subject: How Are Small Delivery Services Different From National Couriers? [print this page] Many businesses must way the costs and benefits of using a small, local courier instead of one of the larger, national known shippers such as UPS or FedEx. There are positives and negatives to using either one, but the real question is, what are the actual differences you find between them? Some businesses don't know enough about either type of service to make a judgment, and these details available here should help a company make an educated decision. Keep in mind, however, that finding the delivery service or 3pl provider (Third Party Logistics) that is best for your business may not simply be black-and-white. What you are seeking will largely depend upon the nature of your business, your shipping needs, you location, and your budget. These factors combined will help you make an informed decision regarding the use of a large or small courier service.
UPS and FedEx are gigantic businesses. Their infrastructure is several times that of most local delivery companies. If you business depends largely upon international shipments, it may make more sense to use a large carrier, rather than mess around with a small local courier or 3pl provider as an intermediate. In order to ship internationally, these smaller couriers will probably require the use of a larger delivery service anyhow. However, if you handle mostly local deliveries, there are a number of reasons why a local courier could be more effective. For one, the drivers are probably more familiar with the area. For another, they will seeking to build strong business ties in the area, and know they must maintain a high level of functioning and customer service in order to complete with the larger, better known delivery companies. For this reason, they are more likely to go above and beyond for their loyal customers, and also be open to rate negotiation if they feel it is necessary to save your business as a client.
Many local delivery services will offer point-to-point runs, which means they will pick up a shipment and deliver it straight away to its destination. It's also not uncommon to get to know a single driver, who is usually designated to your route. This gives the business relationship between you and courier a more personal feeling, and helps develop trust. If you have this type of relationship with your courier, surely you will feel more comfortable entrusting them to them to handle sensitive materials and documents.
