When You Need Expedited Freight Service

Expedited Freight Service

When your shipment needs to arrive quickly, you want expedited freight service. Many companies offer expedited freight service, so it’s important to know how to find the right service provider for your specific situation.

Important factors to consider when choosing an expedited freight service include:

• Carriers have different types of expedited service.
• If delivery is needed during a specific time of day, look for hourly window service.
• Some carriers offer guarantees for their expedited freight service.
• Additional services such as crate rental or white glove treatment may be right for your circumstances.

Types of Expedited Freight Service

You will find an array of options for expedited freight service. How quickly you need it to arrive at its destination and the location of the destination will often determine which one is best for you. It helps to know the details of each type so that you select the right one for your shipment.

Standard Expedited- This is the simplest form of expedited shipping. With no guaranteed delivery windows, your shipment will arrive more quickly than standard shipping. For instance, if a carrier’s typical transit for a cross country shipment is 7-10 days, their expedited time may be 3-5 days.

Expedited Air Freight- This can add some expense to your shipment, but it may be necessary on occasion. This is typically appropriate when freight needs to arrive in 1-2 days and the destination is long distance.

Weekend Service- Some carriers offer weekend service that handles Friday to Monday shipments. Many times, this option is more economical than expedited air freight. Lanes that are eligible for weekend service will vary by carrier.

Hourly Window- If your shipment must arrive with a tight time frame, then hourly window freight service will be your best option. Some carriers offer single and multi-hour service.

AM/PM Service- Sometimes referred to as morning or afternoon service, this is the preferred choice if your freight needs to be delivered before noon or 5 pm. Compared to hourly window service, this option gives the carrier more flexibility. Thus it is frequently more economical than the hourly window service.

Guaranteed Freight Delivery- If your shipment absolutely must be delivered by a specific time or within a certain time period, consider guaranteed service. Many guaranteed freight delivery service providers offer a full refund if the shipment isn’t delivered at the promised time. This service is frequently an added option for AM/PM and hourly window service.

When Do You Need Expedited Freight Service?

Some examples include:

• When a hospital or clinic needs medical equipment
• Shipping machinery to a factory to make a production deadline
• A merchant needs inventory replenishment to fulfill orders
• A gallery needs to ship expensive, fragile art for a soon-upcoming show

Expedited freight services offer:

• Speed
• Less handling time
• Real-time delivery updates and tracking
• Additional security

When you have a tight deadline to meet, expedited freight shipping is worth the additional cost.

Additional Services to Consider With Expedited Freight

Crate Rental- Shipping multiple packages to the same place? Combining multiple packages into a shipping crate can be efficient and cost-effective. Ready to assemble crates are a great option since they require just a few minutes to set up.

Warehousing- Needing a place to store your products when they’re not in transit can be solved with warehousing. When considering a warehousing partner, look for one that has locations that will work for your shipping needs.

Shipping Insurance- This should always be an option based on your freight situation. If the loss of your shipment could have a significant negative impact, consider purchasing insurance for your freight. Carriers are often able to provide better rates than insurance companies when you bundle this with other services.

The best option of all is to contact Alliance Relocation Services to help you pack and crate your shipment. You want it to arrive intact and undamaged at its destination. Give us a call today for a free consultation at 877-242-0409.