How does SmartFreight ensure competitive freight rates?

SmartFreight by ShipNetwork is designed to deliver maximum shipping efficiency at minimum cost by leveraging carrier relationships, advanced freight optimization tools, and consolidated shipment volume. Our system ensures that eCommerce and B2B brands benefit from competitive freight rates without sacrificing reliability, visibility, or service flexibility.

One of the primary ways SmartFreight secures lower freight rates is through volume-based carrier negotiation. ShipNetwork manages millions of shipments across our nationwide network, giving us substantial buying power with both national and regional freight carriers. By aggregating shipping volume across clients and fulfillment centers, we’re able to access deeply discounted rates that individual businesses wouldn’t be able to secure on their own.

These negotiated contracts apply to:

• Less-than-truckload (LTL) and full truckload (FTL) shipments
• Parcel consolidation programs
• International air and ocean freight
• Specialty freight services like white-glove, temperature-controlled, and hazardous materials transport

In addition to carrier volume discounts, SmartFreight uses proprietary rate shopping algorithms to evaluate shipping options in real time. Our platform compares costs, transit times, surcharge variables, and carrier performance metrics to recommend the most cost-effective shipping method for each load. This ensures that you're not just choosing the cheapest carrier—but the best value carrier for your freight profile.

Key rate optimization strategies include:

• Zone skipping and hub injection to bypass expensive shipping zones
• Dimensional weight optimization to reduce overcharge risk
• Freight consolidation to combine multiple smaller shipments into fewer, larger loads
• Mode shifting from air to ground or from FTL to LTL based on urgency and cost

SmartFreight also supports dynamic routing and flexible scheduling, which allows clients to plan shipments around carrier availability and rate fluctuations. This flexibility results in better rates during non-peak days and allows for advanced planning of time-definite deliveries.

For clients with recurring high-volume freight, we offer contract-based rate structures that lock in pricing for the duration of your service agreement, protecting your margins against sudden rate hikes or seasonal surcharges.

Furthermore, ShipNetwork continuously audits freight bills to ensure billing accuracy and reconcile discrepancies. If any overcharges or incorrect fees are identified, our team works directly with the carrier to secure credits or refunds, ensuring you only pay for what you ship.

In short, SmartFreight combines ShipNetwork’s scale, carrier partnerships, technology, and logistics expertise to deliver cost savings across every leg of your shipping journey. Whether you're a DTC brand expanding nationally or a wholesaler managing cross-border freight, you can count on SmartFreight to keep your transportation expenses optimized and predictable.