subject: Can Multi Stop Shipments Be Scheduled With A Courier? [print this page] It is true that most shipments that a Los Angeles courier takes on will simply consist of making a pickup of a single package, and then making a single delivery. Don't let this fool you into thinking that this is the only way of doing business though. There are many different ways that you can structure deliveries with a courier company, and the more you know about your options, the better the odds that you can find a way of getting a multi stop shipment made that is going to work best for your unique situation.
If you want a multi stop shipment made, be sure to check with your courier first and see if that is an option. Usually, it's going to take a larger type of courier company to make this sort of situation possible. Smaller companies may not have the resources in either vehicles or manpower to arrange for multi stop deliveries, but many larger companies may have several options that you can exercise to make this work for you.
When you're working with a larger courier company, any option where you get your own vehicle can be used to make a multi stop shipment. You might have options as to how to do this as well. Some courier companies will be able to subcontract you a driver in any size vehicle, such as a delivery van, for a given amount of time, and you can then schedule the deliveries however works best for you with that driver.
Another option if you are interested in delivering larger amounts of cargo with a multi stop shipment is to hire a trucking company on an FTL basis. While it is possible to have a multi stop shipment made in some LTL shipping situations, it does pose some difficulties. Chiefly, when shipping LTL you will have to also allow your schedule to flex around all of the other clients of the courier company who are also shipping on that particular truck. With FTL, you regain the independence that you would have with a subcontracted courier, and can schedule your multi stop shipment any way you like.
If you need a multi stop shipment made, the best thing to do is to simply approach your courier company about it. Most courier companies that excel pride themselves on being problem solvers. You should just approach them with the dilemma and see what they can offer you as a solution.
