How to Lower the Costs of Shipping in Canada

Whether it's express courier for package shipping or shipping companies that transport freight, you can make significant reductions in shipping costs by requesting the proper vehicle for your freight.

Time and security factors can often be more important than economic factors.  The sooner the shipment needs to be delivered, the more costs involved. The best way to guarantee that a shipment will not be damaged is to load it onto one vehicle that is going directly to the destination without transferring to another vehicle.  The disadvantage is often that the in-transit vehicle, which is carrying the freight, is limited by the drivers regulated hours behind the wheel.

In this article we examine the advantages and disadvantages of using a Straight Truck or 5 Ton for rapid freight delivery or express courier.

Straight Truck: Speed of Delivery, Weight, and Size Attributes

• Size Measurement through open roll-up or barn door;

• L288" x W96" x H96"

• Weight restrictions

• 9000lbs – 30,000 lbs

• Speed

• Driving restrictions differ between Canada and the USA.  Trucks over specified weight designations are subject to inspection for log book hours of operation.  Failure to adhere to these restrictions exposes the driver to severe fines and/or load confiscation.  In order for the freight to be in transit for more than 12 hours, a second driver is required to take over.
PROS:

• Easy to dock level load via rear roll-up or barn door, up to twelve skids
• Over-sized skids can be accommodated
• Can easily transfer loads from one truck to another if needed

CONS:

• Dimensions through door opening will limit shipment size
• Weight and shipment lengths are limited
• Transit time restricted by regulated hours of operation

As always, the shipping companies can get your freight shipping in Canada or the USA faster when they have all the details required.
Speed
• When is the shipment ready for pick up?
• When does it need to be delivered?
• Will there be a receiver at the delivery location?
• Do you have contact information and operational hours for the receiver?
• Is there any special equipment required for pick up or delivery?
Weight
• How much does the skid weigh in total - freight plus skid weight?
Size of the shipment
• What are the exact dimensions and weight of the shipment?
• What are the sizes of the skids, L x W x H?
• Are there any overhangs for any skids?
• Are tall skids secured from tipping?

You can lower your shipping costs by providing the shipper the size, weight and speed of delivery information.

How to Lower Shipping Costs for Trucks

Whether it's a local delivery Kitchener or shipping cross border, express freight, or same day shipping, you can make significant reductions in shipping costs by having the proper vehicle for your freight.  The sooner the shipment needs to be delivered, the more costs involved.  The best way to guarantee that a shipment will not be damaged is to load it onto one vehicle that is going directly to destination without transferring to another vehicle.

In this article we are going to examine the advantages and disadvantages of using a Cargo Van for rapid freight delivery or courier service.  Trucks have variable size doors through which cargo can be loaded.

Size, Weight, Speed of Delivery

Cargo Van – Size, Weight, Speed limitations

                Size Measurement through open loading door;

·         L 120” x W48” x H47”

Weight Limits

·         2500 – 4000 lbs

Speed

·         At present there are no driving restrictions.  Cargo vans may travel 24 hours per day.  Be aware of restrictions by traffic and border logs.

PROS:  Easy to ground load, can load two skids +, can side load and rear load, can travel with few time restrictions.

CONS: Dimensions through entrances limit shipment size, weight limits, shipment length limits

What the shipper needs to know when you call to order a pick up.

Size of the shipment 

·         What are the exact dimensions and weight of the shipment?

·         What are the sizes of the skids, L x W x H? 

o   How long (L) are the skids?

o   How wide (W) are the skids?

o   How high (H) are the skids?

·         Are there any overhangs for any skids?

·         Are tall skids secured from tipping?

Weight

·         How much does the skid weigh in total – freight plus skid weight?

·         Will there be a forklift to off-load at destination for heavy skids?

Speed

·         When is the shipment ready for pick up?

·         When does it need to be delivered, day and time?

·         Will there be a receiver at the delivery location, eg deliver Kitchener?

·         What are the hours of receiving?

·         Contact information for the receiver?

·         Any special equipment required for pick up or delivery?

You improve your chances of lowering your shipping costs by providing as much information as possible to the shipping company about size, weight and speed of delivery.

From

The Team at Rapidgo Inc.

