You’ve won a contract to supply industrial turbine parts to a massive power plant. When that first order for an emergency repair part comes through, you have to act quickly. Not delivering means holding up energy production and creating a terrible first impression with your client, not to mention depriving communities and businesses of energy until the repair is made. How do you get your product there ASAP?
Time-critical shipments are often a source of stress for shippers, forcing them to balance urgency and transportation budgets while trying to deliver on their promises to clients. Cost is often the tradeoff for speed, but other elements like cargo dimensions and pickup and delivery locations can impact how a shipper expedites their freight.
Here’s how the most common expedited options compare, and when it’s best to use each mode.
Fast and nimble sprinter vans
When a critical part breaks at a power plant or a life-saving machine needs repairs at a hospital, sprinter vans are the go-to solution to deliver small replacement parts in time to save the day.
Sprinter vans can travel faster for longer than a typical tractor trailer. Van drivers aren’t required to hold CDLs or adhere to federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. While truck drivers are limited to only 14 hours of on-duty time each day, van drivers take breaks on their own schedule and cover more ground in the same time.
Because of their small size, sprinter vans can move with the flow of passenger traffic without the same safety and handling concerns tractor trailer drivers need to consider. Sprinter vans can also go where trucks can’t, as they have easy maneuverability in urban areas and aren’t subject to weight limitations that would prevent them from taking certain routes.
These vans are the most cost-effective way to expedite freight locally or regionally. However, a sprinter van’s carrying capacity can present a challenge. The largest cargo vans only hold up to ~6,700lbs of freight, or 3 standard pallets. Shippers looking to move larger quantities of freight fast require a more complex solution.
Non-stop truckload moves with two drivers
While sprinter vans move faster with less breaks, team drivers eliminate stopping time altogether. Two drivers ride together in the cab, staggering their rest time to keep the truck rolling virtually 24/7 to move entire truckloads of freight over long distances. Teams are most commonly used for cross-country shipments.
Full truckloads, reefers, flatbeds, and tankers can be moved with team drivers, provided both drivers have the necessary permits and certifications. Oversized loads can also ship with a team behind the wheel, but many states enforce curfews to prevent them from rolling overnight.
As a tradeoff for nonstop service, truckload shipments with team drivers come at a higher rate. The rate accounts for the expertise and time of two drivers, as well as larger equipment and a longer transit time than a sprinter van.
Team drivers aren’t just used for full truckloads. Sprinter vans and box trucks can roll round the clock with a team to move smaller shipments across the country.
Lightning speed delivery with air freight
Of course, when the distance is far and speed is absolutely critical, nothing gets your freight there faster than an airplane. Surprisingly, air freight can be an affordable option depending on the details of the shipment.
Here’s how expedited air freight works: a carrier with a “Known Shipper” status that’s been pre-screened by the TSA, like Shaker, can deliver cargo directly to airports, where the freight is loaded on the next available flight heading to the destination city. This is known as a “next flight out” (NFO) shipment.
Air freight is the fastest way to move freight over long distances on tight deadlines, but costs can vary. On both cargo and commercial planes, carrying capacity is limited by space and weight, so rates are heavily influenced by cargo size. Smaller, lighter items like semiconductor wafers or pharmaceuticals cost less to ship via air than larger, denser items like industrial parts or medical machinery.
Once the freight is on the ground at its destination airport, final mile ground transportation takes over to get it to its ultimate destination. Final mile shipping rates and any special handling requirements contribute to the overall rate. A freight forwarder is an essential resource in this situation. They understand special handling requirements and have a network of local carriers at each major airport. Asking a freight forwarder like Shaker to put together the most cost-effective moves from start to finish can simplify the quoting process.
Expedite right to fit your needs
When it comes to moving freight fast, it can be difficult for a shipper to know what method to use when. Having a steady partner helps. Justin Brown, Customer Success Manager at Shaker Logistics, works with shippers to find expedited solutions that fit their needs.
“Shippers often have a specific idea of how they want to expedite a shipment,” said Justin. “But sometimes the most effective solution can be counterintuitive. If we have the full details of the load, we can propose multiple solutions with different budget and speed options so our customers can make a fully informed decision on a mode that fits their needs.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to expedited shipping. Depending on market conditions, commodity type, and pickup and delivery locations, the best and most cost-effective way to expedite something can be very different from what a shipper expects.
A Shaker client was setting up at a trade show when an important display element broke. The client asked our team to move a replacement piece from their New York facility to the show venue in Las Vegas ASAP, thinking that a ground expedite would be the most cost-effective option.
After determining live rates with our vetted carrier partners, Shaker found that air freight was the fastest and most affordable solution to move the small display element across the country. The replacement piece was immediately picked up and flown to the show venue. It arrived that same night, with plenty of time to complete the display before the show began.
When time is critical, having a partner that provides data-driven recommendations and rapid service can make all the difference. Reach out to our team for just-in-time expediting and high-quality service.