If you have a small package shipment that is time-sensitive – domestic or international, FedEx Express is your best bet. At PartnerShip, our goal is to help you get the most out of these services. Here are a few things you can do to take full advantage of FedEx Express services.

Establish discounts
Through a PartnerShip managed shipping program, you can receive discounts with FedEx, including select FedEx Express services. If you belong to an association we work with, you simply need to enroll. To find out if you qualify, contact us and we’ll find the solution that’s right for you.

Order free shipping supplies
You can order supplies for your FedEx Express shipments for free through fedex.com. Supplies include envelopes, boxes, tubes, shipping label pouches, and more. Getting free shipping supplies means one less cost for you to worry about.

Take advantage of FedEx One Rate^® options
Select FedEx Express services are available with FedEx One Rate. These flat rate options can be very cost-effective for envelopes up to 10 lbs and boxes or packs up to 50 lbs. The best way to see if using FedEx One Rate makes sense for your shipment is to start by comparing the pricing. Click here to enter in your shipment information and generate your rate.

Utilize international tools and resources
If you ever have international shipping needs, FedEx Express services can help you get it there fast, with time-definite delivery in 1 to 5 days, to more than 220 countries and territories. With access to country snapshots, documentation preparation help, and more, the FedEx^® Global Trade Manager is a great place to start if you have an international small package shipment.

PartnerShip discounted small package shipping services are completely free to eligible businesses participating in one of our association shipping programs. If you are currently a member of a professional association or trade group, ask them if they have a discounted small package shipping program through PartnerShip. You can also give us a call at 800-599-2902, or send an email to sales@PartnerShip.com, and we'll find out for you.

Many companies operate under the same assumption that they don’t ship freight. This idea was solidified on a recent survey we conducted, where we asked the question: “What are your biggest challenges when shipping freight?” About 30% indicated price as their biggest challenge, which we addressed in a previous blog post, and another 18% said that they don’t ship freight at all. Customers are quick to jump to this notion as there are no pallets assembled in their facility and no semis in their parking lot – however, they may be overlooking some important aspects of their company operations that could use some freight optimization attention.

First, we’d like to reiterate an idea that we revert back to quite a bit on the PartnerShip Connection Blog – inbound shipping is one of the easiest and most overlooked ways to save money on your overall shipping costs. We bring this point up again since most businesses do not factor in the freight shipments they receive from suppliers as, many times, the consignee is not being directly invoiced for those shipments. However, costs initially written off as ‘free’ often rear their head in the price of the actual goods that are being moved – meaning the costs are not non-existent, but just hidden. As the customer receiving the goods, your company has a say in how that freight is routed and billed, and you should factor it into your overall freight plan.

The next point we’d like to make is that while some businesses are not shipping freight, maybe they are shipping small packages and reexamining and adjusting that operation may equal big savings. This idea would apply to another portion of the 18% of companies that think they do not have freight shipping but are shipping small packages to or from the same location on a regular basis. As a general rule of thumb, one big order ships for less than three smaller orders. That means businesses should consider consolidating multiple orders into a single large shipment whenever possible, and always strive to minimize the number of packages it sends. All too often, shipments are arranged as they come in from sales or order processing. However, a little planning and visibility will go a long way towards saving on shipping costs, supplies, and time. 

We’re sure there are some customers in the previously mentioned 18% that legitimately do not have or will ever need to ship freight due to factors like their business type. For the rest of us, taking into consideration things like inbound operations and the possibility of shipment consolidation may mean more companies are having a freight discussion that they thought they would never have – and will end up with a more efficiently run company in the process.

There is a wide range of equipment available for your shipment to ensure proper transportation and delivery. Keeping the trucks and trailers straight that are carrying your freight can be a tough task for even the most experienced shipper - which is why we created a brand new Truck and Trailer Equipment Guide for our customers. This white paper contains measurements and visuals for dry vans, refrigerated units, flatbeds, and the tractors that pull the trailers.

Click the link below to download the white paper and learn more about what carries your freight from point A to point B.

Download the Truck and Trailer Equipment Guide Today!

As always, the shipping experts at PartnerShip are here to lend a helping hand and answer any questions you have about freight shipping. Give us a call at 800-599-2902 or email sales@PartnerShip.com.

