Not every trucking company can cross a border well. Ask these eight questions before you sign.
Domestic trucking and cross-border trucking are different businesses. A carrier that performs well between Riyadh and Jeddah may struggle with customs, permits and border timing on the road to Dubai or Doha. Before you appoint a partner for Saudi–GCC lanes, ask these eight questions.
1. Do your trucks and drivers hold valid GCC transit permits?
Every vehicle and driver crossing the border needs the right permits and insurance. Ask to see them.
2. Who handles customs?
The best carriers either have licensed brokers in-house or established partners on both sides of each border, and they pre-check your documents before departure.
3. What is your fleet mix?
Confirm they operate the trailer types you need — curtain-side, box, flatbed, lowbed and refrigerated — and that they own or control the fleet rather than subcontracting every load.
4. How do you track shipments?
GPS on every truck, border status updates and an ETA you can share with your consignee should be standard.
5. What insurance is in place?
Ask for carrier liability limits and the option to add goods-in-transit cover per shipment.
6. Can you handle temperature-controlled cargo across the border?
Reefers with telematics, fuel planning and a cold chain contingency plan are essential for food and pharma.
7. Who are your references?
A carrier with regular departures on your lane will have customers willing to vouch for them.
8. Is the pricing all-in?
Get quotes that include trucking, border handling, brokerage on both sides and any accessorials, so the invoice matches the quote.
Beyond the checklist
Look for responsiveness. Cross-border issues arise at odd hours, and a partner who answers the phone at midnight when a truck is held at the border is worth more than a slightly lower rate.
TQM International operates cross-border FTL across the GCC with in-house customs coordination, GPS tracking and reefer capability, and is glad to answer all eight questions.
