Your business has unique shipping needs, and your ideal shipping partner should be able to meet those needs. Speed, flexibility, customizable services and special handling are just some of the requirements they need to fulfill.
In this article, we’ll explore the following questions and concepts:
- How to find the best B2B shipping and logistics planning partner
- How Purolator helps your business with specialized shipping services
- Shipping dangerous goods with a long-term shipping partner
- Expedited and specialized shipping essentials
- The role of route optimization in logistics planning
- Air freight for efficient international shipping and route optimization
- Crating and packaging for special shipments
- What do urgent and special shipments look like in the real world?
- Sustainability for specialized shipping services
- Leveraging Purolator’s expansive networks
- Partner with Purolator for all your special shipments
How to find the best B2B shipping and logistics planning partner
Last-mile logistics is where businesses can win or lose customer satisfaction. The biggest last-mile challenges for businesses of all sizes are speed, flexibility, affordability and sustainability. However, with the right strategy and a capable e commerce delivery partner, your business can win customers and manage this crucial logistics stage.
Why does your business need reliable B2B shipping partners? Whether you ship car parts, emergency medical equipment, prescriptions or industrial products across Canada or around the world, you need a reliable B2B shipping partner that offers extensive network coverage with ease. Working with an expert shipping provider like Purolator is simply good for business.
This extends to the world of e-commerce. According to a Shopify report, giving customers multiple fast shipping options can help e-commerce businesses win back 23% of shoppers who abandoned their carts. E-commerce businesses that work with shipping partners who are established and well-known in the market can easily gain consumer trust and offer quick shipping options that keep customers coming back for more.
These benefits aren’t exclusive to any one industry. Shipping and logistics partners like Purolator alleviate the burden of last-mile delivery, letting professionals focus on other important tasks like product development. Purolator is one of the most trusted brands in the delivery service category.
With those benefits in mind, let’s explore what you should look for when researching a shipping partner.
Speed and flexibility: Purolator is a leader in integrated freight, package and logistics solutions. Speed and flexibility are paramount to how we help your business deliver. Additionally, Purolator has the largest nationally integrated freight and courier network in Canada. Choose from ground shipping options such as courier and standard and expedited freight, including less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload (TL), port pick-ups, air freight, cross-border shipping and international shipping into Canada. Our expedited freight shipping offers faster transit times, high on-time performance and easy online tracking. Purolator is the only courier in Canada with the most time-guaranteed options for Express and Ground delivery services.
Customization options even for expedited shipping
Adequate customization options are essential, helping us get your most urgent shipments delivered on time and boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. Purolator caters to your business with customized route optimization, flexible delivery solutions, international shipping partnerships and out-of-the-box thinking.
Just take a look at our partnership with Legrand, an established company that handles power, light and data for businesses and residents. By consolidating their freight shipments, we helped Legrand optimize distribution sustainably. They were able to optimize warehouse operations and simplify distribution quickly and without any extra costs.
The ability to handle special shipping requirements
Special Handling Services (SHS) are also critical to your business’ success. We know that conveyor systems at shipment processing facilities are not suitable for all types of packages. Purolator can easily handle dangerous goods (DG), overweight items, irregularly shaped items, custom-made containers and much more in our state-of-the-art national hub. Whether it’s a specialty one-time shipment or a regularly occurring shipment, you can rely on our Special Handling Services to deliver your package safely and on time.
A suite of services to ease the shipping process
We know that your business needs flexibility. The market and supply chain factors can change. That’s why we’re ready to help you adapt with a wide range of special services to cater to your changing business needs. From standard and expedited freight shipping to next-day ground shipping, Purolator has the flexible, fast and customizable solutions you need to keep customers satisfied and efficiently deliver packages of all sizes and types.
Exceptional customer service
We’re in the business of keeping promises: Your promises to your customers and our promises to deliver on that promise. This is why exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of our values as a business.
The customer experience is our top priority. We understand that your business has unique needs and that those needs can change with the season and with market developments. That’s why we have a dedicated and award-winning customer service team, Account Executives to answer and support you when you need it, multiple Purolator Shipping Agents who accept inbound and outbound shipments and provide pricing and transit estimates and our Virtual Assistant that is also available to answer your questions 24/7. If you have a question that the assistant cannot address, it will direct you to a support agent who can.
