As shipping and logistics become more efficient and consolidated, your company should be thinking about new options for shipping that can save money, bring efficiency and provide better service for your customers. LTL is one method that can deliver this.

Less-than-truckload or less-than-load shipping (LTL) is used for transporting small freight or mailings when the shipment doesn’t require an entire truck. Typically used for shipments totaling 150-15,000 pounds, the shipper pays for only the portion of the trailer their freight occupies, while other shippers and their shipments fill the rest of the space.

Why Use LTL?

LTL has many advantages over other low-cost mailing solutions like consolidation and co-mingling. Most importantly, it is faster and more trackable than consolidation and co-mingling, so if you have a piece that requires a specific delivery window LTL may be a good solution. LTL is also obviously less expensive than FTL, or full truckload, so if your mailer is substantial, but still not large enough to require an entire trailer, you can still take advantage of the benefits of an expedited shipper through LTL.

What Should I Consider When Opting for LTL?

While LTL is a great option for your mailings, like many aspects of shipping, it pays to know the inner workings of the industry, especially when there’s a handoff to the United States Postal Service. When opting for LTL, consider these three tips:

Choose your carrier wisely. Not all carriers are created equal. Understand what regions they serve and the schedules they keep. Ask if their customer service is 100% self-serve or will you be able to get a person on the phone if you have a question or hit a snag with your shipment. And if you need a hand-off to the USPS, do they understand how to do that (hint: it’s not as simple as it sounds)?

Have your postal documentation in order. One of the most common reasons we see for shipping delays is problems with postal documentation. Whether it’s inaccurate postage, missing forms or pallet labels, problems with your postal documentation can halt your shipment in its tracks. Check and double-check that it’s in order before and during the shipping process.

Consider hiring a mail logistics partner. If you conduct frequent mailings or freight shipments then hiring a mail logistics company might be one of the best investments you can make. As experts in their field, they will ensure that the proper carriers are hired for each job, that documentation is in order, and that each shipment is meticulously tracked from start to finish. Additionally, a top-notch partner will save you time and money by consulting with you to ensure that you’re using the right service for each shipment.If you have questions about LTL shipping or other shipments, please reach out. Altrans Postal Solutions has decades of experience in direct mail planning and shipping logistics, and we’re happy to help.

On July 14, 2024, the United States Postal Service (USPS) increased postal rates for the second time this year. While this was announced well in advance and the agency has been increasing rates at more frequent intervals recently, many will still be concerned about hitting postage budget limits before year end.

What are the best ways to manage an inevitable situation drastically affecting your budget?

Keep a clear and open mind.

Price increases are an unfortunate part of doing business. Whether you figured an increase into this year’s budget estimates or not, you can adjust to these changes if you approach it with a clear and open mind. The market will typically justify your company’s pricing with profits following suit. Have faith in your ability to manage your business and be flexible to options that help you stay on track. If a postage increase is the worst thing that happens to your business this year, consider it a great year!

Be creative with your systems and designs

If you are faced with needing to cut your postal budget, look to more affordable piece sizes and weights or consider different delivery options or services. Although a glossy, full-color catalog may stand out in the mailbox, you can also try testing a lighter, flat mailer with a QR code that takes your customers to your website with those same products and see how that performs. Adding more lead time to your campaign and using a different mail service can also help cut costs. Could LTL, comailing or comingling be something you could take advantage of?

Whenever possible, look to changes in your creative or delivery services and save cutting your audience size as an absolute last resort. You may even find that these changes free up budget allowing you to increase your list size and reach even more potential customers.

Review and investigate every aspect of your program

It can also pay to take a second look at your entire approach to mailing, not just the big budget hits. Putting a fresh set of eyes on your lists, designs, schedules, service providers and anything that touches your mail campaigns can open up opportunities for not only cost savings, but delivery efficiencies and performance improvements.

When was the last time you really dug into the details of how your mailers are being produced and delivered? The industry is changing and innovating, and postage increases are nowhere near as simple as they seem on the surface. Most times they are accompanied with changes to service-level discounts that are added or eliminated. That means a class level, service or drop-in point that once made good financial sense for you may no longer, but without being well versed in the intricacies of the postal code, it’s hard to keep up with that.

