If you are looking to ship your boxes to another state in the cheapest way then you may consider this topic that I have mentioned below. It’s a tough job when it comes to moving to another state. So much to pack – and ship! Add to that the worries of breakage or damage caused to the cargo while being shipped. You have to consider so many things before the shipment actually takes place.
You would need to take a look at the quantity of your shipment and the dimensions. If it’s a matter of a few boxes containing general cargo, then the local neighborhood courier service operator might be enough. If you are shipping valuables or the cargo volume is substantial, then a large organization, like FedEx, UPS, etc. might do the job better. You would also need to work on the budget for the shipment.
So what are the ways by which you can ship the boxes?
By Bus
There are many bus service providers of repute, like Greyhound, Vamoose, RedCoach, etc. that have a substantial space under the body of the bus. You can pack a fair quantity of goods there, but the goods shouldn’t be expensive or fragile. You have to keep in mind the dimensions, though. Your boxes should measure 30” x 47” x 82”. Also, the weight should not cross 100 pounds.
By Ship
Ship services work better when the distance is larger. The shipping company will pack your cargo in pallets or containers and might also deliver it to the final address or the nearest port of arrival. The cost might be upwards of $200 – but it saves you a lot of hassles as you can get almost your entire cargo together at one go. And of course, you can do some hard bargaining on the freight rates.
By Train
Railway service providers like Amtrak, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway, etc. would allow you to send your package through them. However, the boxes have to be of medium to small size, and there is also a weight bar.
By Moving Companies
Movers and packers are specialists when it comes to the interstate shipment of boxes and other forms of cargo. They have trucks of different sizes, equipped to carry a cargo of varying quantities. These trucks usually travel all across the nation, reaching the goods to the intended destination.This option works out to be fairly on the cheaper side.
So, as you can see, there are multiple options for you to avail of. If you use the services of a shipping company, moving company, or similar freight movers, then you would be incurring expenses to the tune of $1.5 – $2.5 for each mile. Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipments will cost you less as in that case, your cargo can be bundled with some other shipment that is headed for the same destination.
Top-level courier service providers like FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc. would charge you anything between $10 and $100 for each box. The price would depend on the dimensions, numbers, and destination of the cargo.
Few of these companies have their own dedicated delivery service for specific product types. If your product is of this type, then the charges would be much less for you. E.g. USPS has a specialized “media mail” shipping whereby, it ships items like CDs, DVDs, books, and other similar stuff across the US for just a few dollars. Of course, the products and packaging would need to conform to certain standards. E.g. the weight needs to be within 70 lbs.
If you intend to ship your products in pallets, the charges would depend on the pallet dimensions and weight. The charges would vary between $70 and $200, and they would also depend on how fast you need the products to arrive at the destination.
What is the Most Economical Way to Ship?
This would depend on several things – package dimension, contents, value, etc.
- If you are sending a small package – less than 5 lbs by weight – then you would do good to avail of the services of a courier company. If the cargo is not too valuable or urgent, go for a local courier company. Or else, select a top-level company like UPS or FedEx. This should cost you anything between $12 and $30.
Most big and mid-level courier service providers have gone online today, and their websites have rate calculators – based on cargo type, dimension, and destination. So, even before you select one, you can get an idea of the rates.
- If the cargo you are sending consists of large items like furniture, king-sized beds, dining tables, etc. then it would be a better idea to obtain the services of a freight forwarding company. They would put the cargo in suitable containers and do a good job of packing. Yes, you would need to shell out a few more dollars – but the cargo would reach in a safe and sound condition.
Hence, the price that you would have to pay would depend on the commodity being shipped, the intended destination, and the dimensions of the cargo. Choose a suitable mode of transportation once you have decided on these parameters. Get in touch with several service providers and obtain quotes from them. Then, go through these options carefully before zeroing in on the final provider.
