Steve Daniels: Account Executive at BlueGrace Logistics

Expedited Shipping Options & the MABD

In a previous blog post we detailed how BlueGrace Logistics was able to resolve a long standing Must Arrive By Date (MADB) dilemma that was negatively impacting a health and beauty products company whose business model was increasingly moving towards “big box” retailers.

While big box retailers mandate MABDs to ensure their shelves are always stocked with products consumers want, many companies who sell products out of their own brick and mortar stores or through online eCommerce sites, are often losing potential customers and revenue by not offering expedited shipping options to customers who have their own Must Arrive By Dates in mind for purchases.

Fast Growing Automotive Industry

In 2015, the US automotive industry had a record 5.7% increase in sales growth over 2014. With this increase in sales comes additional demand for parts, to service these newly bought vehicles.

Many dealerships and local service shops find themselves having to order parts from manufacturers outside of their local areas to complete repairs and get vehicles back on the road as quickly as possible. The price of an item is just one factor consumers consider when deciding where to order an item from. Others, such as those in the automotive industry, are increasingly basing their purchase decisions on how quickly they can get a product delivered.

For smaller parcel sized items a business will often utilize the overnight or next day air options available from USPS, FedEx or UPS. Many businesses and consumers aren’t aware that expedited shipping options are available for larger sized items requiring freight shipping and often they aren’t able to receive reliable or economical shipping rates from their transportation partners.

Expedited LTL Transit

The transit of a standard LTL shipment is typically estimated as the shipment being picked up and be taken to a terminal where it will be cross-docked. During this process the shipment will be loaded and unloaded from freight trucks multiple times, depending on the distance, before it arrives at the final destination. While many LTL carriers offer guaranteed shipping services, some shipments need to arrive sooner than LTL shipping can provide. Depending on the size of a shipment there are multiple expedited shipping options available for freight sized orders.

By cutting out the cross-docking in LTL shipments, expedited services are able to cover a lot more ground or air, in a much shorter time than a standard LTL carrier could.

Cargo Vans and Air Freight

Cargo vans and air freight can be utilized for shipments that would ordinarily take up a few pallet space on a LTL truck, and for orders that require a full truckload, a team of drivers can be booked so that your freight can theoretically move non-stop without breaking regulations imposed by the United States Department of Transportation.

30 Minute Guaranteed Price And Capacity

BlueGrace can easily handle any expedited freight shipment request. With a network of over 1,100 carriers and 10,000 pieces of equipment available we can meet demanding pick-up and delivery times on weekends, nights and holidays, including 2 day cross country service. BlueGrace is also one of the few providers that is able to offer guaranteed pricing and availability within 30 minutes of your request.

GPS Tracking Of Your Freight

We also offer GPS Tracking of your expedited shipment. This data is updated every 2 hours for 1 Day Point shipments, every 4 hours for 2+ Day point shipments. Either way your Expedited Freight is tracked for visibility and security.

For any questions, please contact your BlueGrace Logistics Rep today! If your request is after 5PM EST or weekends, please email [email protected]