At Hot Shot Delivery, we understand that shipping legal documents can represent a very large investment to a company. Depending on why the documents are being shipped, the degree of importance which is assigned to security might vary. For instance, some basic legal contracts which are simply replicas of a standard contract that a company sends out regularly, might not warrant increased security. Documents which are involved in large corporate acquisitions though, or which contain production information which needs to remain confidential within the company, are certainly worthy of any increased security measures which might be available from the courier industry.

There are two things that need to be protected against when shipping legal documents. The first is anything which could cause these documents to become lost, or to be delivered to the wrong address. The second is anything which would allow the information contained in the documents to get exposed to the wrong eyes. Luckily, both of these problems can be countered with the same security measures.

By using an in hand courier option, you know that your legal documents are going to be afforded the highest level of security available. By ensuring that a single, unbroken chain of custody is enforced on the documents, you know that you are getting a secure delivery of your package. Primarily, this is because this model of delivery creates accountability. There are no hand offs or transfers where documents can get lost, and when only one set of eyes sees the documents, confidentiality can be assured. If you need to deliver highly sensitive or valuable legal documents across the city or the world, give Hot Shot Delivery a call at 866-261-3184 or 713-869-7575. We have the resources to deliver your shipments safely and securely.

At Hot Shot, we provide customers with the highest possible guarantee that their delivery needs will always be met thanks to the technology that we utilize every day. The best way of demonstrating this is in the real world results that we have achieved for our clients.

If you visit the courier page of the Hot Shot website, you can read a case study of one of our clients, an architectural firm. They had been suffering through using a provider who was late for pickups, who lost orders, and who had terrible problems coordinating the different aspects of their service with the requirements of the architectural firm.

Not so once they turned to Hot Shot. By using the technology available through us, they are able to securely place their orders online. These orders are processed, and through the vast network of available couriers there is always a driver ready to pick up their order on time, every time. Once their order is picked up, they can track it throughout its delivery, reassuring themselves that it is progressing to its delivery point on time.

This firm was suffering because their business needed a same day courier that could provide them with a reliable and easy to use service, and they just couldn’t find one. Hot Shot addressed that need. It is through the use of technology, software, and a problem solving approach that Hot Shot is able to meet the delivery needs of our clients. Our clients, just like the architectural firm outlined in the case study, are able to move forward to meet their own clients’ needs with confidence knowing that they have the resource that Hot Shot provides, backing up their work. If your company is unsatisfied with its current same day delivery solution, call Hot Shot Delivery to see what we can offer you instead.

Could this have been avoided? Absolutely. There are so many examples of problems with final destination (AKA: Last Mile) delivery. Freight, perishables, pallets, exhibits and tons of other deliveries get stuck somewhere in the middle and customers are left wondering. It’s amazing how things seem to travel seamlessly from one corner of the US to the other, but getting your freight off of the truck in the middle of the day on a crowded street with no parking can be close to performing a miracle. Or worse, wondering if your time-sensitive trade show booth was accidentally left on the dock the day your convention is starting.

Truck At Empty Dock

Now the concept of delivering freight may seem simple, but trust me, it CAN have its challenges. For example, when a truck comes in to a city like mine (Houston, TX), the delivery can be extremely tough. Getting through the traffic congestion and jams, or moving in and around the downtown area can be very tricky. Dock appointments can also prove to be a chore, particularly if the freight is going to a convention center. All of these challenges can end up with your freight stranded on a truck. So, what’s the solution? This is where it gets a bit more simple…find a last mile provider and transfer the load. What is a last mile provider? A last mile provider is a delivery service that specializes in the final leg of a delivery. They should offer a climate-controlled warehouse along with the proper equipment to handle a freight transfer.

This is an example of one service that my company, Hot Shot Delivery, handles on a daily basis. Our Nationwide Freight Service along with our in-city on-demand courier service can handle the process of unloading those huge 52 Foot 18-wheelers full of deliveries. Once unloaded,  we split them up between several smaller trucks, cargo vans and cars who can then cut the delivery time down by huge amounts. This gets the freight to the customer sooner, gets the 18-Wheeler back on the road to pick up more long-haul deliveries and when it’s all done – both sides of the equation have saved time, money and additional resources. Trust me, when you see long-distance trucking companies have to turn down deliveries because their trucks are sitting idle at a dock waiting to be unloaded, you would likely agree with the value of a last-mile delivery provider.

In the spirit of ribs, I’ll give you an example. We recently had a truck with 12 pallets of BBQ Spice Rub come in to town and have difficulties making their final delivery. Not only was the delivery point unable to unload the product (no loading dock and no forklift), but the truck would not even fit in the downtown area. The truck re-routed and came to our facility where we unloaded the product and re-loaded it on to a straight truck that had a lift gate. The delivery was done within an hour after we received the freight and the large truck went on to pick up his next load. The fee we charged was so much less than the charge resulting from the amount of hours the driver would have used on his log that we actually saved the customer money. And, the large truck driver was able to get halfway to his next destination in the time we saved him.

