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The 3PL Guide
Part XII

Shipping and carrier management

Published articles open now; the rest are coming soon.

12.1The carrier landscape

  • 12.1National carriers, regional carriers, postal, consolidators and last-mile networks comparedExplainerComing soon
  • 12.1When regional carriers make sense, and the tradeoffsExplainerComing soon
  • 12.1Postal consolidators and economy services explainedExplainerComing soon
  • 12.1Diversifying carriers: why single-carrier dependency is a riskExplainerComing soon

12.2How parcel pricing works

  • 12.2Zones explained: how distance drives your shipping costExplainerComing soon
  • 12.2Base rates, discounts and minimum net chargesExplainerComing soon
  • 12.2Shipping surcharges explained: fuel, residential, handling and moreReference20 min
  • 12.2Peak and demand surcharges: when they apply and how to plan for themExplainerComing soon
  • 12.2Annual general rate increases (GRIs): reading the real impact on your mixExplainerComing soon

12.3Whose carrier account?

  • 12.3Shipping on your own account vs. your 3PL's account: the full comparisonComparisonComing soon
  • 12.3Checking a cost-plus shipping markupHow-toComing soon
  • 12.3Bringing your own account to a 3PL: setup, billing and liabilityExplainerComing soon
  • 12.3Hybrid approaches by service level or channelExplainerComing soon

12.4Rate shopping and ship methods

  • 12.4What is rate shopping? How a 3PL picks the carrier for each orderExplainer10 min
  • 12.4Mapping checkout shipping options to carrier servicesExplainerComing soon
  • 12.4Delivery-date-based routing vs. cheapest-rate routingComparisonComing soon
  • 12.4Auditing whether your 3PL actually chose the cheapest eligible serviceChecklistComing soon

12.5Carrier contracts and negotiation

  • 12.5How to negotiate a parcel carrier contractHow-toComing soon
  • 12.5Discount tiers, earned incentives and the traps in themExplainerComing soon
  • 12.5Minimum charge adjustments and DIM divisor concessionsExplainerComing soon
  • 12.5Using a parcel consultant: how they're paidExplainerComing soon

12.6Carrier invoice auditing and recovery

  • 12.6How to audit carrier invoicesChecklistComing soon
  • 12.6Service guarantee refunds for late deliveries: who still offers them, and how to claimExplainerComing soon
  • 12.6Carrier weight and dimension adjustments: how to dispute themExplainerComing soon
  • 12.6Duplicate charges, voided labels billed and other common carrier billing errorsExplainerComing soon

12.7Advanced parcel strategies

  • 12.7Zone skipping and induction explainedExplainerComing soon
  • 12.7Postal injection and consolidation programsExplainerComing soon
  • 12.7Hold-for-pickup and alternate delivery locationsExplainerComing soon
  • 12.7Same-day and local delivery optionsExplainerComing soon

12.8B2B freight

  • 12.8LTL vs. FTL: when to use eachComparisonComing soon
  • 12.8Freight classes (NMFC) and density-based pricingExplainerComing soon
  • 12.8LTL accessorials: liftgate, inside delivery, appointment, residentialExplainerComing soon
  • 12.8Bills of lading explainedExplainerComing soon
  • 12.8Retailer routing guides and collect vs. prepaid freightComparisonComing soon

12.9Delivery experience

  • 12.9Tracking updates and branded tracking pagesExplainerComing soon
  • 12.9Reducing "where is my order?" (WISMO) contactsExplainerComing soon
  • 12.9Delivery exceptions: what each status means and what to doExplainerComing soon
  • 12.9Lost and damaged parcel claims with carriers, step by stepExplainerComing soon
  • 12.9Porch piracy and delivery fraudExplainerComing soon