December 2017

Understanding Different Types of Shipping

When it comes to shipping, there is a multitude of choices for any business. But how does anyone know where to start?

Shipping involves various rules and regulations depending on the materials being shipped and it’s not free. Businesses need to weigh their options to decide which type of shipping they need and vary in the associated costs. Different shipping solutions may work better for one company over the next.

There are different types of shipping available depending on what a company requires to ship their packages, locally, throughout the United States, and abroad. Some companies have other special requirements and instructions for their packages that require special handling and care. Others may just need basic shipping services.

In this article, we’re discussing different types of shipping and how courier services might be the best option for busy companies. Keep reading to learn more.

Different Types of Shipping

Most people know about the various shipping solutions available through nationwide providers like UPS, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service. Courier services are generally available at a localized level.

Here, we’re discussing the different types of shipping available to compare to courier services.

UPS

The United Parcel Service, otherwise known as UPS was founded on August 28, 1907, and delivers an estimated 15.8 million packages daily. They have various shipping solutions available to the average consumer and businesses alike. Here are just a few.

UPS Internet Shipping

Internet Shipping allows customers to create shipments from a desktop with an internet connection. Create shipping or return labels and cancel shipments anytime.

Freight Services

Shipping heavy or large packages over 150 pounds can be done via land, air or sea using the same familiar tools that UPS offers to process all of their shipments. Track pallets and containers with ease.

Main Innovations

UPS has partnered with the USPS and other worldwide organizations to ensure faster and accurate delivery options. This service is typically used for lightweight parcels and flat mail.

International Services

UPS promises three to five day delivery with morning or end of day delivery options for international shipments. They also offer economical shipping options and fast service for urgent deliveries.

FedEx

Federal Express, or FedEx delivers or handles an estimated 3.4 million packages daily. The company officially began operations on April 17, 1973, and quickly became a premier carrier of high-priority materials. They have just a few shipping options available both to average consumers and businesses.

United States Package Shipments

FedEx offers same-day, next business day or other time, and definite day options for United States package shipments. Shipping costs vary depending on the size and weight of the package.

International Package Shipments

FedEx ships to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. Services range from fastest possible delivery, delivery within 5 business days and customs brokerage.

United States Freight Shipments

This delivery company can provide urgent delivery, time-definite delivery, day-definite delivery, and additional freight services. In some cases, they’ll promise delivery the next morning.

International Freight Shipments

FedEx offers an entire menu of international freight shipping options. They have different categories of shipment solutions per each type of delivery.

USPS

The United States Parcel Service has been going strong since July 26, 1775, delivering mail and parcels across the country. They can also ship internationally and sometimes for less than other services.

There are five different types of shipping available through USPS.

First Class Mail

First class mail is an inexpensive way to send any item that weighs 13 ounces or less. This includes mail such as greeting cards and regular stamped mail.

Express Mail

Express mail is not frequently used because it is more expensive but may be used for urgent deliveries. This option offers overnight and flat rate envelopes.

Parcel Post

Parcel post is less expensive but it takes a little while to get anywhere. Anything can be shipped with parcel post.

Media Mail

Media mail is strictly for sending books, videos, CDs, and records. This shipping option has many restrictions that include no padding in the shipping material.

Priority Mail

The starting rate for Priority mail is no less than five dollars. Any item can be shipped this way to ensure fast delivery, generally within 2-3 days.

Courier Services

Courier services are sometimes less well known than the other types of shipping services available on the market today. But a courier service can mean the difference between a satisfactory transaction and one that isn’t so comfortable. They can provide sufficient resources and quality customer service with easy to use shipping platforms that fit the needs of each individual company.

Here are some services one can find with a local courier delivery service.

Rush Courier & On Demand

A courier service can offer the following:

  • Super Rush – pickup within one hour, directly delivered
  • Rush Service – pickup within one hour, delivered within 3 hours
  • Same Day – order by 10:30 am, delivery by 5 pm
  • Next Day – guaranteed delivery next day by 5 pm
  • Pre-Scheduled Delivery – delivery at a specified time.

Pre Scheduled Routed Delivery

Delivering everything from envelopes to pallets, a courier service can outperform the competition:

  • Express STAT Delivery – picked up in one hour, taken directly to delivery location
  • Express – picked up in one hour, delivered in three hours
  • Standard – place an order by noon, guaranteed delivery by 5:30 pm

Air Freight

Air Freight services can include same day delivery to anywhere in the United States. A courier will pick up a package immediately and ensure it goes out on the next flight. The deliveries can also be time specific.

Baggage Delivery

A courier service makes traveling less stressful.

