UNISHIPPERS GUIDE TO HOLIDAY FREIGHT SHIPPING. It s the happiest (and busiest) shipping time of the year. Which means that now is the

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Jocelin Gwendolyn Tate
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Which means that now is the best time for small and mid-sized business owners to start

1 UNISHIPPERS GUIDE TO HOLIDAY FREIGHT SHIPPING It s the happiest (and busiest) shipping time of the year. Which means that now is the best time for small and mid-sized business owners to start thinking about their holiday shipping game plan. Taking precautions and focusing on the fundamentals can help your business enjoy a cheerful and efficient holiday shipping season.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 3 PROPERLY PREP YOUR PACKAGES PAGE 5 REVIEW HOLIDAY CLOSURES PAGE 6 EVALUATE INSURANCE OPTIONS PAGE 7 PROTECT FROM FREEZING PAGE 8 MANAGE EXPECTATIONS PAGE 9 HAVE A RESPONSE PLAN PAGE 10 WE CAN HELP

3 PROPERLY PREP YOUR PACKAGES When scrambling to get things out the door this holiday season, be sure to take the time to properly prep your freight shipments. Following this list of simple yet sometimes overlooked steps will help ensure your important goods arrive safely. PACK APPROPRIATELY Select a sturdy wood or plastic pallet that is in in good condition and strong enough to support the load of your shipment there should be no broken boards, protruding fasteners or large gaps for materials to fall through. The pallet should be large enough to support the shipment without overhang, with boxes loaded squarely, corner to corner. In other words, no muffin-topping your freight. WRAP TWICE TO SHIP ONCE Remember, don t skimp on the shrink wrap! Poorly wrapped pallets are the main reason that boxes end up damaged or lost. Two to three complete wraps with a 60-guage stretch wrap, including all corners, is recommended to secure the load. Very heavy loads over 150 lbs. should also be fastened with unbreakable straps. 3

4 PROPERLY PREP YOUR PACKAGES CONTINUED PUT A LABEL ON IT You don t put a present under the tree without a name tag, so don t do it with your shipment! Label individual boxes to avoid shipping loss. If every box on the pallet is not labeled individually, you can mark boxes as 1 of 10, 2 of 10, etc. KNOW YOUR LIMITS Additional charges may be assessed if your shipment has oversize pieces or exceeds standard less-than-truckload size limitations. Pay attention to any specific weight and size restrictions that may apply to your shipment, and contact your Unishippers representative with specific questions. 4

5 REVIEW HOLIDAY CLOSURES It s no secret that many carriers do not pick up or deliver on major holidays. The majority of shippers will not deliver packages on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year s Eve or New Year s Day. Check carriers websites for specific closures and reduced hours. ALSO, REMEMBER: Most businesses are closed during the weekend, so be sure to map out the best days to ship perishables and other items If a package might wait outside for a few days at its destination, check the weather to ensure it won t be exposed to extreme temperatures Be aware of shipping cutoff times to avoid missed pick ups or drop offs VIEW OUR CARRIER PARTNERS HOLIDAY SHIPPING SCHEDULES 5

6 EVALUATE INSURANCE OPTIONS A common misconception is that shipments are automatically insured by the carrier through its limits of liability. In reality, carrier liability is not insurance, and it may not protect the full value of your shipment. For important shipments, you ll want to consider additional insurance. LEARN WHAT BASIC LIABILITY IS, HOW IT WORKS, AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY COVERS BEFORE YOUR BUSY SEASON STARTS. NEED A REFRESHER? TAKE OUR FREIGHT CLAIMS QUIZ. 6

7 PROTECT FROM FREEZING Keep your cool during holiday shipping by protecting your freight from freezing! Many freight carriers offer freeze protection services for a small fee to ensure your shipments arrive in good condition, regardless of the weather. WHILE PROTECT FROM FREEZE SERVICES CAN VARY FROM CARRIER TO CARRIER, THEY OFTEN INCLUDE: Outdoor temperature monitoring Special and visually distinctive labels on freezable goods Accelerated service to minimize transit time through cold areas Heated trailers and warm rooms to protect freight in transit Designated sheltered and warm areas to protect freezable items during severe weather Insulating blankets wrapped around at-risk shipments NOT SURE IF YOUR SHIPMENT IS AT RISK? Your Unishippers office can help you determine whether your shipment needs to be protected from freezing and which carrier(s) would be the best fit. 7

8 MANAGE EXPECTATIONS The holiday season brings with it winter storms and holiday closures, which can cause unexpected delays. Plan for controllable factors now to set your business up for a smooth, efficient holiday shipping season. REMEMBER TO: Set expectations with customers about how quickly you can fill an order and the time that it will take their shipment to arrive Be aware of money-back service guarantees, as carriers often modify or suspend them during the peak shipping season Ship as early as possible to account for any service interruptions Troubleshoot any delayed, damaged or lost shipments by providing customers with regular updates on an estimated resolution 8

9 HAVE A RESPONSE PLAN Sometimes, stuff just happens. The most important things to remember this holiday season are not to panic and to have a response plan for damages in place before they happen. ALSO, REMEMBER TO: Take pictures of valuable packages before they are shipped Clearly and accurately notate any damage that occurs to a shipment on the delivery receipt Keep receipts and packaging to serve as proof of a shipment s condition upon arrival File timely claims and pay all shipping invoices on time, even when you re waiting for a claim to be resolved 9

10 WE CAN HELP Rising shipping volumes and longer transit times during the holiday season can be stressful for small and mid-sized businesses. Don t let unexpected shipping issues derail your business. Unishippers team of shipping experts can help you come up with a customized holiday shipping plan of attack. CONTACT UNISHIPPERS TO GET A FULL HOLIDAY SHIPPING ASSESSMENT TODAY. 10

small and mid-sized business owners to start thinking about their holiday shipping game plan.

UNISHIPPERS GUIDE TO SMALL PACKAGE HOLIDAY SHIPPING It s the happiest (and busiest) shipping time of the year. Which means that now is the best time for small and mid-sized business owners to start thinking