After your freight has been properly packaged and assembled, it's time to gather information about your shipment to ensure you are receiving an accurate freight rate and transit time. Correctly identifying your freight as less-than-truckload (LTL), tradeshow, or truckload is the first step to knowing what information you need to have ready before getting the quote. In this post we'll summarize the information needed for an LTL freight shipment, which refers to a shipment that does not completely fill a truck, is typically palletized, and weighs over 150 lbs. In order to obtain an accurate LTL freight quote and transit time, be sure to:

• Establish when your shipment needs to be picked up and delivered. – This is basic information that needs to be determined before trying to obtain a quote. If your shipment has a delivery date that’s etched in stone, guaranteed options are available at a higher price. Either way, the more information you can provide about your shipment’s timeline up front, the more options you’ll have available to make an educated decision.
• Know your ZIP Codes! – Origin and destination ZIP Codes are keys to an accurate LTL rate quote. Just as important are the origin and destination types or descriptions - whether your shipment is going to a business, a residential area, or a tradeshow will impact the overall cost and transit time. Getting the ZIP Codes and descriptions for the origin and destination right on the first pass will ensure a smooth transit.
• Determine if any accessorials are needed. – Accessorials are any additional services required outside of the standard shipping procedure. Examples include lift gates, Collect on Delivery (COD), and inside pickup or delivery. Accessorials normally require additional fees from the carrier to insure your shipment has everything it needs to get on or off of the truck and to its destination safely.
• Decide on the amount of insurance needed for your shipment. – Knowing the value of the shipment you are transporting and purchasing the proper amount of insurance is crucial in the case that something unexpected happens to your shipment while in transit. Having this information when obtaining the quote is crucial to an accurate price.
• Calculate the exact weight of your shipment. – Providing an accurate weight is very important when obtaining a quote. Remember to include the pallet’s weight and have your scales tested and calibrated often to be as precise as possible.
• Know your freight classes! – LTL Freight Class refers to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) and determines the carrier's shipping charges for your LTL freight. Your freight class identifies the size, value and difficulty of transporting your LTL freight and is a must-have for quoting. 

Also, if you’re shipment is tipping the scales a little more than you expected and you decide to ship truckload/volume (over 5,000 lbs) check out our post on how to get a quote for your truckload shipment.

As Your Shipping Connection, the PartnerShip goal is to save you money and make sure you're in the know on everything shipping related. That's why we develop informational white papers to help small businesses navigate through the world of transportation and logistics. We've developed a brand new white paper designed to proactively identify and correct commonly made freight shipping mistakes before they cost you valuable time and money. In this white paper we provide:

• Descriptions of some of the more common freight shipping mistakes
• Examples on how these mistakes are impacting your bottom line
• Ways to catch these mistakes before they cost your company money

Efficiently managing your freight costs is key to keeping your bottom line in tip-top shape. One of the more common ways your freight costs increase is by the reweighing or reclassification of your freight. Carriers have the right to inspect your shipment if they deem necessary and these incidents can trip up even the most experienced shippers.

When it comes to avoiding reweighs and reclassifications, the best defense is a good offense. Doing your homework on best practices for shipping your freight and closely following these practices will give your freight the best chance of getting to it’s destination without being hit with unexpected charges.

Below we have some points of emphasis to remember before shipping your freight:

Know your freight classes: Less-than-truckload Freight Class refers to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) and it is the category of your LTL freight as defined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). Your shipment's LTL freight class determines the carrier's shipping charges. It identifies the size, value and difficulty of transporting your LTL freight.

We know determining your freight class is one of the more cumbersome aspects of freight shipping, and that's why we've developed an entire ePaper on the subject, and a helpful Find Your Freight Class' tool for our customers. We ask a few simple questions about your commodity and point you in the right direction.

Stay up-to-date on industry changes: Like any industry, the freight industry is constantly changing and adapting. For example, NMFC changes evolve to accurately reflect a commodity's “transportability.” The NMFTA will post any changes on their website - regularly reviewing these types of resources will keep you in the know on the important changes that affect your freight.

Pay close attention to your shipment’s weight: Obviously very important to not being hit with a reweigh is getting it right the first time.

• All weights on the BOL should be exact weights, not approximations!
• Remember to include the weight of the pallet and other packaging in the final total weight
• Have your scales tested and calibrated often – we would recommend annually, but there’s no harm in more frequent fine tuning.

