When you think about shipping a package or letter, whether you’re on the sending or receiving end, interesting is probably not the first word that comes to mind. What’s inside the package might be interesting, but the actual shipping of it isn’t…right? We can’t answer that question for you, but you might be surprised to learn that the shipping industry is more interesting than you think. Check out these shipping facts, and decide for yourself!

Shipping & Delivery Facts

Shipping is one of the oldest industries in the world, dating back to centuries ago when seafarers traded a variety of everyday goods, such as food. 

As one of the leading forms of transportation, ocean shipping contributes to 90% of global trade.

Freight rates vary from state to state. This might seem random, but there are specific factors that contribute to the varying rates. Learn what impacts the freight rates of each state.

In 2020, over 20 million parcels were shipped in the United States. Worldwide, over 4,000 parcels were shipped every second.

Every single day, Amazon ships 1.6 million packages. This amounts to nearly 600 million packages each year.

There are an estimated 365,312 local couriers in the United States and 522,325 in the world.

Nearly 1.5 million people work in the Couriers & Local Delivery Services industry.

In 2020, over three billion packages were shipped between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States.

Maine receives the most First Class mail out of every state in the US. 

In 2022, the Couriers & Local Delivery Services industry is projected to increase 4.8%.

Americans receive an average of 21 packages annually. 

Nearly 40% of packages shipped in the United States travel over 350 miles. 

More than 70% of consumers say that convenience (77%) and free shipping (72%) are their top reasons to shop online. Fast shipping is a big deal for businesses.

Thanks to online shopping and speedy delivery services, receiving packages is second nature to most of us, but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of the shipping and delivery industry. With efficient routes and tracking systems in place, we can confidently ship items without worrying whether they will arrive at their destination on time or at all.

Courier Services in Northern California

Modern Express provides a variety of shipping services in Northern California, including same-day and overnight delivery. We have been serving local businesses since 1951, and we’d love to serve you as well. As the industry grows, so do we, and we understand that on-time delivery is more important than ever. Give our team a call any time day or night at (800) 400-RUSH, and a real person will answer the phone. We look forward to working with you!

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