Today, expedited trucking services are one of the most common supply chain forms.
To get their products delivered on time, many industries rely on them.
What is expedited service?
If you wonder what does an expedited company do, it provides the solution for hauling expedited freight from point A to point B faster than other delivery options.
In trucking, expedited service means cutting out all the wasted time during transit.
What is Expedited Freight?
For businesses operating in the below industries, receiving their product on time is vital.
Here are the four industries using expedited freight:
- Medical industry - Many medical supplies are temperature sensitive and they need to get to their destination quickly to prevent their altering.
- Pharmaceutical industry - Many patients rely on their medication for survival and they need to get the medications refilled regularly.
- Manufacturing industry - In the manufacturing industry the schedules are tight and if parts do not come in on time, an entire project might get delayed.
- Ecommerce industry - Most retail stores offer their products online. And to keep a satisfactory level of their customers, they offer fast shipping options like two days delivery or overnight delivery.
Choose the correct vehicle to expedite your shipment
Expedited shipping doesn't necessarily get done by one vehicle option.
There are several types of vehicles that can handle expedited freight hauling.
With expedited freight, the only thing that matters is delivering the freight to the destination quickly and safely.
Every shipment is unique and faces its own set of challenges.
The type of vehicle you choose depends on the amount of transportation capacity it has and the available shipping freight in your area.
Small cargo vans
Cargo vans or even pickup trucks are the smallest type of vehicle capable of hauling tiny bits of expedited freight.
Drivers who are hauling expedited freight using a small van don't need to have a CDL.
Sprinter vans
Sprinter vans are another transportation option for smaller quantities of expedited freight.
They can fit three standard-sized pallets (40 inches by 48 inches) or up to 3,000 pounds of total cargo.
Because sprinter van's GVW doesn't exceed 10,000 pounds, their drivers don't fall under the hours of service regulations, which is a plus.
Straight trucks
Straight trucks used in expedited shipments are also known as box trucks.
Straight trucks look like smaller tractor-trailers.
The difference from semi-trucks is that a box truck has its driver cabin and cargo box attached to the same frame.
Their length measures between 10 feet to 26 feet and can fit in their cargo area up to 12 pallets or 12,000 pounds of freight.
These types of vehicles rarely exceed the GVW of 10,000 pounds, which means that their drivers don't deal with HOS rules.
Tractor-trailers
Tractor-trailers are the best choice for expedited full truck loads that require long-distance transportation.
Standard vs. expedited delivery
Standard delivery
Standard delivery is recommended for less urgent shipments.
The delivery period for standard shipping is 3 to 10 business days.
The standard delivery option is cheaper than expedited delivery, which makes it a cost-effective transportation option.
Expedited delivery
Expedited shipping is faster. This shipment option is usually handled in one to three business days.
The cost for this transportation service is higher due to the shorter delivery time.
This transportation option is appropriate for non-durable goods or those requiring special storage conditions.
Why is expediting important?
There are two major parties for whom expedited services are very important. These are the trucking carriers and their customers.
- For a trucking carrier, expediting shipment is the chance to add value for their customers experience while working with them.
- For a customer, lightspeed deliveries keeps their business competitive on the market.
The qualities that a reliable carrier must possess
- 24/7 Service – the need for immediate deliveries may occur anytime late at night, on weekends, or on holidays. Because of that the carrier must be available 24/7.
- Reliability – any business or individual customer is willing to pay more in exchange for improved reliability.
- Good bilateral communication – the carrier should be ready to provide an update to the customer 24/7.
What are the benefits of expedited shipping?
The benefits of expedited shipping mirror the main reasons why shippers utilize these services.
Guaranteed delivery times
Expedited shipping provides the customer with predictable delivery times. That way, you can plan for a predictable delivery schedule.
Transit speeds
By choosing expedited trucking services, the customer relies on receiving the fastest delivery option.
Added value
In such a fast-paced landscape, customers appreciate the high quality of expedited shipments.
It's not an easy task to do. But, carriers who manage to constantly provide good expedited services, they create a ton of value in the market.
Multiple shipment solutions
Choosing expedited trucking services doesn't limit your shipment solutions to only one vehicle.
You can use a hotshot truck or a tractor-trailer.
Dedicated cargo capacity
By choosing expedited services, your freight is not sharing the rest of the cargo capacity with any other possible freight.
All the cargo area is dedicated to your freight.
That is the main reason why expedited trucking services are more expensive than standard shipment.
What are the disadvantages of expedited shipping?
By securing a dedicated transportation solution for the sole purpose of moving your freight, you'll need to pay for the entire cargo capacity of the booked vehicle.
That's why you need to do some calculations before choosing the type of vehicle for your expedited shipment to prevent overpaying for an empty cargo area.
For example.
If you need to transport 3 pallets, you'd pay less for shipping them in a sprinter van rather than shipping them in a tractor-trailer.
Conclusion
Expedited shipping services helps customers to receive their product fast when they need it.
The customer may choose to transport his expedited freight using a small cargo van, a sprinter van, a box truck, or a tractor-trailer. The chosen vehicle for this job depends on the amount of cargo the customer needs to transport.
If you are interested in earning money offering these services, find out how to start an expedited business.