This service is available in almost every city. So, if you have to ship large items across the country, be sure to ask your delivery provider how they will be handling the last-mile delivery aspects. Because waiting around for the freight that is obviously stranded somewhere is not a good way to spend your day. If you need help with this or if you just want a great recipe for some BBQ’d ribs – don’t hesitate to contact me.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Everyday in markets across the country my nationwide logistics company, Hot Shot Logistics, ensures that these restaurant owners are getting the most time to place the order and still get their food in time for the dinner rush that evening. We manage and coordinate the final delivery to their restaurant door.

Here is how it works: As a restaurant approaches a sell-out of a particular item, they simply place the order and within a few hours, it has been flown in at the peak of freshness and Hot Shot Logistics handles it from there. Or, suppose the chef hears of a recent catch that had an abundance of a particular type of fish. The chef has a great recipe that would compliment this fish. That morning, the order is placed, the fish is flown in and today’s special is printed on the menu as the fish are being unloaded. Talk about Fresh! The Last Mile Solution definitely tastes good.

Restaurant owners like this process because it keeps their product at it’s freshest, keeps them from wasting food due to over-ordering and can keep them from running an unprofitable special.

I use the restaurant business as an example, but this Last Mile Delivery option can be utilized by many businesses in multiple industries. Expedited shipping does not have to be more costly than overnight shipping. In fact, a faster supply chain often means more profit and more time for everyone.

If you want to get more information on how this process may work for you, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below and I’ll respond.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Here is the deal…as much as I love the advancements in technology that allow me to have convenient, short conversations via email or text message, I do think these “conveniences” have created a major setback in how people communicate with other people. Instead of hand written letters, phone calls or in person meetings, we now have emails, text messages and web conferencing. In theory, we would never have to actually see or talk to our customers again and I think this is unfortunate.

Companies that are built around providing a service should rely on their customer service abilities to keep customers, solve problems and anticipate issues. But, as I’ve seen over the last few years, many companies do not make customer service their priority. In fact, as the state of the economy gets worse, the level of customer service does too. I would think it would be the opposite. Let’s ensure that we keep our current customers happy and focus on their needs instead of focusing on dropping prices to get new business, more lay-offs, under-staffing and instilling fear of unemployment in every front-line employee that works for you.

At Hot Shot Delivery, my family’s Houston Courier Service, we hand-write letters to our customers and mail them, not email them. We schedule face-to-face meetings with our customers to make sure that they are satisfied with our services. I take time to answer calls in the call center to let them know that even the top-level management cares about their needs. Delivering donuts to a long-time customer along with their package is a great way to show them that you care and that you want to ensure their satisfaction. These little things don’t take much time out of my day and they do wonders for the mindset of my employees, the impressions of my customers and not to mention, my personal satisfaction.

At Hot Shot Delivery, our motto is “Whatever It Takes” and we are constantly working to make sure we deliver on our promise. On time delivery percentages, great technology for ordering, tracking and reporting and a fleet of fantastic drivers help us to get the job done, but the customer service we provide keeps them coming back. Something to think about…

Let the book writing begin! If you have any great ideas for customer service tactics, let’s share them with the world together.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Let me explain…as I discussed last week, I decided a long time ago to hire a lawn service so that my weekends are spent with my family vs. doing the yard. However, it was not as simple as that. There are tons of lawn services that are available in my neighborhood. So, I had figured out the Price vs. Cost concept in my head, but was now on to Price Vs. Value.

Price Vs. Value At Home

I chose my lawn service for many reasons that had nothing to do with how much they cost. They were not the cheapest of the ones that I was considering, but I know that you get what you pay for in almost every walk of life. I needed a lawn service that would show up as scheduled, do a thorough and professional job with my yard, use updated equipment, friendly and trustworthy employees, have flexible payment methods and were prepared to make amends when problems occurred. I’m not naive to think that problems won’t occur at times, but a company that can make things right has value that can not be expressed in dollars and cents.

This is what I mean by Price vs. Value. Let’s say that I went for the cheapest option for lawn care. I have no guarantees that the company will be around in 6 months and then I’m right back looking for a new provider. Also, I have no idea if they can trust their employees, so how do I trust them when they are around my home and my family once a week? These are just a few concerns that I considered when looking for the best company, not the cheapest company. The VALUE of a good provider, outweighs the few additional dollars that I pay per month.

Price Vs. Value At Work

I see this concept all of the time with my Houston Courier Service. It seems like every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks they can start a courier service. In one year, I have witnessed the coming and going of over 20 different small Houston Courier Services. My courier company has been around for over 30 years and I still get pulled in to price wars with fly-by-night services that will likely shut their doors within a month.

