Benefits of Multi-Carrier Solutions

Shipping’s no longer a one-lane highway—it’s a web of options that gets wider (and pricier) every quarter.  Peter Board’s latest piece nails the reason why👇   https://lnkd.in/gB2W-ppp Key takeaways   • One carrier = one point of failure. Strikes, hub closures, or “network re-configs” can stall thousands of parcels overnight.   • Multi-carrier = leverage. When UPS, FedEx, or any regional knows you can reroute volume, surcharges get friendlier.   • Speed wins. Routing West-coast orders to OnTrac or handing low-value boxes to USPS Ground Advantage can shave days AND dollars.   • Data is king. Real-time cost + on-time dashboards let you switch lanes before late scans turn into refund emails.  What we’re seeing in the wild 🕵️♂️   • Retail networks (Amazon, Walmart, Target) are now credible last-mile partners, especially in rural ZIPs.   • Regionals are matching national on-time rates while undercutting DIM fees.   • Carriers shutting hubs (👀 UPS) are quietly adding “network efficiency” surcharges—easy to dodge when 10-15 % of volume is already riding an alternate label.  Quick roadmap to de-risk 2025   1️⃣ Tag your top 10 ZIPs and test one regional carrier for 30 days.   2️⃣ Pipe every scan + invoice line into a live dashboard—let numbers pick the winners.   3️⃣ Keep a “red-button” label profile ready; if a strike or weather event hits, you print and pivot in minutes.   4️⃣ Review DIM weight on repeat SKUs. A tighter carton often saves more than a rate discount.  Prediction 🔮   By peak ’26, “multi-carrier” won’t be strategy—it’ll be table stakes. The brands that route parcels like stock trades (dynamic, data-first, risk-balanced) will pocket the savings while single-carrier shippers fund the learning curve.  How diversified is your current label stack? 🚀  #ParcelShipping #MultiCarrier #Logistics #Ecommerce #SupplyChain #LastMile #DataDriven #OnTimeDelivery #CostControl #ShippingTips

Interested in a competitive edge in e-commerce fulfillment? Unlock the power of regional parcel carriers. As an e-commerce business owner or logistics professional, you know the pain of shipping delays and skyrocketing costs all too well. National carriers often struggle to keep up with the surge in parcel volume, leading to longer transit times and hefty surcharges. Would you consider a solution that can help you bypass these challenges and provide your customers with faster, more affordable shipping? The Benefits of Going Regional Of course you’ve heard of regional carriers, but have you ever really looked into strategically incorporating them into your carrier mix? Regional carriers operate within specific geographic areas, allowing them to offer several key advantages over national carriers: 🚚 Faster Deliveries: By focusing on a smaller service area, regional carriers can optimize routes and get packages to their destinations quicker, often offering next-day or even same-day delivery options. 💰 Lower Costs: With lower overhead and fewer surcharges, regional carriers can pass on significant cost savings to shippers compared to national carriers. 🤝 Personalized Service: Regional carriers have a smaller customer base, enabling them to provide more personalized attention and flexibility to meet your unique shipping needs. 📈 Sustainability: By keeping packages within their regions, regional carriers reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-haul transportation. Finding the Right Regional Fit It's crucial to choose the one that best aligns with your business's shipping patterns and customer locations. There are platforms and solution providers that can help you make the best decision. Regional VS National? Go multi-carrier – It isn’t either/or. By strategically incorporating regional carriers into your carrier mix, you can optimize your shipping operations, reduce costs, and provide your customers with the fast, reliable service they deserve. #RegionalCarriers #Logistics #ShippingStrategy #Ecommerce

Carriers will say that you must ship all of your volume with them in order to get negotiated discounts. The sad part is I see this work with tons of shippers. They end up shipping all of their volume with a single carrier at the promise of savings. But, this often ends up with the opposite result. Shippers pay more and have zero leverage to negotiate rates further. Carriers do this because the last thing they want are their rates compared for every shipment. That's a game they lose. You on the other hand only have upside when using multiple carriers. One raises rates? Go to the other. One implements new surcharges? Use the other. And the best tool in your pocket? You can use their competing rates to negotiate. You can't do that if you only ship with one carrier! Imperfect information only stands to benefit carriers when they're then ones that hold the information. When it's you, you control your destiny. Now get our there and start working with multiple carriers!