Have a time sensitive package on your hands? Does your company’s supply chain require getting everything to its destination right on time? Is tracking packages and deadlines stressing you out? What you need is expedited freight. There are a few different methods of using expedited freight to get your delivery where it needs to go as quickly as possible. This post will run you through some of the most important.
Air Charter Expedited Freight
Air charter is the fastest expedited shipping method out there – especially if you need to ship something overseas. When you work with an air charter service, you are essentially renting out an entire charter plane to deliver your product or packages. This is definitely one of the most expensive options, but it is the safest, and fastest way to ensure that your delivery is made on time.
If you are in a hurry to have something delivered overseas, using expedited shipping through air charter is the best way to handle it.
Hand Carry Expedited Freight
Hand carry is a much simpler method of expedited freight shipping via aircraft. Instead of renting out an entire charter plane, the package is transported by hand on a commercial aircraft. In most cases, the individual who carries the package on the aircraft also makes the delivery.
This is a much more affordable option than air charter and can be just as quick. However, there is one major downside: hand carry delivery is limited to packages that are small enough to be carried by hand and checked on a commercial flight. It is fairly restricted, but for small, one-time deliveries, it can be a great affordable option.
Air Freight
Air freight can be looked at as a step between air charter and hand carry expedited freight. In this case, your package is transported on a freight carrier with other packages. Your company must be a registered shipper with the TSA, and your package is generally limited to 150 pounds. Overseas delivery generally takes 2 to 3 days through this method.
Air freight can be a good choice for regularly scheduled overseas deliveries that have to be made quickly. It is still fairly expensive, but more affordable than air charter, and gives you the peace of mind that your package is being handled by certified logistics professionals.
Dedicated Truck or FTL Freight
This last expedited freight option is not quite as fast as shipping through an aircraft, but still a great choice for domestic deliveries. FTL, or dedicated truck shipping, is a method that involves renting out a full truckload to make your delivery. As your package is the only one on board the truck, weight limits are generally very high, and the package is guaranteed to be handled carefully. The delivery will be made as fast as possible, with no unnecessary stops in between.
Delivery times for FTL freight will obviously vary depending on the distance, but you can expect a package to be delivered within 2-4 days, even across the country.
We hope this post has helped you to come to a better understanding of the different methods of expedited freight. Want to learn more? Call us at American Manufacturing Solutions to see how expedited freight can revolutionize your company’s logistics.