Our business is very different than most Houston Couriers. We don’t sell on Price, we sell on Value. We have spent thousands of dollars to have the most updated technology that provides real time tracking of packages, online order entry and reporting.  We are fully staffed to prevent long hold times on the phone and we train our customer service department to treat customers with the utmost respect. We have a 99% on-time delivery percentage and don’t over-promise to our customers. We can stock inventory in one of our several distribution warehouses across the city. We are not a company that wants to compete on Price. Surprisingly enough though, our bids are usually not very far off from the cheapest/unreliable provider’s bid.

In this economic climate, it makes sense to watch your spending and cut back in areas where possible. But, again, make sure you are watching the Price Vs. Cost and the Price Vs. Value. You could be stuck doing everything on your own or working with people you can’t rely on. That’s the last thing you need right now.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Last week I listed 5 areas of importance regarding choosing a courier service provider. I decided to give a few basic questions that you can ask to determine if your potential courier service meets the 5 point checklist. As a reminder, the 5 point checklist includes: Customization, Reliability, Accessibility, Technology and Security. So, please feel free to use these questions when evaluating your potential courier service:

• What main service does the company specialize in?
• How long have they been in business?
• Do the delivery messengers wear uniforms?
• Are the delivery drivers insured?
• Were background checks performed on personnel handling packages?
• What type of package tracking do they provide?
• Is it convenient to work with them? Is their website user-friendly with online ordering, tracking and reporting?
• Will you receive detailed invoices that are easy to read and understand?
• Is the courier company OSHA certified?
• How large is the staff and what hours of the day are the phones answered?
• What is their On-Time delivery percentage?

These questions will give you an idea of how the courier service runs their business and how it will affect your business. Having a reputable company with an expertise in courier deliveries is crucial. Otherwise, your run the risk of having your extremely time-sensitive deliveries show up late, damaged or not at all.

And remember, whether you intend it to be or not, the courier company you choose to deliver your packages is the face of your company to some of your most important clients. Make sure you choose carefully.

Until Next Time,

Eric Donaldson

]]> http://www.hotshot-delivery.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/28/more-courier-service-guidance/feed/ 0 http://www.hotshot-delivery.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/27/hello-world/ http://www.hotshot-delivery.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/27/hello-world/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:43:34 +0000 Eric Donaldson http://www.hotshot-delivery.com/blog/?p=1 Whether you are looking for a Houston Courier Service or a courier service anywhere throughout the US, the best way to begin is to know what you need to end up with. There are several areas that you need to consider and I have listed 5 of the most important ones below.

Customization

Courier services are skilled in delivering everything from legal documents to vital organs, so finding one that will fit your specific needs should not be too hard. Make sure the courier service that you are considering can customize a delivery solution that fits your needs. Each client is different and a courier service worth their salt can understand the big picture and create a plan that grows with you.

Reliability

This is a big one. Imagine working all night on a project only to have it delivered to your client late because the courier service did not show up on time. This happens all of the time with inexperienced courier companies. Before you trust them with your important packages, get references, ask for their on-time delivery percentages and find out how long they have been in business. These are all a good indicator of reliability. Now, don’t get me wrong – sometimes things happen that can’t be controlled (traffic back-ups, accidents, weather, etc…), but on-time delivery percentages should be over 90% or you need to keep looking.

Accessibility

You need people to answer the phone and give you up to date information on your packages. That might sound like a simple request but you would be surprised how many of the Houston courier service companies simply don’t staff that area of their business. I guess they hope that you will place your order and never need any help. Be sure that your courier service of choice has a large staff, normal operating hours and online tracking for package status. These are a must and any good courier service will have it.

Technology

This area can save you and your company many headaches when used properly. Make sure that you can place and track your courier orders online. In fact, this is one of the largest priorities at Hot Shot Delivery. We are constantly working with our technology partners to ensure we offer our Houston courier customers the latest in delivery technology. We have a one-click ordering feature on our website that will let you submit delivery orders in seconds, print delivery tickets & labels on the fly, track courier orders in real time and run various cost reports specific to your preference for any date range.

Security

It’s important to know that the company you trust with your important packages is doing its job when it comes to security. Background checks on drivers and personnel that represent their company should always be a requirement. Also, make sure your potential courier service operates with licenses, are compliant with occupational safety & health guidelines and have current insurance.

Notice we didn’t talk about cost. Because we all know that you get what you pay for. Be sure to pick a courier service based on benefits and then weigh the cost after you have narrowed down your options.

Most of the time, the great providers who you can rely on are not much more than the shady providers with no technology or real experience. So, do your homework.

Are there some other areas that are important to you? I’d love to learn more about what is important to courier service customers.

Until Next Time,

Eric Donaldson