Find out in our Head to Head Comparison.
The Winner May Surprise You!

In January, both UPS and FedEx implemented their 2007 general rate increases for ground and air shipments.

With the arrival of these and other recent rate increases, the days of sending every package by express service with whatever carrier happens to be handy are long gone. Today's shipper must apply cost effective techniques to parcel shipping, just like any other piece of the supply chain in order to realize tangible benefits to the bottom-line.

A list of services and corresponding 2007 published rates of the four major parcel carriers are provided below. While most companies negotiate their rates with these carriers, we will compare them at a similar starting point with published rates. If you need assistance negotiating rates with a carrier, please contact us at 1-800-522-5939. This consultation is free of charge.

May the best carrier win!

The Scenario: Package Dimensions: 3.16 pounds (12 in. x 11 in. x 4 in.) Delivery Type: Residential Address Shipping From: Rush Order (Gilroy, California 95020) All Rates are Calculated in US Dollars Rate Comparison: Carrier & Service Shipped to Kansas City, KS Shipped to Montgomery, NY Standard Overnight FedEx Standard Overnight UPS Next Day Air Saver US Postal Express Mail DHL Overnight $44.64 $42.53 $25.50 $41.15 $47.49 $46.01 $25.50 $42.03 2nd Business Day FedEx 2nd Day UPS 2nd Day Air DHL 2nd Day Service $36.39 $34.31 $36.77 $40.05 $37.91 $38.36 3rd Business Day FedEx Express Saver UPS 3 Day Select US Postal Priority Mail $28.41 $23.63 $15.85 (Possible 2 day) $33.69 $27.79 $18.45 Ground FedEx Ground UPS Ground DHL Ground Service $9.22 $9.22 $9.59 $12.43 $12.42 $10.62

So, who is the winner?
In truth, it depends on what item(s) you happen to be shipping and therefore, what your priorities are. While the rankings of these carriers (in terms of price) will be relatively similar for all smaller packages, the story would be much different if shipping a larger package.

Which of these carriers wins your business simply comes down to a combination of service level and the best negotiated rates you can find. Again, if you would like expert assistance on negotiating rates with each of these carriers, contact Rush Order.

In the end, every carrier has its pros and cons. Here are a few thoughts on each carrier (listed in no particular order).

UPS
UPS may be the most economical choice when combining reputation, speed, reliability, low price, and accurate tracking. UPS only seems to lack in its offerings of the dramatically expedited worldwide shipping that FedEx currently lays claim to.

FedEx
In addition to an unmatched shipment tracking system, FedEx has deservedly earned its reputation as the most time sensitive carrier in the business. However, top tier services typically come with a top tier price tag (as shown in the comparison above).

US Postal Service
In the event you do not have a need for instant tracking, the US Postal Service may be the carrier of choice for you. The USPS typically offers speed at a relatively low cost, but without the bells and whistles of step by step tracking and day-definite deliveries.

DHL
In recent years, DHL has also made an aggressive run at the ranks of UPS and FedEx. Not only has a revamped marketing campaign improved business for DHL, but a willingness to cut deeper discounts has sparked a lot of interest. If you need to pinch every penny without sacrificing detailed tracking and expedited service, DHL may be worth negotiating with.

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