Work with an experienced partner you can trust: Even after doing your homework and following guidelines, the freight industry can be a complicated world to navigate. Working with a 3PL partner like PartnerShip allows you focus on your company and us to focus on the freight. We have a team of dedicated freight specialists that can guide you to provide accurate shipment information that will avoid reweighs and reclassifications. As a free service, we even audit your freight bills for errors or unnecessary charges that sometimes arise, and we have the industry knowledge to fight to correct any discrepancies.

Keeping the above tips and advice in mind when shipping your freight will help you stay ahead of the curve and eliminate any unwanted billing surprises. If you have additional questions about reweighs or reclassifications, or would like to learn more about PartnerShip, contact us today at 800-599-2902 or email sales@PartnerShip.com.

Do you have a truckload shipment ready to be sent out? Looking to expedite the process of obtaining a quote for that truckload shipment? One way to quickly and efficiently get your truckload shipment on its way is to have all the information necessary before calling PartnerShip for a quote. Below is a list of tips to follow before picking up a phone or shooting out an email about your truckload shipment.

1.       Know the Basics – Where is the shipment picking up and where is it going? Are appointment times necessary – does the shipment need a specific pickup or delivery time/date? How many pieces, what type of packaging is being used, and what is the weight of the shipment? All of these questions need to be the answered before getting a truckload rate.

2.       Equipment Type – Truckload shipments can have many different requirements - dry van, flat bed, refrigerated, to name a few. Determining the correct option for your specific shipment is an important part of the truckload shipping process and can affect variables like carrier availability. Need more help determining which equipment your shipment requires? Check out our truckload equipment options post for more information.

3.       Commodity – What are you shipping? A basic description of the contents of your shipment is enough to get you an accurate rate on your pending truckload shipment.

4.       Value of the Shipment – It is important to know the value of the goods you are transporting. Even though most carriers have cargo legal liability coverage, typically these policies have limits of $100,000 per trailer; there is no longer any federal requirement for motor carriers to carry cargo insurance. If we know the value of your move, we can ensure the carrier that moves your load has adequate coverage or even obtain additional coverage if necessary. The good news is that PartnerShip has a stringent carrier on boarding process ensuring the safe, most reliable carriers. All of our partner carriers are fully insured with industry standard cargo coverage.

Keeping these tips in mind when obtaining a truckload shipment quote will help ensure quick and accurate quotes.

Do you have a truckload shipment you would like to quote today? Visit PartnerShip.com/TLQuote for a free, no obligation quote today!

We recently posted about the new package laboratory that FedEx opened to test and design packages for a wide variety of products that their customers ship. This new facility will prove to be very beneficial for customers with specific packaging needs. However, even the simplest packages need to pass one basic test – getting your shipment to its destination safely and securely. Here are some tips for packing your FedEx small package shipment like a pro:

Boxing
When you select a box for your shipment, make sure to match it appropriately to the size and weight of the items you are shipping. Avoid using a box that would leave an abundant amount of empty space as this could cause a cost increase if your shipment is subject to DIM weight pricing. It will also make it more difficult to ensure your product is secure in the box, helping to prevent any damages. For heavier items, use double-walled or thick corrugated boxes. If you are reusing a box, be sure to remove all old labels, and make sure it's high-quality, with no holes, tears, or dents.

Cushioning
Choose cushioning with enough density to keep items from shifting. It’s also good practice to wrap and tape all sharp or protruding edges on the items you’re shipping. You will also want to bind printed material together or secure any loose items together. These precautions help to prevent any damages to your product or to the packaging itself.

Labeling
Place your label on the package's largest surface and secure it firmly with your hand. When using a pouch, remove the peel-off strip and firmly seal the flap. For luggage, travel cases, or other containers with handles, label your item with a tie-on tag (available at FedEx Office locations). For wood, plastic, or metal containers be sure to use labels with extra adhesive. While not required, it is also a good idea to put a copy of your label inside your package. This way FedEx can still make the delivery in the event your outer label comes off.

Sealing
With your box properly packed, apply at least three strips of packing tape (no duct or masking tape) that is at least 2" wide evenly across all flaps and seams, top and bottom, using the H taping method. You will also want to avoid taping over your FedEx label.

