1) Overview of Shipping Carriers
Shipping carriers play a critical role in the ecommerce experience. Not only do they deliver products to customers’ doors, but they can also affect customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
Business partnerships can have a heavy influence on how well you do in the long run. If your partners deliver on time, maintain transparency, and help you achieve your goals, your ecommerce business will naturally prosper. Therefore, it is important to pay keen attention when selecting the shipping carriers.
In today’s blog post, we’ll explore the best shipping carriers in the United States. We’ll also take a look at how each carrier rates when it comes to cost, speed, and reliability. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each carrier, you can make more informed decisions about which one is right for your business. Let’s dive in!
2) Top 10 Ecommerce Shipping Companies
2.1) FedEx
FedEx, with its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the largest shipping carriers in the US. FedEx is loved by ecommerce brands all over the world not only because of its ubiquitousness but also for the plethora of shipping and tracking services it provides.
FedEx allows merchants to ship domestic and international orders through its various services - overnight delivery, ground shipping, international delivery, freight shipping, flat-rate shipping, and same-day shipping. Sellers can print shipping labels directly from the FedEx website and find estimated shipping costs from the FedEx shipping rate calculator.
What’s more, its tracking service allows online sellers to track upto 20,000 shipments across mail classes, view detailed tracking reports on each, and notify customers in real-time about their order status. Merchants can also demand proof of delivery to ensure timely deliveries and reduce paperwork.
2.2) USPS
If you want to save up on shipping costs, USPS should be the carrier of your choice. Apart from being extremely reliable, USPS is also one of the top shipping companies in the United States in terms of reach and serviceability (shipping to over 190 countries).
Being one of the cheapest US shipping carriers on the list, it’s worth noting that the services provided by USPS go above and beyond to meet every ecommerce seller’s needs. Services like Global Express Guaranteed (1-3 days international money-back guaranteed delivery), Priority Mail Express (3-5 days international delivery with guarantee), and Priority Mail International (6-11 days international shipping), offer every online merchant the option of both cost-effective and expedited deliveries.
Businesses can buy packaging materials and boxes of varied measurements from USPS and offer real-time tracking to their customers. Orders can be picked up from and dropped off at residences or the nearest post office.
The only point of concern remains with shipping huge packages because every USPS mail class has its own weight and package restriction. Therefore, online shippers of heavy goods like furniture, gym equipment, refrigerators, etc., will not find USPS to be the best fit.
2.3) UPS (United Parcel Service)
UPS is one of the biggest courier companies in the world. This US-based Fortune 500 shipping carrier provides some of the best courier services to 220 countries across the globe. From small ecommerce startups to large enterprises, United Parcel Service has something to offer everyone.
UPS provides ecommerce companies with a complete business solution that takes care of everything from shipping and tracking to returns, growth, and brand promotion. The UPS Marketplace offers integrations to some of the largest ecommerce platforms in the world - Amazon, and eBay.
UPS delivers orders even on weekends and holidays. Moreover, with the UPS Access Point locations, online sellers can deliver or pick up shipments from local stores near their customers, making it an incredibly flexible delivery option for customers. UPS supports batch shipping across borders and has a solid tracking system that notifies shoppers in real-time and also allows them to check order statuses on a branded tracking page.
2.4) DHL
German logistics and supply-chain giant, DHL, is among the top shipping carriers in the United States for ecommerce orders, and with good reason. DHL provides tailor-made logistics solutions to both ecommerce SMBs and large enterprises.
Apart from offering the usual fare like shipping, tracking, and delivery, it also provides more customized services. Warehousing, transportation management, integrated logistics, and customs clearance are only part of these services.
With warehouses scattered worldwide across 220+ countries, DHL makes time-specific deliveries a breeze. Businesses can delegate the distribution and warehousing side of things to DHL for faster delivery and reduced need for the workforce.
This would also give them full visibility of the shipping and delivery operations because DHL maintains end-to-end visibility of shipments through its Smart Sensor service. Businesses can also choose to implement its Resilience 360 service for total risk assessment. For larger ecommerce enterprises, DHL also provides consulting services to streamline supply chain operations.
2.5) DB Schenker
DB Schenker is one of the world's leading logistics companies, and they offer a wide range of services that can help ecommerce brands streamline their fulfillment process. DB Schenker has experience shipping products to over 190 countries worldwide, so they know how to get your products to your customers quickly and efficiently.
