PARCEL DELIVERY: Know your consolidator

Implemented in January, the U.S. Postal Service’s worksharing discounts for parcels drop-shipped into the nation’s 33,000 local post offices – destination delivery units (DDUs) in postal parlance – have encouraged freight consolidators to court catalogers as a viable alternative to United Parcel Service. The consolidators are now promoting services that pick up the packages at catalogers’ warehouses and deliver them to the DDUs. By leaving the packages in the hands of USPS letter carriers a day away from final delivery, most consolidators are helping catalogers save up to 30% compared to UPS ground rates. Below is a listing of the growing number of catalog freight consolidators and their offerings.