End-to-end tracking
Better visibility takes the guessing out of the shipping equation. Sending a multi-package delivery? No problem. We’ll give recipients total visibility into each individual piece. End-to-end tracking is available for both freight shipping and courier delivery. You’ll see when packages are picked up, arrive at the sorting facility when they’re on the delivery vehicle and any status updates in between.
Reverse logistics solutions:
Simplified returns are an important part of your business because they increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Purolator stands out with flexible returns solutions and digital, 24/7, self-serve options. We handle returns management quickly and you can get items back in stock for resale. Only Purolator gives you the largest number of operational terminals within Canada. Focusing on convenience, we now have over 2,900 locations across Canada to help you and your customers take advantage of fast and easy returns.
How Purolator helps your business with specialized shipping services
B2B companies of all sorts require reliable shipping solutions. What business needs do you have that most shipping providers can’t seem to meet?
Maybe you’re an automotive parts manufacturer looking for ways to securely ship oversized yet fragile items from the U.S. to Canada. Perhaps you’re in the healthcare industry and need to deliver time- and temperature-sensitive medications to patients across the country.
Whatever you and your customers need, Purolator has the expertise and customizable solutions to support your business. But don’t just take our word for it. One of our partners at the Toronto Zoo said, “Purolator was excellent at helping with such an unusual and special project. We recently worked with them to deliver a unique shipment that needed to be delivered quickly, across the country but with the utmost care.”
Purolator was excellent at helping with such an unusual and special project. We recently worked with them to deliver a unique shipment that needed to be delivered quickly, across the country but with the utmost care.
Shipping dangerous goods with a long-term shipping partner
Our partners at the Toronto Zoo came to us with a delicate, time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive overweight item that needed to be shipped across the country (from Ontario to British Columbia) quickly and carefully.
“Purolator has always been a great partner [for our shipping needs]. We have quite a large collection of items that we use for educational purposes, and I had something that needed to go across the country to BC that was quite large and very heavy and needed to get there in a timely fashion under temperature control. That was something I hadn’t had to do before,” they said.
We employed our special handling and dangerous goods capabilities to build a customized shipping container. This special case demonstrates how important it is to have an adaptable logistics provider that has customized solutions ready to go whenever your business needs them.
Additionally, our extensive network that covers 100% of Canadian postal codes made it easier for Purolator to fulfill the Toronto Zoo’s special request, which required sending an overweight, fragile and temperature-controlled shipment across Canada. However, our capabilities extend to the U.S. and internationally. We leverage resources around the world to help you deliver shipments on time no matter where they need to go.
See how Purolator helped the Toronto Zoo deliver a highly specialized shipment safely and on time. Watch the video
Expedited and specialized shipping essentials
Now, you might be wondering exactly how quickly you can expect your shipments to be delivered. How long does expedited shipping take? And what does expedited shipping mean?
When you partner with Purolator, expedited shipping isn’t just a faster option than standard services. We make sure every shipment is delivered as fast as your business needs it delivered despite any special handling requirements.