In addition to its global coverage, DB Schenker also has a large network of warehouses and distribution centers that can accommodate any size order. If you're looking for a partner who can help you take your business to the next level, then DB Schenker is definitely worth considering.
2.6) Royal Mail
If you're an ecommerce brand, then you know just how important shipping can be. The right delivery service can mean the difference between a satisfied customer and one who is disappointed and likely to never shop with you again.
Royal Mail offers comprehensive shipping services, which means they can meet the needs of any business - no matter how big or small. Plus, their prices are competitive, making them an affordable option for businesses of all sizes.
With more than 500 sorting offices around the UK and a network of postal partners spanning more than 220 countries, we can help get your products to their destination quickly and reliably.
2.7) Blue Dart
Blue Dart is one of the best shipping carriers in the world with an extensive logistics and distribution network in over 220 countries. As part of the DHL Express, Global Forwarding, and Supply Chain group, Blue Dart offers a huge spectrum of delivery and supply chain management solutions to ecommerce companies.
Through its advanced logistics technology, Blue Dart offers some of the best shipping services like air express, freight forwarding, land shipping, expedited delivery, customs clearance, etc. This is accompanied by its real-time order tracking and notification feature that helps every customer know where their order is and when it will be delivered.
Blue Dart also guarantees temperature-controlled deliveries for perishable goods. Ecommerce shippers can choose to contact Blue Dart for its packaging and warehousing services as well.
2.8) DTDC
Established in 1990, today, DTDC is one of the largest parcel delivery companies in the world. It has a direct presence in 21 countries including the US, Australia, Canada, China, and more. It partners with local shipping carriers to provide B2B and B2C shipping services in Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Thailand and many other countries.
Some of DTDC’s most noteworthy services include last mile delivery, returns management, multi-vendor shipping, ecommerce fulfillment, warehouse and inventory management, etc.
DTDC operates out of its 5 lakh sq. ft. warehousing space to bring the fastest possible delivery times to customers. With DTDC’s integrated shipping solution, ecommerce brands can connect with various selling channels, catalog their inventory for easy management and also add payment gateways at store checkouts.
2.9) Canada Post
Canada Post is the premier postal service provider in Canada. It’s also one of the best shipping carriers in the world for ecommerce orders. It offers tailor-made shipping solutions to various segments like small businesses, ecommerce, and enterprise-level businesses.
Canada Post is a true end-to-end logistics solution. It assists newbie ecommerce businesses in setting up their online store, connecting with storefronts and payment gateways like Shopify and PayPal and also scaling up their business with useful performance metrics.
To help manage your ecommerce business operations, Canada Post displays real-time shipping rates to customers so that they can better purchase decisions. It also reduces RTO cases (Return to Origin) by verifying delivery addresses before checkout.
Additionally, it can print shipping labels, track shipments in real-time and notify customers and also manage product returns efficiently.
2.10) Australia Post
AusPost is a government-owned postal service operator in Australia. AusPost can simplify your ecommerce processes by managing supply chain operations, providing extensive packaging options, helping out with returns management, and also offering several deliveries and pickup points.
Store owners can calculate postage or shipping costs right on the AusPost website. They can also find out more about shipping prices from their guide and download shipping labels. They offer international and domestic shipping. You can integrate your ecommerce site with AusPost for easy order management and send automatic notifications to customers about order status changes.
All you need to do to ship with AusPost is create a business account with them. An AusPost business account actually qualifies you for more discounted shipping rates as well.
3) How to Choose the Best Shipping Carriers for Your Online Store
3.1) Reliability
It might appear paltry in comparison to the other points here but none of those other things do any good if your carrier does not deliver on what it promises. We paid super keen attention to this aspect, which is why our list only contains the very best shipping carriers that are also entirely reliable and worthy of your trust. You can’t do business with your partners if there’s no trust and dependability.
3.2) Locations Covered
Part of the job of a shipping carrier is to increase your audience base by making your products available to several locations throughout the world. The above list contains some of the best international shipping carriers in the world. But we advise you to look thoroughly through the country and location list to ensure all the zones you want to deliver to are covered. Moreover, in the pandemic era, many countries impose restrictions on deliveries from and to other countries. So, it’s always better to check before and hire your shipping partners later.
