When your LTL shipment is time-sensitive, adding “Guaranteed Standard Service” (GSS) to it can provide you with peace of mind. To formally guarantee a cargo with a carrier, you must agree to pay a premium to ensure that the freight reaches its destination on time. By paying this cost, you are ensuring that your freight will be delivered by a specific date and time, or the charge for the additional service will be refunded.

Essentially, it’s the same as standard LTL shipping, but with shorter and more precise delivery schedules. LTL guaranteed shipping is considered an optional service, yet it’s a worthwhile investment to guarantee your shipment’s timetable.

When should you use guaranteed LTL shipping?

For LTL shippers, guaranteed shipping appears to be a better choice, but it isn’t always essential. In most cases, standard LTL shipments are not significantly delayed. Also, if you prepare ahead, you have a better chance of getting correct transit times. However, guaranteed might save you time and money in some circumstances.

In general, you should pay forguaranteed delivery when your supply chain timetable is critical. When a customer, recipient, or retailer requires freight to arrive at a specific time, it is preferable to use the extra service. It’s also a valid option for shippers with essential LTL shipments that must arrive on schedule.

Guaranteed LTL shipment can give you extra peace of mind in a variety of situations where on-time delivery is important such as:

• When your customer needs just-in-time (JIT) delivery
• When your delivery is required for new construction
• When your shipment is traveling overseas
• When other shipping activities rely on on-time delivery of your goods
• When you ship to retailers with rigid delivery windows

Things to Know About Guaranteed LTL Shipping

There are a few things to consider while determining whether or not to employ guaranteed LTL shipping. First, guaranteed LTL shipments are only available during business hours on business days; this meansthat your shipment may not be available on a weekend or holiday. If you’re unsure whether a particular date is a holiday, double-check ahead of time to avoid any confusion. Second, not all types of deliveries are covered by guarantees.

Guaranteed vs. Expedited

Guaranteeing a package is not the same as expediting it. Guaranteed shipments have the same number of transit days as a standard LTL shipment’s anticipated transit time. The term “expedited shipment” refers to a shipment that has been paid extra to arrive faster than the regular transportation period.