Freight 1014 min read
Building Reliable Carrier Relationships as a Shipper
How shippers can build strong, consistent carrier relationships that lead to faster coverage, fewer service failures, and better pricing over time.
The Route 89 Blog
Freight tips, guides & industry insights
Practical advice to help you ship smarter and spend less — from freight basics to cost-saving strategies.
Freight 1014 min read
Freight Broker vs. Direct Carrier: Which Is Right?
Should you book freight directly with a carrier or work through a broker? A clear breakdown of the tradeoffs in cost, coverage, and time so you can decide with confidence.
Lane Guides3 min read
Freight Lane Guide: Shipping Between Utah and the Bay Area
What shippers need to know about the Utah to Bay Area freight lane — capacity patterns, delivery challenges in dense urban areas, and how to keep transit times predictable.
Lane Guides3 min read
Freight Lane Guide: Utah to Southern California
What shippers need to know about the Utah to Southern California freight lane — port congestion, capacity patterns, transit times, and how to keep rates competitive.
Lane Guides3 min read
Freight Lane Guide: Shipping Between Utah and Texas
What shippers need to know about the Utah to Texas freight lane — the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston hubs, capacity patterns, and how to keep rates competitive.
Cost Savings3 min read
How to Get Better LTL Quotes: Tips from a Freight Broker
Practical, broker-side tips for getting faster, more accurate LTL freight quotes — what to provide up front, timing mistakes to avoid, and how to work with a broker effectively.
Cost Savings4 min read
LTL Freight Rates in 2026: What Shippers Need to Know
What actually drives LTL freight rates in 2026 — capacity, fuel, freight class changes — and the practical levers shippers have to keep costs under control.
Shipping Tips5 min read
What to Look for in a Freight Broker
Not all freight brokers are equal. Here's what separates a broker who saves you money and headaches from one who creates both — and the questions to ask before you commit.
Cost Savings6 min read
Freight Accessorial Charges Explained
Accessorial charges are the most common source of unexpected freight bills. Here's what each one means, when it applies, and how to keep your invoices predictable.
Freight 1015 min read
Freight Shipping From Utah: What Businesses Need to Know
Shipping freight from Utah comes with unique lane advantages, carrier options, and cost considerations. Here's what businesses in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front should know.
Cost Savings5 min read
How to Read a Freight Invoice (And Catch Overcharges)
Freight invoices are dense and easy to overpay. Here's a line-by-line breakdown of what each charge means and what to look for before you approve payment.
Shipping Tips4 min read
5 LTL Freight Mistakes That Cost Businesses Money
Most LTL invoice surprises trace back to the same handful of mistakes. Here's what they are, why they're so common, and how a good freight broker helps you avoid them.
Industry Trends4 min read
How Tariffs Are Affecting Freight Costs in 2026
Tariffs on imported goods are reshaping freight lanes, carrier capacity, and shipping costs across the US. Here's what's changed and how to manage it.
Freight 1014 min read
What Is a 3PL? A Plain-English Guide for Business Owners
Third-party logistics providers handle the parts of your supply chain you don't want to manage yourself. Here's how 3PLs work, what they cost, and whether your business needs one.
Freight 1016 min read
How to Ship a Pallet: A Step-by-Step Guide
Shipping your first pallet doesn't have to be complicated. This guide walks you through everything — from packaging and labeling to getting a quote and booking the pickup.
Freight 1015 min read
How to Calculate Freight Class (NMFC Guide for Shippers)
Freight class determines a big chunk of your LTL rate. Here's how the NMFC system works, how to calculate density, and how to avoid costly reclassification fees.
Freight 1014 min read
What Is LTL Freight? A Shipper's Complete Guide
LTL freight lets you share trailer space with other shippers and only pay for what you use. Here's how it works, when to use it, and how to get the best rates.
Freight 1012 min read
LTL vs. FTL Shipping: Which One Saves You More Money?
A plain-English guide to less-than-truckload and full truckload freight, when to use each, and how to cut shipping costs without slowing down delivery.
Cost Savings2 min read
7 Proven Ways to Reduce Your Freight Shipping Costs
Practical strategies any business can use to lower LTL and FTL freight costs — from accurate freight classes to consolidating shipments and leveraging a broker network.
Operations1 min read
What Is a Freight Back Office?
Learn what a freight back office does, the hidden costs of managing shipping in-house, and how outsourcing logistics can free up your team while lowering costs.
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