| Service | Business Needs | Other Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Critical | ✔️ Highly urgent shipments ✔️ International and domestic shipping ✔️ 24/7 shipping specialist support | ✔️Special handling and dangerous goods compatible |
| Express and Ground | ✔️ Fast Canadian shipping ✔️ Exceptional customer service ✔️ Reaches customers even in rural and remote areas | ✔️ Next-day and overnight guarantees across Canada* ✔️Purolator’s network covers 100% of Canadian postal codes |
| Reverse Logistics Solutions | ✔️ Simplified and streamlined returns ✔️ Exceptional customer support ✔️ Convenient returns options for customers ✔️ Quicker delivery back to your warehouse or distribution centre | ✔️ 24/7 digital self-serve options ✔️ Over 2,800 access locations across Canada, including Mobile Quick Stops and drop boxes for returns |
| Freight | ✔️ Secure and efficient shipping ✔️ Expedited and standard options ✔️ Outstanding customer service ✔️ Dangerous goods delivery and special handling services ✔️Estimated transit times | ✔️ Cuts costs as businesses using LTL shipping only ✔️ Freight shipments can be consolidated ✔️ Value-add services include Inside Delivery for partial and full shipments, tailgate service (for pickups and deliveries with no dock) |
| Logistics Planning for Special Requests | ✔️ Multiple flexible delivery speeds and customized services including air, ocean and ground services ✔️ Transparent shipment tracking ✔️ Exceptional customer service ✔️ On-time express shipping options and a wide range of courier services. | ✔️ Over 2,800 Purolator access points across Canada for easy pick up, drop off and package returns ✔️ Reverse logistics expertise with convenient digital, self-serve solutions for customers ✔️ Guaranteed, next-day delivery across Canada |
| Rest of the World Shipping | ✔️ Competitive shipping rates ✔️ Customizable, value-added shipping solutions ✔️ End-to-end tracking | ✔️ Unparalleled industry expertise and reliability ✔️ Delivers to 100% of Canadian postal codes |
| * Certain terms, conditions and geographic restrictions apply (including point of origin and destination guarantee restrictions and money-back guarantee restrictions). In most cases, end of day means 9PM. Purolator Express® 9AM, Purolator Express® 10:30AM, Purolator Express® 12PM, Purolator Express® Evening are only available when a shipment is prepared using an automated shipping system. See Purolator Terms and Conditions of Service for details. | ||
Learn a bit more about Purolator’s wide range of B2B shipping solutions:
- Mission Critical: Urgent shipments that travel a long way can be a source of stress. That’s why we provide “best-in-class tracking visibility” with Mission Critical, our fastest shipping service to date for U.S., Canadian and international shipments. This service is perfect for both one-time emergency shipments or recurring urgent shipments. Our customizable network ensures optimized routes for your deliveries by using the most flexible on-and-off network solutions available. Our shipping specialists are here to support you 24/7, throughout your shipment’s journey. We’ll make sure your package is received at the end destination exactly when you need it to be there.
- Express and ground shipping: Purolator’s express shipping champions ease and on-time delivery. With Purolator Ground, your package arrives one day faster than with competitors. Only Purolator delivers Domestic Ground Morning service by 10:30AM. Our next-day guarantee, overnight guarantee for Canadian deliveries, streamlined logistics and Canada-wide coverage, mean you can expect improved customer satisfaction. Express shipping is ideal for both new and established businesses that frequently deal with time-critical shipments.
- Freight shipping: Purolator has flexible solutions for all your freight shipping needs. Choose from standard and expedited LTL and TL freight shipping. We also provide quotes, help you arrange pick-ups, create shipments and print labels. Tailor your shipments even further with specialized services like tailgate, Inside Delivery, Two-Person Pickup/Delivery and more. Expedited LTL and TL are Purolator’s fastest freight solutions and includes increased tracking visibility. We also provide customized pick up and delivery to better meet your shipping needs.
Find tailored freight solutions for your shipping needs. Get started
- Specialized shipping services: Purolator is equipped to help with logistics and shipping for even your most unique shipments. You can add any of our specialized services when you create a shipment online or at a Purolator Shipping Centre. Tailor our services to fit any shipment. These services include handling for:
- Dangerous goods shipping
- Non-packaged articles
- Overweight/oversized pieces
- Unsuitable articles
- Items that require adult signatures and chain of signature
- Saturday Service
- ExpressCheque
Learn more about our specialized services and how you can combine them.
You can also visit our Special Handling and Dangerous Goods page for more details on shipping specific items.
The role of route optimization in logistics planning
Purolator will deliver your international shipments into Canada with the utmost care and expertise on time no matter what special services and handling they require. We use established and optimized routes all over the world to deliver your shipments as efficiently as possible.
