How to Ship Overnight: Fast & Easy

How to ship overnight, and what is involved in overnight deliveries, can quickly become a logistical nightmare.

What are the weight limits involved? Should you send your parcel by road, sea or air? Are there any import restrictions if you send between Canada and the USA? What are the tax implications of sending goods across borders?

Selecting the right Courier

The simplest solution is to use a courier company to arrange your overnight shipping. Clearly they have the expertise in this area, but you need to make sure you choose a reliable and efficient company. Legal disputes relating to failed or late deliveries can arise quickly. If you are shipping between the USA and Canada, this can become even more complicated. You need to ensure your goods have all the correct paperwork sent with them.

When looking for the right courier company, select one that has experience. Not just of local or national deliveries, cross-border deliveries as well. Also check that they are experienced.

Anyone with a van can call themselves a courier. A trusted courier company needs to belong to a recognized trade body like the Canadian Courier and Logistics Association (CCLA).

They ensure all members adhere to a standard code of practice. This gives you, the customer, greater peace of mind when using them.

Understanding the Shipping Process

Shipping overnight, especially across borders, requires you to be aware of a whole range of factors like:

• Meeting your own customers’ expectations
• Insuring your goods against damage or loss
• Understanding of taxes and duties

You should really be doing what you do best: running your business. Let an expert courier worry about how to ship overnight. That is their business.

Selecting a courier company that understands the shipping process and can explain how to ship overnight simply and clearly, is a huge bonus.

Step-by-Step Guides to Shipping Overnight

Below are three simple checklists to help you with shipping overnight.

Before you ship:

• Select a local, reputable courier company
• Choose the service that best suits your requirements from your courier
• Agree transit times (collection and delivery) with the courier

Preparing for the collection and delivery:

• Pack the goods securely (ideally in packaging provided by the courier)
• Fill in all the paperwork associated with the delivery noting things like weights and value
• Make sure all the labels are attached and printed clearly
• Confirm the goods are insured (either by yourself or by the courier)

Final Shipping Checklist:

• Ensure you are allowed to ship your goods to the USA (if applicable)
• Go over the documents one more time for clarity and consistency
• Check content descriptions are accurate (if shipping across national borders)
• Make sure the goods are valued fairly and that they are insured
• Confirm all packaging is secure and that labels are clearly visible and that they are legible
• Make sure the country of origin is clearly displayed on the labelling if you are shipping to the USA

Shipping your goods overnight need not be complicated if you let a reliable courier company take the strain for you. As an added bonus and to give you peace of mind, select a courier that allows you to track your goods as they are shipped.