Courier Company Vs Freight Transport

26 Feb Courier Company Vs Freight Transport

Couriers and freight transport are both used when a company or individual needs to get an item from one point to another. However, there are some big differences between the two and it’s important to understand them both in great detail in order to find the most efficient and cost-effective option for your needs.

What Is a Courier Company?

A courier company usually delivers smaller packages from one door to another. They are typically chosen when the client wants a speedy service that is tailored to their needs. This means that the transport option can often be personalised to the client’s needs, special requests can be made and the courier’s position can often be tracked so that the client can stay up to date on the delivery progress.

Advantages of Using a Courier Company

• You’re often given the option to contact the courier directly for specific requests
• There is less chance of the item being damaged during transport because more care is taken to safeguard the item’s transportation
• It’s a door-to-door service meaning the item will be hand-delivered to the recipient
• It’s ideal for speciality orders or important orders that you want to absolutely guarantee will arrive at their destination

Courier companies usually fall short when a company needs to perform a larger delivery. Couriers typically won’t operate with large vehicles due to their specialised door-to-door nature. Because the service is a little more personalised and safer for the item to be transported, you can expect the costs of a courier to be higher per item or measure of weight that you send.

What Is a Freight Transport?

Freight transport is designed for a larger quantity of goods which are typically too heavy for a single courier to carry. In addition, freight transport is better equipped for delivering goods between cities and in some cases even over bodies of water. It’s typically the most cost-effective method of transporting goods a great distance.

Advantages of Using Freight Transport

• Far more cost-effective than courier companies when you need to transport more goods
• Affordable partnerships can be established for regular transport requirements
• Long-distance transport options are available
• Less restrictive weight limits due to the larger vehicle used

Freight transport is the ideal delivery method for large orders that are too heavy for a courier. In some cases, you might be sharing cargo space with other companies which can mean you’re paying less for each item you transport but you might also experience delays if the vehicle needs to stop and unload on the way to your stop. The way this is handled depends on the freight company but if you need to make regular deliveries that take up most of the cargo space, you could form partnerships with the freight transport company.

Differences Between Courier and Freight Transport

Courier and freight transport are usually differentiated by the packages they need to deliver. Since couriers typically only use smaller vehicles, they’re not equipped to delivery across long distances nor can they carry larger loads. This means they travel between roads inside of a city and rarely step out of the borders of the city. If they do, then you can expect the costs to be incredibly high especially if you’re only delivering a couple of items.

On the contrary, freight transport is efficient for intercity transportation due to the larger cargo space and lower costs that come from sharing the cargo space. The large volume of items you can transport also make it cheaper per item you send but the total cost of the delivery will inevitably be higher. Freight companies may also have restrictions on where they’re willing to stop. In some cases, you might need to pick up your goods from a warehouse or hire another service to perform the final mile delivery.

In short, if you need a package delivered from one door to another then a courier company is often the best choice. Although more expensive per item you deliver, it guarantees that the item will arrive and it’s also much safer for the item itself. However, if you need an intercity delivery and there are a lot of items on your itinerary, then freight transport is by far the most cost-effective option to go for. The overall cost of the delivery including insurance may be higher, but the cost per item or unit of weight will be much lower than a courier company.

Ultimately, the one you decide to go for will depend on what you need to be delivered.