Through an association shipping program managed by PartnerShip, you can receive exclusive discounts on select FedEx services. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today. If you’re not sure if you qualify for one of our FedEx small package shipping programs, contact us and we’ll find the solution that’s right for you.

For the typical independent retailer that's selling physical products and has an e-commerce presence, shipping is often an afterthought. While shipping is not as flashy or as sexy as creating marketing promotions and campaigns, it does directly affect your bottom line. Retailers that don't adhere to best practices run the risk of lost sales due to higher prices, or lost profits due to higher shipping costs. To ensure you're not leaving money on the table, here are five tips to consider:

1. Manage your shipping supplies expense. Most of the small package carriers provide free, basic shipping supplies to encourage usage of their services. For example, FedEx provides free shipping materials and labels that can be ordered online. For specialized boxes and mailers, shop around a little to make sure you are getting the right quantities at the best prices. PartnerShip is another good source for low-volume, discounted shipping supplies.

2. Consolidate orders to reduce shipping expenses. As a general rule of thumb, one big order ships for less than three smaller orders. That means retailers should consider consolidating multiple orders into a single shipment whenever possible, and always striving to minimize the number of packages it sends. All too often, shipments are arranged as they come in from sales or order processing. However, a little planning and visibility goes along ways towards shipping savings.

3. Look at for multiple carrier options. Different transportation carriers specialize in different types of services, package sizes, and geographies. Selling mainly low-value, smaller products? A service like FedEx Ground or FedEx Express Saver might be the way to go. Selling larger or heavier products? Your best bet is probably to use a reputable freight carrier. Working with a third-party freight management company often allows you to look at multiple carrier and service options through one website. For example, PartnerShip.com allows retailers to compare rates and services across multiple freight carriers and options.

4. Effectively handle customs documentation. International shipments require customs forms that can seem daunting to complete for retailers that only occassionally ship out of the country. Third-party logistics companies, like PartnerShip, can work with retailers that ship international shipments infrequently to ensure all of the needed paperwork is completed so that their cross-border shipments move efficiently and cost-effectively.

5. Use technology to be more efficient. To remain competitive with large retail chains and other e-commerce retailers, online tools and services are available to help independent retailers manage their inventories, consolidate orders, track shipments, and even complete in new marketplaces.  Make sure you are talking to your peers or suppliers through an industry association or local business chamber to find tools and services others are using to gain efficiencies in their business. By leveraging technology, retailers can meet the fulfillment and shipping requirements of every market in which they compete.

Shipping will never be as exciting as product launches, cool promotions, or a new website, but it is a part of the core foundation of a successful independent retail business. Retailers that proactively take advantage of services, tools and technology can significantly lower their shipping costs, become more competitive, and enjoy higher margins.

To take advantage of industry-leading shipping services and discounts, take a look at The Independent Retailers Shipping Program managed by PartnerShip. With 25 years of experience helping retailers with shipping, we are confident we can help you too.

One of the biggest issues that keep exhibitors awake at night during the winter months is a trade show shipment that is delayed due to weather. If you plan on exhibiting at any upcoming trade shows, here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

1. Build in one or two extra days for shipping, especially for cross-country shipping or shipping into cities that historically are affected by weather.
2. Work with a proactive shipping partner (like PartnerShip) that tracks your exhibit shipment EVERY day, and when issues arise, will work with you to come up with acceptable alternatives.
3. Always have a "Plan B". Most carriers will not honor delivery guarantees to trade shows when delays are caused by weather conditions. So it is important that you have contingency plans in place if your primary exhibit shipment is unexpectedly delayed (e.g., a secondary booth, experienced personnel who can expedite replacement materials, etc.).

PartnerShip has nearly 25 years of experience both as an exhibitor and as a shipper of exhibit materials. We stand ready to help exhibitors with our knowledge and know-how during this busy time of the year for trade shows, expos, and conferences. In fact, earlier this year PartnerShip helped nearly 300 exhibitors overcome nasty weather so they could have a successful CAMEX 2013 show in Kansas City, Missouri. Two crippling snow storms crashed over the Midwest affecting exhibit transportation during show move-in and move-out. Check out the video below to hear what these exhibitors had to say about working with PartnerShip to overcome the weather and still have a successful show.

Got questions? Give our Tradeshow team a call at 800-599-2902 option 3; or click the button below to request a free, no-obligation rate quote on your next exhibit shipment.