting transport services require significant financial investments, while others require enormous time expenditures. Therefore, we will focus on the most effective method to tell about your services, which is the logistics exchange for many reasons: 

●    it’s simple — you log in, register, and use it;
●    it does not require financial investments — all you need to access the site's features is to fill out your profile;
●    multifunctionality — you can post your request and search among existing ones. 
If you are engaged in the delivery of perishable products and temperature-sensitive goods, the transport and logistics exchange COM-STIL is what will help when you need an order for transporting by refrigerated truck.

How to turn one-time customers into regulars?

Attracting a client is half the battle. You also need to retain them, work better than competitors, and offer what they do not have. You can attract one or two customers without much effort, but to form a base of regular clients, you need to make an effort. Here’s what to do:
●    Differentiate your services. In trying to appear better than competitors, do not focus on their shortcomings, but on your advantages. Identify which customer needs are not being met, highlight the unique advantages of your services, for example, transporting large batches of refrigerated cargo.
●    Pay attention to details. Be attentive to what the cargo owner expects from you. A minor detail that slipped into the conversation can characterize you as a professional if you take it into account. Everyone wants to be heard and appreciates attention to their problem.
●    Put yourself in the shoes of the cargo carrier. Suppose you find the client intrusive and meticulous, asking many questions when your goal is to deliver the refrigerated cargo and make money. But what if they are sending products for the first time, afraid of losing everything, worried about unaccounted risks? By showing care for the client, without snapping or running away from them, you lay the foundation for possible long-term cooperation. 
●    Stay in touch. If the cargo owner wants to know how the delivery is going and get answers to related questions, this should not be a problem for you or your employees. Transparency at every stage and openness towards clients are key to building trustful relationships. 
●    Build a communication strategy with customers that all company employees will adhere to.
●    Do not promise if you cannot deliver. There is no point in telling cargo owners that you will deliver the cargo by the end of the week if it is physically impossible to do so. It’s a different matter if unforeseen circumstances arise, but sometimes even that is not enough to calm the client and motivate them for further cooperation.

Retaining clients is not about low prices. You can lure them with an economically advantageous offer, but you cannot retain them. In the end, it will turn out that the savings do not justify themselves if there are losses due to loss or damage to the products. 
The products transported by refrigerated trucks have their specifics, and failure to maintain the temperature regime can result in loss of appearance, nutritional value; spoilage and significant losses. The condition of the refrigerated containers determines how well perishable goods will arrive. If you let down your customers, it will negatively affect your reputation. Information spreads quickly, which can put a stop to your business. The key to improving work quality is timely maintenance of refrigerated trucks.

How the transport exchange helps find cargo requests

If you have not used the functionality of a specialized platform before, it is never too late to start. When searching for perishable products for transportation, a specialized platform is literally indispensable. The list of requests is updated in real-time, and among the incoming offers, you can find your client. Creating a request with transport also does not take much time. The process can be divided into the following steps:
●    registering on the site and confirming your email address;
●    filling out your profile;
●    using the request creation button;
●    filling in the fields with your data and publishing the offer.

Next, you just have to wait for responses, periodically checking the site and raising your request in the general list to make it noticeable. You can also search among the requests left by owners of refrigerated cargo. Sorting by loading and unloading points, type of cargo, and transport saves time and allows you to view only the requests that meet the required criteria.

Are you engaged in the transportation of food with a limited shelf life, medicines, cut flowers, potted plants, cosmetics, alcoholic beverages, and other types of products that require temperature control? Requests are waiting for you on the site. Refrigerated transportation will bring more profit if you avoid idle transport.
Join the platform com-stil.com, uniting cargo owners, carriers, logisticians, and freight forwarders, and increase your work efficiency today!