Ground Service

One of the most common types of shipping methods is ground service. Ground service provides shipment of items from one place to another using only ground transportation. As a contrast to overnight or air shipment ground service usually refers to shipments that are made over land by truck. The items usually take longer to deliver by truck but are less expensive to deliver.

Ground service is most often used for large items that would be too large, bulky or heavy to put on an airplane. For example, furniture is typically shipped using ground service. The furniture may be shipped from a central warehouse by truck. Ground service trucks of various sizes are used depending on the type of delivery and the location that the delivery is going to.

If the building has a dock area then a large truck can be used to delivery equipment to the location. Ground service can include several trucks or just one. The items may be loaded onto one type of truck and then put onto a larger truck for be taken longer distances. Usually many different shipments are transported at one time.

Ground service is one of the less expensive ways to get items from one place to another. Since air travel is not needed the items are taken via truck. The costs for ground service usually are determined based on variables such as package size and weight. Another determining factor is the distance that the package needs to travel. Longer distances cost more than shorter distances.

Ground service usually takes longer to arrive at a destination depending on how far the truck needs to travel. Typically you can expect items to arrive in five to ten days. If faster service is needed air transport is usually the only other option. This can be quite expensive if large items need to be transported.