Over the next couple of months, the freight and shipping services will see a significant increase in business. Retailers are shipping holiday gifts. Residential customers are shipping gifts to loved ones. Even retailers are shipping additional inventory supply to individual store locations. Although each of these shipping purposes is different, the one common expectation is speed. This season, customers want their packages shipped with expedited freight services. These tips will help you to increase your shipping speed, whether you are a retailer or an individual customer.
Give yourself plenty of time
Unfortunately, you cannot always control the LTL shipping process. Even if an expedited freight service quotes you a quick delivery date, problems can occur that slow down the shipment speed. Give yourself plenty of time when it comes to shipping so that you don?t have to stress about delayed shipment schedules. Send larger than expected amounts of inventory to busy locations. Ship out your holiday gifts much earlier than expected. Finish your holiday shopping in time to avoid the busy and rushed shipping season.
Focus on speed, not weight
Some customers are surprised at the high cost of a speedy shipment. Retailers can charge a high price tag to have items overnighted or shipped within two business days. If you add weight to this speedy equation, you could find your shipping cost to skyrocket. An overweight freight often requires a special kind of delivery service. Additionally, if your item is also large, then it takes up a larger portion of the expedited freight space and you end up paying premium shipping charges. Always be cognizant of the weight of gifts that you plan to ship. Sometimes, it makes more sense to gift a gift card instead.
Go with a trusted expedited freight provider
LTL freight rates vary significantly, depending on the specific delivery provider. You might have even noticed differences between delivery prices of the UPS versus USPS. When you factor in oversize freight shipment costs, the prices vary even more. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 5.9 million commercial motor vehicle drivers operate in the United States. This means that you have many options to choose from for your overweight shipping needs, whether you are a residential or commercial customer.
Work out large volume discounts
Retailers have the advantage of many orders. They can sometimes work out shipping discount deals with smaller shipping providers because they can provide them with a lot of business. U.S. e commerce revenue is about $423.3 billion and is steadily climbing. Whether it is a full truckload, less than truckload (LTL), or parcel, carriers are being forced to adjust to changes in the retail industry. Retailers, even small to medium sized ones, have a lot of pull in the shipment industry today. If possible, work out discounts that get you a better shipment rate.
Always carry insurance
It doesn?t matter if you are a residential customer shipping a single gift or large retailers shipping a large inventory, you should always carry shipping insurance. Delivery drivers carry hundreds of thousands of dollars of supplies on a daily basis. Although accidents do not often happen, it only takes one problem to leave you without your needed order. Additionally, people are shipping higher valued products today. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the value of freight moved is expected to increase from $882 per ton in 2007 to $1,377 per ton in 2040. With increasing load values, it is more important than ever to insure your delivery.
Billions of dollars? worth of items will be shipped this holiday season. Some packages will be small and others will be large. Some will require expedited freight shipping, while others have no time requirement. Understanding the shipping process can help you cut your shipment costs and ensure that your package arrives on time and in good shape.
