TIME IS MONEY: The Importance of Expedited Shipping

It’s true what they say: time is money. That’s why, when it comes to delivery options, one of the key deciding factors for clients tend to be expedited services offered by shippers. This is true of larger freight deliveries as much as for packages and envelopes.

Just like the person shopping online who is willing pay extra to get their purchase delivered faster than the standard options, manufacturers, retailers, and other clients in vertical industries often find themselves in need of expedited delivery.

Consider medical device suppliers for whom the fastest-possible delivery of equipment to a hospital or lab is paramount. Or the manufacturers who need to get replacement parts to grounded emergency rescue vehicles during a disaster. Even when these situations are not matters of life and death—electronic equipment needed for a film shoot on a tight production schedule, a product to be displayed during an all-important trade show—reliable expedited delivery options are perhaps the most important services offered by shippers and logistics providers.

When we think of expedited services, we tend to think of same-day or next-day delivery options. There is also the even more specific “next flight out” options, which places cargo on the very next available plane. These premium air delivery options are the most complex and, therefore, tend to be the priciest. It is necessary that providers offering these services have the most thorough, wide-ranging network of airfreight carriers available. Considering the cost of these services—along with the inherent time-sensitive nature of them—shippers can’t afford a mistake on their part.

Of course, expedited airfreight services aren’t the only ones offered. There are expedited road transport options available. For domestic deliveries that are urgent, but perhaps not so urgent as to require air transport, this is a great option, as it also cuts down on cost significantly.

When it comes to expedited ground transport options, full truckload (FTL), as opposed to less-than-truckload (LTL) is probably the best option, since it provides exclusive vehicle use, door-to-door delivery, as opposed to the shipper having to make several stops for different cargo. When finding a logistics provider to handle this kind of operation, it may be worth considering one that operates its own trucks for direct FTL service, as it will cut down on the time (and cost) of finding a third-party carrier.

As much as speed takes precedent when it comes to expedited services, shippers shouldn’t be expected to sacrifice quality or other capabilities, such as white glove service options which provide specialized equipment, multiple men, assembly and breakdown, and debris removal. They should also be equipped to offer expedited delivery for all kinds of cargo, no matter the particular requirements—temperature control, oversized, hazardous material, etc.

Should it be an international delivery, logistics providers should also be prepared to handle the Customs and brokerage process. That’s an area where a single mistake can result in a hold-up that entirely negates the expedited nature of the operation in the first place.

Needless to say, all of this should be considered while also considering the price. Just because a shipment requires expedited service, that does not mean that the shipper or logistics provider shouldn’t try and find the most cost-effective solution. The decision should be based around the best, fastest, and most reliable service, for the most competitive cost—not one or the other.

Few logistics providers can be counted on to deliver all of this, but one that can is Aeronet Worldwide^®. For over 35 years, Aeronet has offered a range of flexible, but time-definite expedited services customized around the specific requirements of our Clients’ delivery. This is based on one of the founding tenets of Aeronet’s corporate culture: a “Sense of Urgency.” It is Aeronet’s dedication to that philosophy, as well its commitment to innovation, that makes it the number one logistics provider for all expedited services.

Visit Aeronet.com for more information.