At a late January RCD meeting, Dave Burr briefly reviewed the retail shipping industry. With global shipping volumes expected to hit record highs in 2026, the way we send and receive everything—from business documents to birthday gifts—has fundamentally changed. Read on for a summary of the key takeaways and "pro-tips" shared during the presentation to help you ship smarter and safer.

The New Face of Delivery

The era of the "big three" (FedEx, UPS, and USPS) owning every step of the journey is fading. We are seeing a massive shift toward final-mile specialists. These tech-driven companies often use contracted labor to get packages from local hubs to your doorstep. Don't be surprised if your next online order arrives in an unmarked vehicle; this "uber-ization" of delivery is the new standard for efficiency.

Reliability vs. Reality

Understanding the "on-time" gap is critical for time-sensitive shipments. While Ground shipping is cost-effective, it typically maintains a 90-95% on-time reliability rate. For mission-critical items, Express services are the gold standard, boasting a 99% success rate. However, remember the "Carrier’s Caveat": no company can guarantee 100% reliability. Nature, accidents, and global events happen, making a 24-hour buffer your best friend when shipping for a deadline.

Safe Shipping Strategies

• The Signature Advantage: For expensive items, the few extra dollars spent on "Signature Required" is the best insurance against "porch piracy," which is estimated to affect over 100 million packages this year.
• The "Fragile" Fallacy: Surprisingly, writing "Fragile" on a box can be a liability. Not only does it occasionally attract "rougher" handling or theft by signaling high-value contents, but some insurance providers may even deny claims if they feel the labeling made the package a target.
• The $300 Rule: Most carriers only cover up to $100 by default. If your item is worth $300 or more, always pay for Declared Value Coverage. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind in a high-theft environment.
• International Alert: Be wary of high-end international purchases. Returning a defective item to Europe or China can easily cost hundreds of dollars, often more than the item is worth.

Bonus: Other "Pro-Tips" for 2026 Shippers

Beyond the presentation, several other strategies have become "best practices" for savvy consumers today:

• The "Weight vs. Size" Trap: Carriers now use "Cubic Volume" to price packages. A large, light box usually costs more than a small, heavy one. Pro-Tip: Always use the smallest box possible to avoid "Dimensional Weight" surcharges.
• USPS for the "Last Mile" to Rural Areas: While UPS and FedEx are excellent for urban centers, they often hand off rural packages to the USPS or charge "Extended Area Surcharges." For remote addresses, starting with USPS Ground Advantage is often faster and cheaper.
• Reuse, but Remove: Reusing boxes is great for the environment, but old barcodes are a leading cause of "ghost packages" (items sent to the wrong state). Pro-Tip: Completely black out or peel off every single old label and barcode before shipping. Another issue with reused boxes is that a used corrugated box can lose up to 50% of its structural integrity compared to a new one. Always buy a new box and new packaging material when you ship valuable or fragile items.