Plus Relocation

How can my company provide cost-effective options for small HHG shipments?

Smaller household goods shipments are becoming increasingly popular in the relocation industry. Senior Global Supply Chain Specialist Chris Winningham looks at their benefits in this Relo Tip Tuesday.

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Complete transcript: “Hi, I’m Chris Winningham, and welcome to Relo Tip Tuesday. Today, I’m going to answer the question, ‘How can my company provide cost-effective options for small household goods shipments?’

First, it’s important to know that the typical size of a household goods shipment is shrinking year over year, and we expect this trend to continue. That’s because the workforce is becoming more mobile in general, and those on the move are becoming less attached to their belongings — and can easily buy replacements. At the same time, we have seen traditional domestic van lines increase both pricing and transit times for smaller shipments. These changes impact not only your overall household goods budget, but your temporary housing spend as well due to the longer transit times.

So what can you do to manage smaller household goods shipments and keep costs under control?
Thankfully, there are suppliers and programs available specifically for small shipments, which generally fall into the range of 1,000 to 5,000 pounds. These solutions often cost the same or less than traditional van line shipments, and offer many benefits to your company and your employees, including:

– Shipments delivered via direct and expedited carriers. On average, you’re looking at about 2 weeks from house to house cross country.

– Dedicated crews at both pickup and delivery locations, with consistent service expectations for each.

– Dedicated pickup and delivery dates, with no spread of days where your employees are waiting and wondering when a driver will come to their home. This is a great way to reduce stress and enhance the overall experience for your relocating employees!

– Reduced storage in transit costs because there are no handling in and out or re-delivery fees, as there would be with a traditional van line shipment.

In addition, many college grads and new hires have only a few boxes or items to be shipped. These micro shipments of under 1,000 pounds can be transported with specialty firms in a much more cost effective and efficient manner. There are even options for shipping only one or two specialty items such as a bike or electronics.

To learn more about small and micro shipment options that might be available to your program, consider reaching out to a relocation management company to discuss what’s possible. Thanks for watching!”