An study by N.C. State University says three of four home furnishings companies using outside carriers opt for specialized furniture carriers. The survey was commissioned by the Specialized Furniture Carriers, a division of the American Home Furnishings Alliance that serves niche carriers dedicated to the transportation and delivery of residential furnishings. The group intends to use results of the study to develop programs, services and marketing materials for its members.

Companies using specialized furniture carriers said they value these companies' services for their furniture handling expertise, personalized service and support for the furniture industry. The respondents reported using specialized carriers for both business-to-business and business-to-customer deliveries.

The study was conducted by the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center and the Psychology Department at NCSU and included 234 respondents responsible for logistics at furniture manufacturing and retail companies. Slightly more than half of the group (53 percent) reported using external, third-party freight carriers. Of this group, 76 percent reported using specialized furniture carriers, while 24 percent said they use general commodity carriers.

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