3 Major Differences Between Shippers & Couriers You Never Knew

Strong commerce depends on a reliable transportation and delivery of goods. In your zeal to make sure that your document, product or gift arrives at its destination safely and on time, you may not realize the distinctions between the two options available to you: a shipper and a courier. While the two may appear to be one and the same, they are actually slightly different. Here, we take a look at four key differences between a shipper and a courier.

Transit Times

Many shipping companies have a standard time frame for delivering a range of packages at a flat rate. For example, a small- to medium-sized package may take from 3 to 10 business days to deliver for a set fee while larger packages may have a slightly higher fee and take a bit more time to deliver. Shipping companies typically offer few options for customization.

Courier services specialize in custom timing options ranging from three hours to three days and can move anything as small as a folder or as large as an appliance within a short time frame. If you need a package delivered somewhere overnight or within an afternoon, you can choose from a courier’s menu of options to see which timing and pricing options work best for you. You get a lot more variety and customization than you would with a regular shipping service.

Clientele

Both shipping companies and courier services cater to both residential and business clients. However, courier services tend to be slightly more geared towards business clients due to their unique shipping needs. A courier service can be equally important for personal use if you have a pressing matter that requires you to have something delivered as soon as possible. Couriers provide a premium service that not only includes shipping but also tracking, signature service and much faster delivery times. You would choose a courier rather than a shipper if the item you are shipping is valuable or sensitive enough to warrant the premium cost.

Drop Point

Courier services usually arrive at your home or office to collect the package from you before delivering it directly to your desired destination. When using a shipping service, you are normally required to drop the package off at a locally operated facility who will then pass your package to a central hub for delivery to its final destination.

Transportation Method

A courier can collect your package in a number of different ways. Large, well-established courier companies may arrive in a truck, van or SUV as they have a large volume of packages to collect and ship. However, for small, personal objects you may hire a bike or motorcycle courier.