Deliver to Canada with ease and our expertise. Learn more
The importance of specialized logistics planning
Companies that frequently deal with special items also need specialized logistics planning. This may include overweight items (pieces that exceed 50 lbs, 48 inches in length or have an overall size of 165 inches) or irregularly shaped items. There are a few crucial things you should understand when preparing to ship items like heavy equipment and industrial machinery. With our shipping expertise, we’re happy to support you in getting these special items delivered securely and on time.
Many shipments may also include dangerous goods and sensitive items (such as biological substances, batteries and medication). Below you will find more information about some of the shipping solutions and strategies you might consider.
International freight forwarding
Looking to expand your business with international freight forwarding? We’ll help you import and export goods to and from Canada, by picking up offshore shipments and loading containers onto ocean liners for delivery to Canadian ports of entry.
LTL and TL shipping benefits
Due to Purolator’s vast network of U.S. and Canadian hubs, you can expedite your freight shipments to increase customer satisfaction. Our solutions simultaneously reduce the risk of costly delays at border crossings so you can ship more efficiently and grow your business.
LTL is an affordable sustainable option, especially for e-commerce companies and small businesses. It allows you to combine your smaller shipments with products from other companies that use the same delivery route. With partial and standard LTL you:
- Only pay for the space you use.
- Retain operational flexibility.
- Spend less on freight than larger companies.
- Have access to services that may not be available with TL (such as lift gates, expedited shipping, inside pick-up and delivery, protection from freeze and special handling).
- The ability to ship to residential shipping through specialty lift gate services.
The right shipping strategy isn’t always obvious, but in a world of increased online competition, figuring out your best strategy is essential. In our ebook, Why You Need TL and LTL Shipping in Your Freight Strategy, we walk you through:
- LTL vs TL: What’s the difference?
- How an LTL freight carrier can benefit your business
- Common LTL freight shipping terminology
- LTL shipping: Key trends on the rise
- Roadmap: Finding the right shipping method for your business
- Reverse logistics: Streamline your freight supply chain
- What to look for in your shipping provider
Design a freight shipping strategy to grow your business. Learn how
Air freight for efficient international shipping and route optimization
If you need high-quality air express services with customized, cross-border delivery for critical parts, healthcare supplies and other high-value goods, Purolator is the partner for you.
Combined with our unique express network access, your shipments get where they need to be quickly and reliably with the shortest transit times, giving you the most efficient supply chain solution possible.
Not only is air freight a fast shipping method, with Purolator, we offer many additional benefits:
- Purolator has a wide network reach and partners with various air carriers to better serve customers.
- These partnerships help Purolator provide next-flight and next-day shipping for urgent cases.
- Purolator uses unit loading devices (ULD) to keep your products secure during air transit and collaborates with a network of airlines to better serve businesses with critical shipment needs.
- Purolator’s air capabilities include next-day and next-flight shipments.
- Purolator can create containers specially designed to deliver your products in one piece.
Our work with the Toronto Zoo is a prime example of how we tailor air freight shipping to meet customers’ needs. “When we look at a customer like the Toronto Zoo, we understand what type of services they’re looking for, what type of freight they’re looking for and what kind of service levels. How fast does it need to get to the destination? We investigated how we could create a freight [shipment] to move from Ontario to Vernon, BC safely, on time and quickly across the country.”
Purolator rose to a logistical challenge and delivered a unique shipment for the Toronto Zoo that required custom packaging and special care over a long distance. When we received this special request, we partnered with Sea Air “to build a custom wooden crate that held this shipment securely, safely and temperature controlled.”
In this instance, the Toronto Zoo needed an oversized but delicate shipment sent quickly across Canada. The item needed to be treated as both fragile and temperature-sensitive. We leveraged and tailored an air freight solution to get the shipment delivered on time and intact. We worked with an air carrier partner to get the package onto an express freight plane. With our partner’s cooperation, we were able to:
- Build a large custom container to fit the item.
- Include the necessary packing materials to keep it secure in transit.
- Ensure the package stayed below a certain temperature throughout its journey.
Jay KirkpatrickDirector of Transportation and Vendor Relations
“When we look at a customer like the Toronto Zoo, we understand what type of services they’re looking for, what type of freight they’re looking for and what kind of service levels. How fast does it need to get to the destination? We investigated how we could create a freight [shipment] to move from Ontario to Vernon, BC safely, on time and quickly across the country.”
