Shipping and logistics companies offer a range of shipment options for packages to various destinations around the world. Each company has its own network of destinations, rates and terms of delivery. Customers can choose package shipments for small packages weighing up to 150 pounds and freight shipment for packages weighing more than 150 pounds.

Package Shipments

Private companies offer package shipping services to cover same-day delivery, next-business-day delivery and two-to-three-business-day delivery. Packages weighing 150 pounds or less are delivered by package shipping. Heavier packages have to be sent by freight shipping. Package shipping offers extra services including proof-of-delivery, special handling and a package return system. Companies offer a pickup and drop-off service for package shipments for an extra fee. Alternatively, customers can drop off packages at the nearest company office. Fees for package shipments vary according to the size and weight of the package, as well as the package’s end destination.

United States Postal Service (USPS)

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government agency, relying on fees and postage to fund its operations. It ships cards, letters and packages all across the U.S. and its territories. The USPS has a monopoly over the delivery of mail, but has a lot of competition for its package delivery services from private shipping and transport companies. The USPS offers a number of domestic services that include:

  • express mail
  • priority mail
  • medial mail
  • first-class mail
  • library mail
  • parcel post

It also offers international services including global express guaranteed, express mail international, priority mail international and first-class mail international.

Freight Shipments

Freight shipping services ship packages that weigh more than 150 pounds. It can be an entire truckload or less than a truckload. Freight shipping may be done by air, sea or land depending on the customer’s preferences and the weight of the package. Customers choose the shipment method based on cost and charges involved in shipping the goods. A customer can choose urgent, time-definite or day-definite shipment options to ensure delivery of the goods on a particular day or at a specific time.

Sea Freight Shipments

Sea freight is considered one of the most cost-effective methods of sending freight to far-off destinations. It is useful for sending a large volume of freight at an economically viable cost. It can be used to ship bulk goods and personal possessions and is useful for shipping vehicles and large furniture item. It is also a very cheap method of shipping freight. The downside to using the sea freight shipment option is that it is very slow, has inflexible routes and timetables, and requires inland transportation by road for door-to-door delivery.