  • Pickup Service – couriers pick up luggage from location, ship to destination, send back
  • Wrapping Services – wrapping items in protective covering
  • Domestic and International Service
  • Electronic Notifications – alerts and proof of delivery

Final Thoughts

No matter what one is trying to get delivered, there’s a delivery service that will accommodate those needs. And, a courier service is second to none. They offer top-notch service and delivery on time.

With a courier service, nobody has to worry about whether a package is being properly cared for. It’s being handled by professionals that care about individuals and their business and getting packages delivered on time. Couriers make the difference.

If you’re looking for different types of shipping options, contact us. We provide professional courier service each step of the way.

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7 Reasons to Hire a National Courier Service

National courier service

National courier service

Did you know a whopping 96 percent of Americans shop online? Some of the primary reasons they turn to the internet instead of walking into physical stores is to avoid crowds and save time. You heard that right. Online shoppers want to save time. If you sell products online, you don’t want to keep your online shoppers waiting. And you also don’t want to turn down a customer because they are in a different state. As your business grows and expands its delivery boundaries, you need to embrace the growth by outsourcing deliveries to a national courier. In this article, we’re discussing 7 top reasons why you must hire a national courier service. Keep reading.

1. Fuel Business Growth

You do everything to give your business the best chance of growth. You stock the best quality products, provide excellent customer services, reinvest most of your profits back into the business, and hire the most talented employees. Another way to fuel business growth? Hiring a national courier service to handle your shipping.

You see, e-commerce enables businesses to expand their customer base. From the moment you set up your e-store, customers from all over the country will be able to buy your products.

What do you do when orders from far away states start rolling in? You’ll either cancel the orders (much to the disappointment of the customers) or use the postal service to ship the products. As you know, using the postal service isn’t the best way to impress your customers.

Outsourcing the work to a national courier is the best way to make your customers happy and keep them ordering from you.

2. Build Your Reputation

The modern customer wants to shop at reputable brands. Branding encompasses everything from your site design to your delivery experience. If you choose to use a local courier with no national delivery experience, your reputation will take a hit. Customers will certainly think you’re not ready to invest in a good courier in a bid to increase your bottom line, and they won’t invest in you either.

Hiring a national courier service with a solid reputation also improves your business’ reputation. Experienced couriers know what it takes to make your customers happy. Customers won’t care that the delivery service is a completely different company. All that matters is your business is working with a reputable delivery service.

3. Your Competitors Are Probably Already Using National Couriers

As much as e-commerce opens up your business to a global customer base, competition for customers is still fierce. Large e-retailers like Amazon and eBay already control much of the market. To stay steps ahead of your direct competition, you must do all you can to gain a competitive advantage. Chances are, if you haven’t already hired a national carrier, some of your competitors have beat you to it!

But worry not. You can still catch them, especially if you’re smart about your courier choice. How so? Even though there are many national couriers to choose from, they are not created equal. Some have a reputation for making late deliveries, and others mishandle packages.

Hiring a national courier like Need It Now Delivers will give you the best chance of catching and beating competitors who’re already working with national couriers.

4. Going International? A National Courier Service Got Your Back

You didn’t see it coming, but somehow, international customers (probably from Canada or Mexico) have been enquiring about your products. After debating whether to go global or not, you’re finally ready to accept international orders. Do you start looking for an international courier?

Probably! But if you already have a competent national courier service on your side, you may be saved the hassle of hunting for an international courier.

An established national courier also offers international shipping, so when you are ready to accept international orders, the courier will readily offer you the service. And since you already have an existing business relationship, you could get a decent discount!

5. White Glove Delivery

Businesses are going to great lengths to please their customers. Some of the newest services include in-home delivery and light assembly of some products (together known as white glove delivery).

Think about this: what happens when a customer is not at home to receive a delivery? In the past, the delivery man would have to re-deliver the package. But with in-home delivery, the courier can deliver the package even in the customer’s absence!

When you hire a national courier, you’ll also get a white glove delivery service. This will lead to an even greater satisfaction among your customers.

6. Warehousing

It’s very expensive to ship out products from a single location. As a national business, it makes more economic sense to have warehouses in several locations across the country. Such that when a customer in Michigan places an order, you don’t have to ship the products from your business headquarters in Texas. But with a warehouse in Michigan, it will be way cheaper and quicker to fulfill the order.

The challenge, though, is it can be expensive to lease warehouses across the country. This is where a national courier comes in. At Need It Now Delivers, we have warehouses where you can store products ready to ship to nearby locations. This way, you’ll ensure your products are on hand in multiple locations across the country without incurring a lot of money in warehousing costs.

7. Same Day Delivery

Many online shoppers are willing to dig deeper into their pockets if it means receiving their orders on the same day of purchase. However, same day deliveries aren’t always feasible when you’re shipping nationwide. Hiring a national courier enhances your chances of making same day deliveries, even to customers in far-flung areas. A good courier has the resources to make this happen.

