Freight modes · Parcel
Parcel looks simple: a carton, a label and a rate. In practice your parcel shipping costs are set by dimensional weight, a growing list of surcharges, and discount tiers and minimums written into your carrier agreement.
We review 12 months of your parcel invoices next to the rest of your freight, then contact your parcel carriers and negotiate your agreements on your behalf. We also flag cartons that should ship as LTL.
Built for US CPG food and beverage brands with $1M+ in annual freight spend that ship cartons as well as pallets: direct-to-consumer orders, samples, small store replenishment and e-commerce.
Parcel savings come from the contract, the carton and the choice of mode. These are the levers from our 10 that matter most for parcel.
Industry guidance
According to the U.S. EPA, SmartWay is a voluntary public-private program, launched in 2004, that “helps companies identify and select more efficient freight carriers, service providers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to improve supply chain sustainability and lower costs from goods movement” (source: EPA SmartWay). Here is what its shipper guidance says about packaging and parcel shipping, and what it means for your freight bill.
Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA. Full list of sources below.
The right answer is rarely one mode for everything. We choose lane by lane and order by order, based on cost per case, delivery requirements and how the product needs to travel.
| If you see this | Consider |
|---|---|
| Several cartons to one address on the same day | LTL, on a single pallet |
| Heavy or large packages hitting handling surcharges | LTL, or repacking to avoid the surcharge |
| Steady store replenishment in cartons to one region | A consolidated shared truckload or pool distribution |
| Air services used for orders that aren’t urgent | Ground service, matched to the real delivery date |
See how we compare them in our freight modes guide and our mode optimization lever.
Invoices · Review · Negotiate · Verify
Multiply the package length, width and height in inches, then divide by the carrier’s divisor. UPS uses 139 for daily rates. You pay for whichever is greater: dimensional weight or actual weight. Your agreement may use a different divisor, which is one of the terms we review.
Yes. We review your agreement and invoices, then contact your parcel carriers and negotiate discounts, tiers, minimums and surcharges on your behalf. Your account and agreement stay in your name.
Often, yes. Parcel spend tends to get less attention than truckload and LTL, and discount tiers and surcharges change every year. We also check where cartons should move as LTL instead.
Yes. Insulated boxes and gel packs add size and weight, so carton choice and service level have a big effect on cost. We look at both, along with surcharges.
12 months of parcel invoices or invoice data, plus your carrier agreements. We sign an NDA where needed, and you get a free written review in 14 days.
Freight modes
Start with a short intro call. Then send us 12 months of freight invoices. In 14 days you’ll get a free written review of your biggest savings opportunities. Built for shippers with $1M+ in annual freight spend.
No upfront fees. Paid only from savings verified on your invoices. NDA available. Or call 707-292-9754Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA. References to SmartWay describe public U.S. EPA guidance only; they are not a claim of partnership, certification or endorsement.