Level the playing field when negotiating parcel shipping contracts

By Mike Erickson

For catalog and multichannel shippers, the general productivity benefits inherent in high volume shipping locations can be offset by the high cost of delivery to residential customers in rural areas.

Assessorial charges for selected ancillary services mount when making residential deliveries due to this high cost to serve. These include residential delivery fees, delivery area surcharges, Saturday delivery, address correction fees, COD and asset protection, among other fees — all of which are more prevalent in residential delivery than in commercial (B-to-B).