What Is Domestic Shipping? Your Guide to Common Carrier Options

When you compare domestic shipping with other shipping modes, it is more flexible and efficient. It has its benefits for the eCommerce business. It outsmarts different shipping types due to its affordability and easy navigation. Companies must implement plans to meet customer expectations for fast and reliable shipping.

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Let's discuss domestic US shipping, its benefits, and the factors in choosing the right company.

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What Is Domestic Shipping?

Domestic shipping is the process of delivering a package from one point in the U.S. to another. This can be done through the mail, courier services, or other means of transportation. There are a variety of options available for domestic shipping, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Understanding these options is essential for making the best choice for your needs.

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Related: How the Shipping Process Actually Works: Complete Guide

Benefits of Domestic Shipping

Businesses may require many types of shipping methods. But, for every business type, different shipping options are only sometimes available. Large companies can invest, but small enterprises cannot. Therefore, domestic shipping is an affordable method of shipping. It will efficiently meet all your shipping needs and is proven beneficial for every business type. Below are the ways through which the domestic shipping process is helpful.

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Protection Of High-Risk Goods

Some businesses need to handle valuable shipping goods daily. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the packages ready to ship are safe. With the help of domestic shipping services, high-risk goods can be shipped safely. This shipping method also ensures that the goods will reach their destination accurately and safely.

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Related: Shipping Insurance Guide: Coverage and Costs

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Cost-Effective Shipment

When the shipments travel close enough, the shipping becomes cost-effective. You don't have to invest much in it. Both business and customer will stay beneficial. The costs will be significantly reduced. Moreover, the shipping and delivery times will also be reduced.

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Related: Cheapest Overnight Shipping Options for Retailers

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Better Communication And Service

Details can be lost in international shipping, leading to financial loss. With domestic shipping, the details will be addressed better. The customers can maintain strong relationships with the supplier. In case of any issue, immediate troubleshooting will be conducted to solve it.

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Enhanced Quality Control

Quality control is much better in shipping domestically. It includes on-site quality inspections when the suppliers are domestically available. When there is a quality issue, it can be easily corrected with the help of domestic shipping.

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Domestic Shipping Carriers & Rates

Domestic shipping companies provide shipping options based on package sizes, contents, and delivery speed. Below are the domestic shipping carriers and their rates. USPS, UPS, and FedEx are USD's top domestic shipping carriers. All these carriers have benefits and featural options to meet every customer's needs.  The USPS offers flat shipping charges for documents and small to medium shipments to deliver within the country. Moreover, it provides overnight and same-day deliveries along with overweight shipments. DHL is an international shipping carrier but also offers US domestic deliveries with a higher monthly volume.

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How To Save Money On Your Domestic Shipping Costs

The shipping costs can be effectively reduced with the domestic shipping option. You need to follow up on some best practices to improve customer satisfaction and meet customer expectations along with affordable domestic shipping.

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Rate Comparison Between The Best Carriers

The prices of carriers are based on the shipments. The factors involved in rate comparisons are contents, weight, size, and shipping distance. The carrier uses shipping zones to measure the distance from the distribution unit to the destination. You can choose cloud shipping solutions to compare shipping rates.

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Limit The Packages Size

The carriers use the dimensional weight to calculate the costs of shipping. It is measured by multiplying the height of length and width times height. Hence, when the parcel is bigger, the costs will get higher. When your business is linked with selling oversized shipping, the carriers may offer affordable prices.

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Practice Basic Ground Shipping

When speed is not a factor to consider, it is better to go for ground shipping for domestic shipments. The transit timeline is longer in ground shipping, but with the help of 3PL companies, the distribution reach gets expanded. You will find many ways to optimize ground shipping and increase delivery speed. Hence you need to know how long is domestic shipping takes.

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Related: Why Did My UPS Package Get Rescheduled?

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Factors To Consider When Choosing A Domestic Shipping Company

High-Quality Service And Better Pricing  

Pricing is one of the significant factors when choosing a carrier. For domestic shipping, choose a low-cost carrier.

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Standard Delivery Days

It should be the top priority when choosing a domestic carrier. It is necessary to choose the company which offers faster delivery. Moreover, companies offering same-day, overnight, next-day, and standard delivery types are best. The Estimated Transit Time (ETT) must meet your supply chain requirements.

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Related: What is FedEx Priority Overnight?

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Reliable Service

A reliable carrier will help to build your organization's reputation. Hence, it is essential to check that the carrier is highly reliable. A great way to check the reliability factor is their level of service (LOS) rates.

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Safety

The domestic shipment company must follow safety practices. For example, up-to-date insurance arrangements, safety rating or accreditation, log-keeping procedures, and legal supply operations are all part of safety. The company should also maintain proper protocol and clear accountability.

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Asset or Non-Asset-Based Shipping Carriers

You need to decide whether to go for an asset-based or a non-asset company as per your business requirements. It is better to go for an asset-based domestic shipping carrier when it is an eCommerce business with required services such as shipping, warehousing, and inventory.

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Sustainability Factor

Businesses can become environmentally conscious. Therefore, shipping companies must demonstrate their environmental commitment. As customers pay extra and buy following sustainable practices, many organizations prioritize sustainability factors in their supply chain. You must choose a carrier that follows only sustainability practices.

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Related: How Do You Track A FedEx Package Without A Tracking Number?

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Conclusion 

Domestic shipping can be an affordable and convenient way to get your packages from Point A to Point B. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing a carrier and shipping method. If you're looking for ways to reduce the cost of shipping eCommerce orders, our team at Simpl can help. We have years of experience working with carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and we know how to get the best rates possible. Contact us today for a free consultation!

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Related: Cross Border Shipping Guide: Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid