Choosing the Best Product Shipping Method for Your Business

Working with cargo and freight, moving it from point A to point B, is complicated. There are many things to consider when choosing a logistics partner—what you are shipping, where you are shipping to, and so on.

Every business needs to seriously consider the shipping methods available to them as the choice matters more than you'd think. Your delivery company plays a big role in getting products safely to customers and could make or break your reputation. With so many to choose from, the decision can be daunting.

We will discuss four shipping methods that are available to help you determine which method will best fit your needs.

1. Intermodal Shipping

As the name implies, this method of shipping utilizes a combination of different vehicles to ship your freight. For example, some intermodal shipping methods utilize rail and sea, while others use road and air. It is any combination of vehicles that uses the railway, the road, the sea, and the air. The most significant benefit of intermodal shipping, is that it is one of the more environmentally-friendly shipping methods. This method also offers relatively lower shipping rates, as well as pricing that is much more easily gauged.

2. TL Shipping

TL shipping, also known as full truckload shipping, means that you are shipping using an entire trailer. This means that you will need to be shipping enough items to fill a whole trailer.

Fortunately, when you opt for full truckload shipping, your investment becomes exceptionally cost-effective. Rather than dealing with several separate shipments of the same item, you can have everything delivered at once. Plus, since the entire load is going from point A to point B without any additional handling in between, costs are reduced further thanks to lowered handling costs. Finally, gauging what you need to pay is simple since you are paying for distance rather than cargo weight. As a plus, these trucks have insurance, giving you peace of mind that your cargo is as safe as it can be.

3. LTL Shipping

LTL shipping, less-than-truckload shipping, is a method of shipping if you are sending out items that do not take up an entire truckload. While your items will still be going to the same destination, it will be traveling alongside other shipments to make the most of the space available.

This shipping method can take more time and incur additional handling costs since your items will most likely be taken to a hub and then transferred to another truck to be combined with other goods for transportation. That said, there are still benefits to this method. For example, it's much more cost-efficient if your business still doesn't require the space of an entire trailer. You'll also be able to skip zone charges.

4. Expedited Shipping

Simply put, expedited shipping focuses on getting one item from point A to point B as fast as possible. This is extremely useful in different scenarios, such as delivering items to hospitals in need of emergency supplies. This method of shipping can be quite costly, but if you need things to be shipped as efficiently and as timely as possible, this is the method to choose.

Match the Shipping Method with Your Needs

With these shipping methods in mind, we hope that you can decide which shipping method is best for you. If you are the one who needs to send items quickly for any reason, such as an emergency, expedited shipping is the way to go. If you are sending a load of goods that won't take up an entire truck, LTL shipping is a good option. The best choice depends on your requirements. Our tip would be to research the shipping service providers you want to work with properly to ensure that they can provide you with the right and best service possible.

Product Shipping by Comet Delivery Services

Are you in search of a logistics company based in the US to work with? Comet Delivery Is your one stop, one call does it all delivery, warehousing, and logistics company. Get in touch with us today at Comet Delivery Services and see what we have to offer!

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