Empty container transport in Melbourne can carry several hidden costs and is therefore not the most efficient use of resources.

Here are some reasons why and how you can minimise the hidden costs involved.

The Cost of Empty Container Transport

There are several hidden costs involved in transporting empty containers, some of which might go unnoticed but can have a serious impact on your bottom line. When a truck returns empty, it is essentially a waste of fuel and can lead to increased wear and tear on vehicles, along with unproductive driver hours.

In addition, empty containers still consume fuel and lead to container depot fees, which ultimately makes for higher operating costs.

How Can You Reduce Empty Container Transport Costs?

Container Leasing and Pooling Networks

What some companies do is, instead of returning empty containers, they enter into leasing or pooling networks. Through these networks, they can temporarily lease the container to another business that will fill it up for the return trip.

This provides an extra source of revenue and mitigates the fuel costs involved in transporting the container.

Optimised Freight Matching and Backloading Services

Some businesses use freight-matching platforms that allow them to find return loads for empty containers. If successful, this approach can reduce the number of dead runs and maximise container use to minimise unnecessary waste.

Various regional logistics hubs and transport cooperatives can help businesses coordinate backloading opportunities to improve efficiencies.

Decentralized Container Depots

While no single business can organise this alone, developing more inland container depots in key regional centres would help reduce long-haul empty trips and save costs. Increased government incentives and investment in regional freight infrastructure could also ease congestion in metro ports and lower overall transport costs.

If your business frequently handles the transportation of shipping containers, it would be a good idea to lobby for greater incentives and investment in regional freight infrastructure.

Want to run a more efficient logistics company without forking out important capital to elevate your bottom line in-house? GM Towing offers expert container transport services in Melbourne and Victoria. Contact us today for more information or to get a quote.