The Benefits of Backloading for Small Businesses

For small businesses, shipping costs can eat into margins. "Backloading" is a logistics strategy that can significantly reduce these costs.

What is Backloading?

Backloading refers to booking space on a truck that is returning from a delivery job empty (or partially empty). Since the driver has to return to their base anyway, they are often willing to offer significantly lower rates to cover their fuel costs.

Cost Savings

The primary benefit is financial. Backloading rates can be 30-50% cheaper than standard one-way delivery rates. For a business shipping regular inventory, these savings add up quickly.

Environmental Impact

Empty trucks on the road are a waste of fuel and a source of unnecessary emissions. By using backloading, you are helping to maximize the efficiency of every vehicle, reducing the overall carbon footprint of your supply chain.

Flexibility

While backloading requires some flexibility with timing (you have to match the truck's schedule), the network of providers on platforms like quickshipr is so vast that you can often find a match that works for your timeline.