Five Reasons to Use Expedited Freight Shipping For Your Next Shipment
There is always one question in every person’s mind when confronted by something that moves: But can it go faster? From the invention of the wheel to the supersonic jet, we gotta go fast! A lot of things have sped up over the years, including our logistics. While e-commerce companies (like Amazon) have understood the assignment and created same-day or next-day delivery options, freight shipping has been a little slow on the uptake.
However, expedited freight shipping has changed the game. Now, carriers can get your shipments to their destination in little to no time at all. There are plenty of reasons to utilize expedited shipping, some obvious, some not. Here we’ll cover just five of those reasons.
1. Time-Sensitive Delivery
This, of course, is the obvious reason: speed! When timing is everything, expedited freight is the most dependable option. Shipping replacement parts for downed equipment, promotional products ahead of a marketing event, or medical supplies that are urgently needed, expedited shipping ensures your freight arrives as quickly as possible; often overnight or within 1–2 days. Standard shipping simply can’t match the speed or priority status that expedited freight receives in transit.
2. Minimized Handling
A less-often considered reason is minimized handling. Standard freight often involves multiple stops, cross-docks, and transfers between terminals or trucks. Every touchpoint increases the risk of damage, delay, or misrouting. Expedited freight shipping is designed for direct, point-to-point transportation, often bypassing major hubs to reduce handling.
This means your cargo is less likely to be mishandled, and it spends less time sitting in warehouses or terminals. For fragile or sensitive goods, that’s a major advantage. This streamlined path also reduces the likelihood of shipping errors or missing freight.
3. Predictable and Reliable
Along with speedy delivery is reliability! Expedited shipping options come with guaranteed or highly accurate delivery windows. That reliability enables you to coordinate better internal logistics, labor scheduling, and inventory management and to meet customer expectations. Unlike standard freight, which can sometimes be delayed for capacity issues or carrier schedules, expedited freight prioritizes on-time performance.
4. Perfect for Critical or Fragile Goods
Another often unconsidered reason is fragility. If you’re shipping delicate equipment, perishables, electronics, or high-value items, every extra hour in transit increases the risk of exposure to temperature swings, jolts, or theft. Expedited shipping enables these goods to reach their destination faster, often with added security protocols and dedicated equipment.
5. Avoid Penalties or Lost Revenue
Not so much a fifth reason as a bonus to the first, but still very important! Late shipments can lead to contract penalties, lost sales opportunities, missed installs, or even damaged customer relationships. In industries where every day matters, late delivery isn’t just inconvenient; it’s expensive, and sometimes even a dealbreaker.
Expedited freight offers an essential layer of protection against those risks. Even if it’s slightly more expensive upfront, the cost of failure from a late delivery is usually much higher.
Given all these reasons, it becomes a little clearer why expedited shipping is used as often as it is! With school back in session and tradeshow season around the corner, now’s the time to start booking those fast-paced deliveries. Just keep three things in mind:
1. Book early, as some carriers have limited availability.
2. Make sure your carrier offers expedited services, as some do not.
3. Know in advance that expedited services can be more expensive than standard freight shipping.
We hope our five reasons to use expedited freight shipping helped you understand why moving your freight fast can be perfect for your immediate shipping needs. Enjoy the ride!
