Save Money on Ground Shipping

The best delivery service companies near you will partner with you to cut shipping costs. At Redkey Express, we have many long-term customers who stick with us partly because of our affordable rates.

Here are several strategies we suggest at Redkey to help customers ground ship for less:

1. Compare Carriers and Rates

• Freight brokers or online marketplaces help you compare carriers. They often have negotiated rates that can be passed on to you.
• Always get quotes from several services. Rates can vary significantly between providers based on route, time of year and even fuel costs.

2. Negotiate

• If you ship frequently or in large volumes, you may qualify for discounts. Negotiate for lower rates based on the amount of business you provide.
• Committing to a longer-term shipping contract can give you leverage to negotiate lower prices.

3. Optimize Packaging

• Use appropriately-sized packaging to minimize weight and space.
• Combining smaller shipments into fewer larger ones can lower overall shipping costs by reducing the number of trips and handling fees.
• Reducing the weight of your packing materials will also reduce shipping costs, especially for heavier items.

4. Leverage Freight Classifications

• Freight rates are partially determined by the freight classification system, based on
  • density,
  • stowability,
  • handling and
  • liability.

Ensure your products are classified correctly to avoid unnecessary costs.

• Sometimes, a product can be shipped under a different class with a lower rate. At Redkey, we help customers reclassify to reduce costs.

5. Plan Shipments in Advance

• Same day delivery in your area may come at a premium. By planning ahead and allowing for more flexible delivery times, you can choose standard or economy services that cost less.
• Ship on specific days rather than whenever an order comes in.

6. Use Hub and Regional Shipping

• If you have multiple customer locations, consider shipping from regional fulfillment centers to reduce the distance and time your freight has to travel.
• By consolidating packages and shipping them directly to local distribution hubs (bypassing certain zones), you can reduce the shipping distance, thereby lowering costs.

7. Take Advantage of Carrier Discounts

• Many carriers offer discounts for small businesses. These programs typically include volume-based discounts or special promotions.
• Joining shipping programs can unlock additional savings. Trade associations or groups may also offer discounted rates for members.

8. Consider Alternative Carriers

• Regional shipping companies like Redkey Express can offer more competitive rates than national carriers, especially for shipments within a specific geographic region.
• If you don’t need a whole truck, LTL shipping allows you to share space with other businesses, often reducing costs.

9. Use Shipping Software

• Invest in shipping software that automatically compares carrier rates, schedules shipments, and prints labels.
• Some software platforms will help you select the lowest rate based on dimensions, weight and delivery time, ensuring you save the most money.

10. Monitor Fuel Surcharges

• Fuel surcharges can fluctuate based on market conditions. Monitoring these changes and adjusting shipping schedules to take advantage of lower surcharges can save money.

11. Prepay Your Freight

• If you can predict your shipping volume, prepaid freight can save you up to 20%.

12. Minimize Accessorial Charges

• Accessorial charges, such as lift gate services, inside delivery, or residential delivery, can quickly add up. Ensure you’re only paying for services you need.

Whether you need Cincinnati hotshot delivery or can opt for more economical scheduled or routed delivery, Redkey will always do everything we can to reduce your rates.

We will suggest the smallest truck that can accommodate your goods, for example, to reduce fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

Our delivery cars and trucks are kept in optimal condition to ensure the highest fuel-efficiency.