How does express shipping work?
Express services prioritise consignments over standard transports. Collection often takes place the same day, with delivery on the next business day or early in the morning (before 9 a.m., before 12 noon). In the B2B sector, express providers offer defined time windows such as "9 a.m.", "12 noon" or "6 p.m. next day". Domestically this runs via air freight or express networks; internationally it is often a combination of air freight and courier service.
Express shipping vs direct run
Express shipping runs through standardised networks with fixed time windows. Direct runs are more flexible, can start immediately and allow individual routes. For very urgent goods (a machine standstill, surgical instruments) a direct run is often better, because it does not have to wait for network schedules. For standard-sized consignments, express shipping is often cheaper.
What express shipping costs
Express shipping costs 2–5 times more than standard delivery. The exact cost depends on weight and volume, distance, the time window chosen and surcharges for difficult regions. For companies the extra cost pays off when a production standstill or the loss of a customer is at stake.