Your Search for a Reliable National Courier Service Ends Here!

Now that you know the benefits of hiring a national courier, you’re probably hunting for one already. Stop! At Need It Now Delivers, we are national delivery experts with over 70 years of experience. We offer a variety of shipping services, and our couriers are fitted with tracking technology.

Read to try us? Get a quick quote. Or contact us with any questions.

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10 Benefits of Using Air Freight Services

Air freight

Air freight

With the price of shipping being so affordable domestically, we automatically look for that savings internationally. This is partly why air freight services can appear stark in contrast. That would be a missed opportunity for many shipping scenarios dealing with lower volumes. The advantages for shipping air freight are many, not just with the speed of delivery. Air freight is the preferred choice for many industries, like automotive, interior design, electronics, construction, and more. As much as six trillion dollars worth of goods are transported around the world via air freight. This makes up over 35% of all trade, in fact.

To help you understand just how valuable air freight services can be for both personal and business needs, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten benefits.

1. Unmatched Speed

When speed is paramount, you can’t afford to settle for less than air freight services. Sea and land freight will always be significantly slower and unreliable in that respect.

Sure, some freight services may advertise comparable delivery rates, but there is no guarantee.

2. Arrival and Departure Consistency

With air freight services, tracking your package and following its promised delivery times is easy. You see what flight it’s on, when it takes off, and when it lands. With land or sea freight, your package could be anywhere until it arrives at a major hub.

A missed flight doesn’t mean waiting an additional day for air freight services. Planes run every hour, on average.

In addition to the fewer hops involved with air transport, the customs fees can be minimized.

With shipping smaller volumes of packages, customs, harbor fees, and other taxes can add up. You could be paying air freight rates while getting your packages weeks later.

3. Global Shipping Flexibility

When shipping via air freight, you’re open to more locations for delivery. Relying on sea and land freight means going through major transportation networks. This often leaves out smaller countries of the world.

Opening more doors to more parts of the world means a wider reach and more customers served.

4. Low Insurance Premiums

Because of quicker transit times, air freight premiums are lower, on average, when compared to other forms of shipping. The less time your package is in-route, the lower the risk of it being lost/stolen.

Having your package pass through fewer hands is also a bit more reassuring for both parties.

5. Higher Standards of Security

Not only is your package making fewer stops on average, air freight services take security and tracking seriously. Airport safety and security is a top priority, so by proxy, your package will be handled with care.

It’s much less likely that your packages will be stolen out of an airport, rather than a port or postal hub.

6. Reduced Dependence on Warehousing

Faster delivery of packages means small businesses will be relying less on storing local inventory. The ebb and flow of business forces businesses to stock up in anticipation.

When cargo is able to arrive and depart without delay, inventory management becomes more natural. This is a huge advantage when it comes to adapting to buyer trends, seasons, and etc.

7. Reduced Packing Materials

Shipping via land or sea means packaging must be bulky and thorough to absorb bumps and drops. Air freight allows lighter packing, further expediting the process of shipping by manufacturers.

As a result, your shipments will be lighter and you’ll save even more on freight costs.

8. Outsourcing Experience

When dealing with air freight services, you’ll find their expertise with outsourcing options invaluable. Sea freight is often impersonal and unnerving. Having a strong relationship with your carrier is important for long-term success.

A lot of shipping logistics get lost in the sea of customs arrangements, contractual fine print, and more. Air freight is a comparatively simple and transparent process, thanks to experienced managers.

9. End-to-end Services

The international network of air transport provides a wide scope of services to cover a variety of client needs. This includes a great relationship with freight forwarders, carriers, operators, customs agents, and GPS logistics. This ensures your package arrives safely and securely.

Fragile and sensitive packages are simply safer in the hands of air freight services.

10. Legal Compliance

One major benefit of air freight that is overlooked is the boring, administrative side. Having all documentation squared away and taken care of on your behalf is huge. Mistakes carry financial penalties on top of inconveniences, so it’s important to employ a company with experience.

When dealing with sea freight, this is especially true. It’s very difficult to follow all the legal and regulatory fulfillments needed to pass over international borders.

Trusted Air Freight Services

Don’t forget to remember the intangibles when deciding on how your goods will be shipped. You should always choose well-qualified, personable, and experienced transporters over the cheapest available.

Know that your cargo is being handled by professionals who already have the connections and knowledge to ship anywhere. Leave nothing to chance and get your shipment correct the first time.

Port fees, penalties, and lost inventory can end up costing you more over time. Businesses might call this “calculated risk”, but that leaves out the emotional stress caused by uncertainty.

Choose ASAP Courier and see how we can change the way you think about shipping logistics. We’ll help you decide on what method of shipping is best for your business.

Get a quick quote and start saving time and money right now.

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