Shipping Rate Optimization

When you hear ‘carrier’ you likely think of the big guys: UPS, FedEx, the USPS, etc. But when you hear of regional carriers, what comes to your mind? Today we’re explaining who regional carriers are and what they do.

An often-overlooked aspect of a customer’s experience is what happens after their purchase is placed. This is called the post-purchase experience and plays an extremely important role in creating customer loyalty.

How do you know if adding regional carriers to your distribution strategy makes sense? Like most things, there isn’t a simple answer, but by looking at the right factors for your business you can determine what makes sense for you.

It’s that time of year when shippers are beginning to see the effects of General Rate Increases (GRI). This year, both FedEx and UPS are raising their rates by 5.9%, both of which increases are now in force.

Negotiating a carrier agreement is a highly nuanced, complex process; but for businesses spending a large amount (> $100,000/year) on shipping, negotiating agreements becomes crucial for efficient and economical shipping.

If you’re involved with shipping products you’ve probably heard the term ‘rate shopping’. Rate shopping refers to comparing rates of different carriers to select the cheapest service, but what if shippers were thinking about it all wrong?