See how Purolator provided a customize shipment plan for Sea Air collaborated to securely ship a special item for the Toronto Zoo. Watch the video
Crating and packaging for special shipments
Purolator is able to provide custom crating, tracking, route optimization, ground and air freight and special handling. Purolator can also handle items that are over the maximum limit or greater than 150 lbs.
If your items do not necessarily need customized packaging, we can still provide resources and tips on proper packaging and labeling to avoid shipping delays or damaged items.
We recommend these seven steps for smooth pallet delivery:
- Pack individual boxes with care.
- Seal each box to be palletized.
- Choose the right pallet.
- Load your pallet.
- Wrap your pallet.
- Label your pallet shipments clearly.
- Schedule your pickup with Purolator.
Freight packaging should be secure but simple. Learn how
What do urgent and special shipments look like in the real world?
Purolator is equipped to meet your shipping needs no matter your industry. For example, healthcare businesses need products shipped quickly, carefully and often in a temperature-controlled way. Purolator has the required expertise from cold chain solutions to Inside Delivery.
For e-commerce businesses that need to scale up at a reasonable cost, Purolator provides cost-effective last-mile delivery as well as returns services that are convenient for customers and help get your items back to you so they can be restocked, recycled or donated.
Sustainability for specialized shipping services
Although most businesses have plans to reduce emissions, many are concerned they lack the skills and knowledge to adopt more sustainable logistics operations.
The shipping process is an excellent area to focus on sustainability. When you partner with Purolator, we’ll bring our commitment to sustainability to the table. Here’s how:
- Environmentally friendly sorting: Purolator’s National Hub uses robotics to fuel cutting-edge national-level package sortation. At full capacity, we can process up to 70,000 parcels per hour, which is three times the capacity of our previous facility. The hub also has innovative technology that can unload a trailer in under 10 minutes or up to 12,000 parcels per hour. The hub is strategically located in the Greater Toronto Area to increase route optimization for more carbon-efficient deliveries. It features energy-efficient lighting, heating/cooling and eco-conscious water systems all while tripling our shipping capacity.
- Sustainable delivery methods: Purolator was the first Canadian courier company to launch all-electric vehicles. We use ebikes, alternative fuel and low-speed vehicles to create a more environmentally friendly delivery fleet. Our ebikes have a battery life of 40-45 km and a delivery capacity of around 60 pieces per trip or 500 lbs per trip. Meanwhile, our low-speed vehicles have a battery life of 90 km and can deliver up to 80 pieces or 2,000 lbs per trip.
- Consolidated freight shipping: Consolidating your freight shipments is an effective way to ship more sustainably. For example, with LTL shipping, you reduce emissions by sharing a truck with other businesses. This method also cuts costs as your business only pays for the portion of the truck you use.
Leveraging Purolator’s expansive networks
Purolator gives customers access to the largest Canadian network, delivering to 100% of the country’s postal codes, including urban, rural and remote areas. Businesses shipping from Mexico to Canada through the U.S. or U.S. to Canada or internationally into Canada can take advantage of this network as an opportunity to reach new and rural markets.
Our closed-loop network ensures fast and secure delivery. We also provide enhanced tracking due to minimal handoffs during transit. We use 97% of our own assets to ensure the best delivery.
Partner with Purolator for all your special shipments
When it comes to choosing a shipping partner, there’s no room for compromise. Purolator is the best choice for any company looking for unrivalled speed, reliability and flexibility to propel their business.
We offer special and highly customized services, giving you everything you need to boost customer satisfaction.
Whether you’re shipping dangerous goods, overweight items or simply need faster delivery, Purolator has you covered with:
- Fast, flexible, reliable and optimized shipping options
- Tailored solutions for dangerous goods, overweight shipments and more
- Years of specialized shipping and logistics expertise
- An extensive network with access to 100% of Canadian postal codes and countless international destinations
Start shipping with Canada’s largest freight and courier network and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your customers’ orders are in one of Canada’s most trusted shipping providers.