subject: The Differences Between Small And Large Courier Companies [print this page] When you're shopping for courier service, there are going to be a lot of different companies out there vying for your services. While some of these will be very small, local 3pl providers and logistics companies, others are going to be gigantic international corporations with seemingly limitless resources and funding. Therefore, the question becomes what are the differences between these types of companies and what kind of company is going to be better for your organization's shipping needs.
The small companies are those which can pay more attention to the details of your organization. When you deal with a very large company, you tend to be reduced to a number, and simply become an entry in their database of customers. When you're dealing with a smaller courier company though, you can quickly form a real business relationship with them. They are more likely to learn the intricacies of your shipping needs and to work proactively to improve your company's shipping methods.
The other advantage of the smaller companies has to do with their knowledge of the local area. If you're only shipping to businesses and customers that are close by, they tend to be able to provide faster and better service, and sometimes better rates, than the larger couriers might be able to.
Where the large companies like FedEx really shine is when it comes to long distance deliveries or international shipping of any kind. If you have to ship something to the far side of the planet with a small courier, there is a very good chance that they're going to have to use one of those larger couriers to ship to those distant locations anyway. As such, it's usually better to just cut out the middleman and go with the larger company instead.
The other advantages of using the larger courier companies like FedEx is that they have the size of fleet, staff, and infrastructure to accommodate your shipping needs no matter how large they are, or how large they might grow. When you're doing business with a much smaller courier, it is possible for your company to outgrow the size of that courier company. If you foresee a great deal of expansion in your company either in terms of the volume of your shipping, or in the distance that you're shipping, then you may want to decide to open an account with one of the larger international couriers instead.