3.3) Scalability
The goal of every business is to grow bigger and become more profitable. Since ecommerce businesses grow much more rapidly than their counterparts, it’s important to tie up with a shipping carrier that can handle that scale of operations and allow you to prosper further. This means, looking at the number of orders a shipping company can manage on a daily or monthly basis, enquiring about delivery times, checking for the possibility of manual errors, etc.
3.4) Shipping Rates
This is usually the biggest factor when selecting the best e-commerce shipping carrier for your business. Shipping rates vary from carrier to carrier but many of the shipping companies mentioned in the list above offer various bulk shipping deals and discounted rates which can help you lower your costs. While USPS is the cheapest international shipping carrier, it’s not great for heavy packages. On the other hand, while shipping carriers like FedEx and UPS can accommodate shipments of varied types and dimensions, they are also a bit costly.
3.5) Live Shipment Tracking
Real-time order tracking is an absolute necessity if you want to provide the best shipping and delivery experience. Your customers are a lot less likely to feel anxious about their order status if your shipping partner sends them real-time tracking updates on every order milestone.
This can be done via emails, SMS, and WhatsApp. Each of the shipping carriers we selected for you offers its own version of order tracking. But even if you happen to select a courier that’s not on the list, be sure to check whether they provide live order tracking notifications.
3.6) Returns Management
Product returns in ecommerce are extremely common. That’s why online sellers must have a plan to handle those returns and cut losses from logistics costs. A shipping carrier that provides returns management can make your business run a lot smoother by ensuring that return orders are picked up and shipped back to the warehouse on time. In most cases, they will also update your inventory to reflect the returned product so it’s immediately available to the next buyer.
3.7) Expedited Delivery
The introduction of Amazon Prime delivery has forced carriers to up their delivery game to satisfy rising consumer demands. Most customers today, expect orders to reach them within a maximum of 3 - 5 days. If your ecommerce store wants repeat customers it needs to deliver orders within that time frame. The best shipping carriers offer a range of expedited shipping options for both domestic and international orders. Yes, those services cost more than the standard shipping options but it’s better than losing customers to your rival.
3.8) Insurance
Shipping insurance is often overlooked by most ecommerce businesses. But it shouldn’t be. Accidents and mishaps are common in shipping, especially, if it’s long-distance. To avoid major losses occurring from such unforeseen events, businesses must partner with a shipping carrier that offers insurance. Doing this is even more crucial if you deal in precious items like stones, watches, jewelry, etc. as the loss/damage of even one product can cost you a fortune.
3.9) Add-on Services
Services that do not relate specifically to shipping and delivery can be termed add-on services. These include warehousing, inventory management, packaging, bundling, kitting, performance analytics, integrated logistics, and more. While these services may not be necessary from the get-go they are undeniably important when it’s time to scale up your business operations. Therefore, the best shipping carrier is one that comes along with these additional services.
Do remember that in most cases any add-on services will need you to pay extra on top of your selected shipping plan. So plan accordingly!
3.10) User Reviews
Customer reviews are a great way to gauge whether the shipping carrier you’re planning to partner with actually performs well. Most shipping carriers will have a few customer testimonials displayed on their website but the best way to find authentic reviews is from review sites and Google.
If most of a carrier’s previous customers speak highly of their services, you’re good to go. However, if you come across mostly negative reviews, it’s better to setter clear of that courier. Rest assured though, all of the shipping carriers listed above have been handpicked after thorough research and will guarantee you a great shipping experience.
4) Final Conclusion
In this blog post, we’ve outlined the best shipping carriers for ecommerce businesses. We’ve also discussed some of the pros and cons of each service. If you are looking for a more in-depth analysis, be sure to check out our comprehensive shipping guide. Do you have any questions about which shipping carrier is right for your business? Let us know and we would be happy to help.
5) FAQs on the Best Shipping Carriers
5.1) Which is the best international shipping carrier for ecommerce orders?
The best international shipping carriers for ecommerce orders are FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL. All of these shipping carriers provide international deliveries in 220+ countries.
5.2) Which is the cheapest ecommerce shipping company for small businesses?
The cheapest international shipping company for small businesses is USPS (United States Postal Service). It provides standard and expedited shipping at extremely affordable rates.
5.3) Which is the best way to ship when selling online?
The best way to ship when selling online is by tying up with a reputable shipping carrier that provides domestic and international deliveries. By doing this, online sellers can reduce logistics costs, manual error, and provide faster deliveries to customers.