IS EXPEDITED SHIPPING WORTH THE COST?

If you’ve ever needed to get a shipment quickly, you know that the cost and logistics can be a pain, not to mention the anxiety of hoping your freight or parcel will arrive on time. Thankfully, there are ways to speed up the process and make sure your freight will arrive on time. We’ll take a look at what expedited shipping is and why it’s worth paying for if you’re in a hurry or want to know exactly when your item will get there. 

What is Expedited Shipping 

Expedited shipping describes the service to get your freight from point A to point B on a tight deadline – typically in two days or less. It applies to nearly any weight, freight type, distance or pallet count and can be serviced via several modes of transportation including hot shots, dry vans, sprinter vans, straight trucks or cargo vans.  

The Benefits of Expedited Shipping 

If you’re in a hurry to get your shipment, expedited shipping can save the day. Here are some of its key benefits: 

• Speed of delivery. For many shipments, the difference between regular and expedited shipping is only a few days–but it could mean the difference between getting something on time or getting it too late. 
• Customer service. If you need help getting your time-sensitive, high value or fragile freight on time, expedited freight shipping services will sometimes offer enhanced insurance and immediate proof of delivery with photos. 
• Tracking capability. Many shippers offer enhanced tracking capabilities for their customers’ peace of mind on expedited shipments. For example, our expedited service includes dedicated account managers and GPS monitoring, 

When to use it?

Shipping with Expedited Shipping is ideal when you need to know when your delivery will arrive. This is especially true if you are shipping a high value item that cannot be delayed, or if customs duties need to be avoided. 

Is it worth the cost?

If you’re shipping an item that is time sensitivey, then yes. If, however, you don’t mind waiting a few extra days and can accept that your freight may take longer than expected, then no. 

As far as cost is concerned, there are a number of carriers and 3PLs that can provide varying quotes on an expedited shipment. For example, our network of 80K carriers allows us to be more efficient in our expedited moves and provide highly competitive pricing.