It is with pleasure at this special time of year to wish

you, our friends both old and new, joy and happiness over the holiday season.

We wish you Greatness, Prosperity,

Hope, and Health.

May the old year be one to look back on with Smiles and Gratitude.

May the New Year bring you many Blessings!

In The News: December 2011

Business in the Cloud

Rapidgo is pleased to announce the migration of our customized dispatch program to a private cloud server. Advantages include global access to dispatch and accounting data and a reduced possibility of email loss, as we encountered recently.

Over the next several months, we will be adding features that will allow faster quoting to customers for national and international loads and much improved tracking of drivers and loads. Although this has been a long, time consuming process, the benefits will improve efficiency, and create a faster responding company.

Family in the News

Daughter Miranda and fiancée Barns, both captains of a corporate marlin fishing yacht are seen here at a world title tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Their wedding is December 23^rd, summertime in New Zealand, so Molly & James will be responding to text and emails from either a beach or boat for a short while. Dale Jackman will be at the dispatch helm while they are away. No worries, mate, you can always reach James & Molly directly if needed.

In The News: November 2011

Life in the Internet World

When the internet and computers work, it’s great. When they break down, it makes business and life really challenging.

Recently, we had our one toll free number go off line when one US supplier lost their trunk line out. Immediately thousands of companies lost their toll free access. Fortunately Rapidgo has two different suppliers for just such an emergency. Unfortunately, not all our customers had both numbers. So please take note of both numbers on the enclosed business cards and pass on to the appropriate personnel.

In the same few days, Blackberry lost all email transfer in and out. As well, the hosting company for our website had a server failure and emails sent through rapidgo.ca were delayed for hours, and in some cases days. As an added protection to this happening in the future, please make note of our Gmail account – rapidgo@gmail.com Failing that, you can directly text James @ 5198410115 or Molly @ 5192418889. Finally, if you have sent an email or text to us and do not receive a response in 15 minutes, please call to confirm. We apologize for the inconveniences of recent.

Biz-Bytes FYI

As with all transportation companies, Rapidgo rates are directly tied to fuel costs. The reduction in fuel costs has allowed us to actually reduce many out of town rates. We never have a fuel surcharge.

In The News: September 2011

Golfers up for the challenge, putting challenge that is!

Rapidgo Inc. sponsors company golf tournaments with prizes for the winners of the putting challenge and prizes for auction for charities.

Ask Bill Domianczuk or James Frank for details.  

        Rapidgo to Reduce Dependency on Post

With the recent postal strike behind us, Rapidgo, along with many of our customers and suppliers, is looking at ways to reduce the number of pieces of mail we generate.  One customer has requested that NO mail be used for invoicing, proof of delivery, or payments.  Many of our customers now complete payments with direct deposits.  We email invoices and scanned copies of proof of deliveries.  Bank transfers can be used to pay drivers and suppliers.  The world is changing faster all the time.  New technology is having a rapid impact on how we do business.  Let us know if you want to help create a more paperless business environment by receiving invoices by email and making bank transfer payments for invoices.  Simply email accounting at: accounting@rapidgo.ca

Biz-Bytes FYI

Rapidgo is becoming even more efficient with new dispatch and accounting programs.  We will be going live next month with a new program that reduces the time it takes for processing your orders and will eliminate much of the paper associated with the transportation industry.

TD Canada Trust Attempts to Close Security Breach

Here is the response from Regional Customer Care - Melissa Holliday-Fennell, Manager, Customer Relations

While this is truly a regrettable incident, please know that we value your business and are committed to working with you to ensure your banking experience with TD Canada Trust remains comfortable and secure. As of today, June 21, 2011 we have input a message on your business profile which requires an override for all deposits from a branch employee in a supervisor role.

Although the manager Ryan Janicki has failed to train the staff at branch 092 adequately - the latest reason why our account information was provided to the public, now they want a supervisor to assist on all our deposits. TDCT is sitting in the same chair as Sony Playstation and the Japanese Nuclear Power company. People simply do not trust them anymore.

It is not a matter if our bank accounts are going to get hacked due to poor security, it's a matter of when. Be prepared for the inevitable. We will be adding a blog about things you can do to help prevent it and what to do when it happens.