Differences Between Cargo and Regular Expedited Shipping

As a business owner, manufacturer, or direct-to-consumer company, it is important to understand the differences between cargo and regular parcel shipping for goods distribution.

What are the differences between cargo shipping and regular parcel shipping? 

Online shopping packages delivered to your doorstep are examples of regular parcel shipping.

Cargo shipping is generally performed by manufacturers and retailers who ship much larger quantities; dealing with pallets, truck freight, and shipping containers.

Although the size of shipped goods is the main difference between regular parcel and cargo shipping, they are similar in terms of transportation methods. However, the pricing structure, service level, and contributing shipping factors vary significantly in cargo shipping versus regular parcel shipping. 

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But What Are the Actual Differences Between Expedited and Cargo Shipping?

Generally, expedited shipping is often used to refer to small shipments (individual units, under 5 kg). Cargo shipping, on the other hand, is more used for shipping large quantities of goods at once (average weight >10 kg per package). To better understand the differences between these two types, here are the 3 main factors that underlie the decision for the appropriate type of shipping based on your needs.

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Basic Differences Between Expedited and Cargo Shipping

What are the differences between cargo shipping and expedited or regular shipping? Here are the differences between cargo and expedited shipping based on delivery time, shipping price, and freight volume and weight.

1. Weight, Quantity, and Type of Goods

The main thing to consider is the type, weight, and quantity of goods you want to ship. Expedited shipping is commonly used to send individual items that are relatively light with moderate quantities. Regular expedited shipping is one of the most frequently chosen options for individual consumers with small shipping needs because there is no minimum weight requirement.

Commonly used for shipping small to medium-sized goods, this type of shipping is also frequently used by online shop sellers to deliver goods to their customers. Some examples of goods commonly shipped via expedited services are clothing, food, documents, household items, and daily necessities.

Unlike expedited shipping, cargo shipping is more suited for heavy goods and large shipments with a minimum weight already set by the cargo company, such as 10 kg or 50 kg for certain cargo services. Therefore, cargo shipping is more often used for shipping large items such as vehicles, motorcycles, industrial materials, and household moving goods.

Some large online sellers can also use cargo shipping to send goods to their resellers or distributors. Because of this, terms have emerged in cargo shipping: FTL (Full Truck Load) and LTL (Less Than Truck Load).

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2. Shipping Duration (Urgency)

Often, shipping duration is an important factor to consider when shipping goods. For items that require fast or express shipping such as food or perishable materials, expedited shipping provides several service options, such as regular, express, or same-day service.

For fast shipping, expedited services will process goods via air routes with airplanes so they can be received faster at the destination address. If you only need regular shipping, you can certainly choose standard service at a price that is definitely cheaper than express service.

This is somewhat different for cargo shipping. Since most cargo uses ground transportation in the form of trucks (for domestic routes) and ships (for inter-island routes), shipping times will be longer compared to regular expedited shipping.

For regular cargo service, delivery duration ranges from 3 to 15 days. Some cargo services offer air shipment options, but the costs will also be more expensive compared to regular cargo shipping. Therefore, if you want to ship large/heavy goods over 10 kg and want to use cargo services, it's advisable to plan your shipment better by considering the travel duration information provided by the cargo company.

3. Price/Budget from the Shipper

The shipper's budget is certainly one of the important factors before determining which shipping service to choose. The tariff calculation for expedited and cargo shipping is indeed slightly different.

As we know, expedited shipping calculates tariffs per kilogram (minimum 1kg). The heavier your goods, the more expensive the tariff. Another consideration is the dimensions or volume of goods. Light goods with large volume will be charged a volumetric tariff calculation that is more expensive than the actual weight calculation.

For example, JNE expedited services apply volumetric weight calculation with the formula:

(Box Length x Box Width x Box Height) divided by 6000.

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For example, the shipping cost from Jakarta to Bandung is Rp 10,000 per kg. According to the calculation above, even though the actual weight of the box is around 2 kg, the shipping cost that needs to be paid is 8 kg x Rp 10,000 = Rp 80,000.

Regular expedited services also provide various services with varying prices, depending on the desired shipping speed. The faster the delivery time, the more expensive the tariff will be. Some examples of regular expedited service providers are JNE, TIKI, J&T.

Unlike expedited shipping, cargo uses different tariff calculations. Cargo calculates shipping tariffs based on a minimum weight determined. If you ship heavy goods (average over 10 kg), the per-kilogram tariff will certainly be cheaper compared to regular expedited services.

However, if you ship goods below the minimum weight through cargo, you will still be charged a tariff according to that minimum weight.

After knowing the differences between expedited and cargo shipping, surely now you find it easier to make a choice, right? If you know which expedited service to choose, follow the steps below to ensure your shipment can be completed smoothly.

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Read: How to Ship Very Heavy and Large Goods

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Tips and Steps in Making a Shipment

To make a shipment of goods, there are certainly several things that must be considered. Here are the steps and tips for making a shipment of goods.

1. Packaging

To ensure the safety and condition of goods during transit, proper and appropriate packaging is very important. For expedited shipments with light/medium weight, packaging can be adjusted according to the type of goods.

Plastic or paperbag packaging is safe to use for clothing or fragile items. For fragile goods, food, or household items, you can pack with cardboard and bubble wrap to enhance goods safety.

For cargo shipping, you can pack goods in cardboard or jumbo bag plastic sacks. Don't forget to always cover your package with plastic cover to avoid moisture, especially during the rainy season.

2. Find & Visit Expedited Service Branch Office

Finding agent offices for expedited services is relatively easier because they are more widely distributed and already cover small areas and towns. You can easily find the nearest agent location to drop off your package or freight.

Some agent offices also provide pick up services to send packages to requested addresses. As for cargo branch offices, they are not as widely distributed as regular expedited services. Shippers usually have to deliver goods to the appropriate branch office. The pick up service only applies to certain offices because not all offices have the appropriate fleet to enter residential areas.

3. Receipt & Tracking

After completing the shipment registration, make sure you receive proof of payment and shipment. For expedited shipping, the receipt number listed is very useful for tracking the position of shipped goods, from the beginning until the package is received by the destination address. Some expedited services also provide optional insurance services that can be selected if the goods you are shipping are valuable items.

In addition to using expedited services/agents, if you want to ship goods in very large quantities, you also have the option to rent truck units without intermediaries.

Cargo Shipping Solutions

ABC Express helps you business owners face challenges in shipping via Cargo Mid Mile:

1. Offers shipping services with FTL (Full Truck Load) or using a single exclusive truck only for your business shipment, so it can arrive faster.

2. Availability of many vehicle options from small to large units, according to retail business needs.

3. Real-time tracking process during goods shipment.

4. Shipping insurance protection.

The complete Mid Mile shipping solutions above can make your retail business shipment more efficient and easy.

For last mile shipping, there are also best solutions offered such as cash collection services, routing management system, and more. Curious about all those services? Consult immediately and entrust your shipment here!

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