Nowadays, speed matters a lot, especially when it comes to delivery. Everyone can relate to the stress of waiting for a package, especially with the urgency of something like an important document, medical supply, or last-minute gift. This can result in stress, missed deadlines, and even lost business opportunities. To solve this, shipping companies introduce the fastest delivery options to get packages as quickly as possible.
There are a lot of services such as same day, overnight, and express, making it hard to choose the best one. In this guide, we will take a look at the fastest shipping services and compare their features to decide how to get the fastest shipping for your needs. Knowing the fastest shipping service is important if you’re an individual or a business and will make it easier to save time and keep stress away.
What is Meant by Fast Delivery
Fast delivery means shipping services that try to get your package to you as soon as possible. The options can vary from one-day, two-day or same-day shipping, depending on the location and shipping method used. However, major companies like FedEx, UPS, and USPS have transformed the industry, allowing orders to be delivered within hours instead of days.
Types of Fastest Delivery Services
Here are the few top shipping services that provide the quickest shipping so that your parcels may reach you within a short time.
Same Day Shipping
The fastest available delivery method is the same-day shipping. However, there are a few drawbacks to it. Price is one of those drawbacks. As you’d expect, same-day shipping comes with high shipping rates. The reason for that is the fact that with this service, you get an entirely lined-up delivery, and there are no stops between the initial delivery point and the final destination.
Furthermore, FedEx provides same-day shipping 24/7, 365 days a year. Now it’s obvious why it’s so high, knowing all of that. Get a shipping estimate if you do not want to spend too much cost on this service.
However, another downside of same-day shipping is the maximum distance that it covers. It’s understandable since there is limited ground in a day you have to cover, especially working within business hours. However, if you choose to use this type of expedited shipping, it’s still something to think about.
Overnight Shipping
Overnight shipping is the quickest form of shipping that ensures next-day delivery of your parcel. In fact, some shipping companies call this service next-day shipping or 1 Day.
For the US, overnight shipping services are usually offered although some companies even offer to dispatch the packages to Canada through this method. Thus, overnight shipping is the way to go if you need speedy package delivery.
However, its shipping cost is also high but not as much as same-day delivery. You can use a shipping calculator to estimate the exact delivery cost.
Two and Three Day Shipping
Let's focus on something that isn't the fastest but is more affordable. Two and three-day shipping services are quick and relatively inexpensive ways of sending your mail. Two-day shipping is when you send a package today, and the recipient gets it tomorrow. That’s generally fast enough and also provides you with an opportunity to save on the postage rate.
The same is true with 3-day shipping. It's somewhat cheaper and a day slower, but the basics are the same. These forms of expedited shipping are not only fast but easily affordable as well. In most cases, it's a win-win situation.
Top Carriers Offer Fastest Shipping Services
Several top shipping companies offer fast and reliable shipping solutions to meet urgent delivery requirements. The following are the major carriers that offer the fastest shipping option.
UPS Fastest Shipping
UPS offers some of the fastest shipping solutions, both domestically and internationally. UPS Express Critical is UPS's fastest service, with packages delivered in emergencies within hours. For standard express shipping, UPS Next Day Air offers next-day delivery, and UPS 2nd Day Air is available for slightly less urgent delivery with a slight discount.
UPS Worldwide Express delivers in 1–3 business days for international destinations. UPS is a top-rated urgent shipping choice due to its reliable tracking, flexible pickup options and good logistics.
FedEx Fastest Shipping
FedEx is known for delivering its packages quickly, and that includes their FedEx SameDay service that gets packages to you within hours. If you need your shipment quickly, FedEx Priority Overnight ensures delivery the next day.
FedEx Standard Overnight also provides next-day delivery by the end of the day on business days. FedEx International Priority will deliver between 1 to 3 business days for global shipments. FedEx can also provide temperature-controlled and fragile item shipping to ensure packages arrive safely and on time.
USPS Fastest Shipping
USPS offers Priority Mail Express, which allows customers to use affordable, reliable overnight shipping, which delivers to most US locations on an overnight basis. It costs between $28.75, making it a very low-cost, fast shipping option.
Priority Mail Express International, offered by USPS, delivers within 3-5 business days to most global destinations. USPS may not have the number of same-day options as the private carriers do, but there is an express service package that can satisfy the need for quick delivery at a reasonable cost.
Conclusion
The fastest shipping services have completely changed the way we shop and get our goods. Depending on what you need to get shipped, whether it is an urgent package, food delivery, or business shipment, you need to choose the right shipping option to make sure your items will arrive on time. Selecting reliable carriers, using express shipping, and making orders early help you enjoy the benefits of lightning-fast deliveries.