Think ahead

The bottom line with this increase, and others you will see this and next year, is that costs can and will rise, it’s the nature of the economy. If you didn’t plan ahead for an increase this year, be sure that you keep it in mind for next year’s budgeting. Your best course of action with postage is the same as with all aspects of your business: look for creative ways to cut costs without negatively impacting your operations.

And when it comes to the complexities of mail, bringing in an industry expert to review your lists and systems is a worthwhile investment, especially in the face of changes like what we’re facing now. Our team is always happy to provide a complimentary consultation that brings fresh eyes to your program. We specialize in helping companies catch up to industry trends and find efficiencies that extend budgets a little further.

According to a recent survey by the United States Post Office, 68% of people polled say that direct mail is one of the most credible sources of information in a political campaign. And with $10.4 billion projected to be spent on advertising for this coming election cycle, you can be sure that political mailers will be landing in mailboxes everywhere.

As you (and the candidates) start planning for fall campaigns, here are our top three tips to keep in mind to ensure the best results.

Pick the Right Service

With most mailers being highly targeted and timed, choosing the right service level is essential. If you’re looking for delivery on a specific date, then the faster you can get your pieces into the delivery stream, the better your chances of precise timing. Looking for specific geo-targeting or blanketing a specific region or community? Consider Every Door Direct Mail (known as EDDM) from the United States Postal Service. From your mailing list to your design to your mail delivery services there’s a lot to consider, but there are many companies like this, including Altrans Postal Solutions, that specialize in these services who are ready to assist you.

Pick the Right Carrier

Just like choosing the right service level is essential, so is picking the right carrier. For time-critical pieces, a high-end LTL carrier with a strong reputation for good service is your best choice. But be prepared to get creative, as even these carriers can experience volume overload. Maintaining open communication about your needs and delivery targets can make sure the carrier keeps you informed in the event you need to make alternative arrangements such as delivering the pieces to them rather than relying on standard pickup service.

Plan Well in Advance

As the saying goes, timing is everything, and with mailers, planning in advance, especially for potential pitfalls in schedules, is positively essential for success. From weather delays to excess volume to staffing shortages and holidays, be sure to allow enough time for your piece to make it IN time by padding your schedule for unforeseen circumstances like these.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to political mailers, or any time-critical mailers, planning and knowing your services and carriers are what stand between you and success. Do your research, plan in advance, and communicate with your carriers and customers to set expectations and keep in the know of current factors that could affect your mailings. When in doubt, hire an expert in the field to advise and even manage the job for you. It’s an investment that will surely pay off in the end, in more ways than one.

If you have questions about how to maximize your results for political mail or other shipments, please reach out. Altrans Postal Solutions has decades of experience in direct mail planning and shipping logistics, and we’re happy to help.

In shipping and logistics, we’ve been watching the slow decline of the United States Postal Service for some time. And although many carriers and drop shippers like Amazon have taken a bite out of its package business, there’s one place the USPS still reigns supreme—direct mail.

Who’s Still Using Direct Mail?

If you’ve visited your mailbox recently, you know mail isn’t dead, but most likely it’s not a letter from Grandma waiting for you or even your electric bill. Instead, it’s a hefty stack of direct mail pieces of all shapes and sizes. So who’s sending these? According to direct mail marketer, Postalytics, the top industries utilizing direct mail are:

• Automotive
• Travel
• Financial Services
• Insurance
• Retail and E-commerce
• Home Services
• Real Estate
• Non-Profits
• Education
• Healthcare

And why? Well why not? It’s targeted, personalized, can have a great response rate, be highly trackable and best of all, it’s tangible.

The Lifeblood That’s Draining Your Budget

Direct mail is arguably the lifeblood of the USPS and, if you’re in one of these businesses that relies heavily on direct mail, it’s likely a large part of your budget. So while certainly not taking its last breath by any means, the USPS has definitely struggled in recent years to reinvent itself (Postmaster General Louis DeJoy unveiled a decade-long plan, Delivery for America, in 2021) but that innovation comes at a price that is passed on in the form of regular increases to postage and shipping rates, five of them in fact, since 2021 with more sure to come.

You Can Lower Your Postage and Shipping Costs

So when your business relies on direct mail, how do you fight these ever-rising costs while ensuring your pieces are delivered on time and to their target audience? Check out Four Ways to Save on Your Mailing and Freight. It’s filled with insights from professional mail planning and logistics experts that can help even the savviest of mailers up their direct mail game. Check it out and let me know what you think.