If you are like most small business owners, you use the services of large delivery companies for most of your small business shipping needs. These services from larger delivery companies are ideal for national and international shipping needs, but you may also use courier services for local deliveries. Courier services often provide you with a reliable, cost-effective option, and many couriers offer personalized service and can specially-handle your package as needed. It is common for small business owners to compare rates of courier services before contracting with a courier for local delivery service. In your comparison, you may wonder what factors impact delivery rates. Identifying the most significant factors that influence these rates may help you to discover new ways to save on this service.

The Delivery Address
One of the most common factors that impacts courier Toronto rates is the delivery address. If your address is in the same city as the pickup location, you may expect to pay a more affordable rate. This is particularly true if the pickup and delivery addresses are in the prime service area that the courier works in. Some couriers will work outside of their prime service area for an additional fee. With this in mind, you can save money on courier fees if you find a courier that works in both your pickup and delivery locations.

Miles Traveled
Another factor that will affect the price you pay for courier services is the distance between the two locations. Your courier will incur a cost for each mile traveled in the form of fuel expense as well as wear and tear on the vehicle. You may consider mapping the distance between the two locations yourself to ensure that the mileage expense that you are being charged is for the fastest route between the two points.

Time Required for the Delivery
The delivery time will also affect your courier rate, and delivery times can vary based on traffic at the time you schedule the pickup, construction on the fastest route between the two points, weather conditions and more. Consider paying attention to the average hourly rate the courier charges for delivery service, and compare this rate against other couriers’ rates to identify cost savings through other sources.

Hiring a courier to deliver your package to a local area is a great option that can ultimately save you money. However, the cost of delivery services can add up over the course of a year, and you may be wondering how you can save money on delivery charges. By learning more about the factors that affect rates charged by couriers, you can more easily adjust or manage those factors to your benefit.