Transporting something from Point A to Point B should be a straightforward task, right? Well, for some of us, booking a courier can be overwhelming because there are so many options, from your local courier to a company that operates on an international scale.

Major companies, like Purolator, UPS, and FedEx, have their benefits, like automated systems and a lot of manpower. However, there are some ways that they just can’t compete with local couriers. We have nine comparisons between the small and big guys that are going to convince you to choose local for your next delivery.

#1 Specialized Shipping

A local courier, like ‘MC’ Dispatch, can provide specialized shipping and packaging solutions that aren't offered by major companies. Although the big couriers have options for “dangerous goods” or “special handling,” their business models aren’t equipped to easily handle industry-specific requirements. Any unique needs will be difficult to secure and likely have a sizeable price tag attached.

However, with a local courier company, you’ll be able to request specialized shipping options for a reasonable cost. You’ll also be able to talk directly to your service coordinator to make sure they fully understand your requirements so that you can be sure your shipment is in safe hands.

‘MC’ Dispatch, your local courier, will be able to provide specialized shipping options, including:

• Non-carpeted, sanitary, and low-temperature vehicles for pharmaceutical or medical deliveries.
• Secure and confidential options for legal documents & packages.
• Refrigerated or frozen storage for food and beverages.
• Chilled delivery for floral arrangements.

A local courier is solution-minded and willing to try new things to fit your unique needs. If it hasn’t been done before, we can work together to make sure your shipment arrives safely and to code.

Do you need a specialized shipment? ‘MC’ Dispatch has you covered! Check out our services to find the best fit for your business.

#2 Comparable Pricing

Oftentimes, you’ll find that a local courier company will have more affordable pricing than large competitors, like Purolator. The major reason for this is that a small business will have fewer operating costs to keep doors open. Local operations require less space for offices & warehouses, a smaller fuel budget (because less distance is covered), and fewer administrative positions throughout the company. All of this adds up to less strain on your budget.

Additionally, a local courier can work with you to adjust costs based on your needs. We’ll assess what’s a realistic and fair price for your requested freight. Larger companies aren’t going to be able to give you special pricing that is customized to your order.

‘MC’ Dispatch is completely transparent about our service pricing. Visit our pricing page to see an outline of our costs for city-wide, province-wide, and skid deliveries.

#3 Real-Time Tracking

One of the primary benefits of a local courier company, like ‘MC’ Dispatch, is real-time tracking. After placing an order, clients will be given a small time frame, sometimes even exact times, of when their package will be picked up and when it will be delivered. ‘MC’ Dispatch has software that allows our team to trace the driver with GPS tracking. 

Larger courier companies can’t give clients that same precision. Most major shippers only provide updates by city, facility, or distribution centre… and they give a large window of when to expect a package (sometimes that large window spans entire days or weeks).

One of the reasons that a smaller-scale, local courier company can give you more precise updates than a major corporation is because of the way shipments are handled. The big couriers will jampack entire full-load truckloads with multiple orders—meaning a driver has a ton of work ahead of them.

Local couriers organize packages by area and divide the work so that all packages are delivered efficiently. ‘MC’ Dispatch is equipped to handle both full truckloads and less-than-loads as required which gives your shipment the flexibility it deserves.

Want to learn more about our one-of-a-kind software? Find out everything you need to know here.

#4 Direct & Clear Communication

Forget 1-800 numbers. If you need to get in touch with a local courier company, you’ll be able to connect with a real-life person almost immediately. You’ll be dialling a phone number with the same area code as your own number, so you can be sure you’re talking to someone in the same province (maybe even city) as you.

Major companies will have a long process of pressing “1,” “2,” “3,” or “4” to try to get through to a human being. Your call is likely directed to a major call centre by a customer service representative who isn’t familiar with your shipment, whereas a local courier company can answer the phone almost immediately and bring up your tracking number. 

Often, when you contact one of the big courier companies, the customer service representative won’t be legally allowed to directly contact the driver responsible for your package. They will only be able to communicate through an internal system or app that the driver needs to provide status updates. Although this approach has its advantages, its major downfall is that direct and quick communication is lost.

This direct communication is huge when it comes to retrieving a status update on your package, especially if that package has a high priority. Not only that, but the customer service representative will likely know the driver, meaning there is a real relationship you can count on to find out all the information you need.

We’re always available to chat about your courier needs! Get in touch with a REAL person for your estimated quote and pickup time.

#5 Complex vs. Simplified Supply Chain

If you’re a business owner, you know how frustrating it can be to wait on a piece of the puzzle to arrive. Large courier companies aren’t concerned about your supply chain; their focus is on getting the job done in a way that works for their schedule while making the most money.

Local courier companies understand the importance of having a shipment arrive on-time for your operations to keep moving forward. In fact, we depend on it for reliable, steady work! That’s why we want to help you simplify your supply chain.

A local courier will be able to get your raw materials or final product travelling from one destination to the next, without several reroutes in between. You never need to worry about a small business holding onto your product in a distribution centre, waiting for the next shipment out.

If your business is built on e-commerce, a same-day local courier is a fantastic option for clients in your area. With giants like Amazon promising 1- to 2-day delivery, consumers are expecting same-day delivery options from small, independent businesses. Align yourself with a trustworthy courier to meet those expectations.

Talk to our team about scheduled deliveries if you have a product that needs to move at the same time every day or week. You can count on us to show up and get your clients’ purchases in their hands on the same day.

#6 “Local” Means Area Experts

The team at ‘MC’ Dispatch prides itself on fostering a workplace where people want to stay for the long haul. We have drivers who have been working with us for decades, and they’re experts when it comes to the lay of the land.

This retention means that they get more and more acquainted with your city and province with each delivery. They also pass along that expertise to any new drivers welcomed to the team as we grow. Experienced and local drivers are also able to handle any curve balls that interfere with a route, such as construction, road closures, weather, and accidents. Local drivers can find detours more easily than a driver unfamiliar with the area.

The effects of the pandemic meant that major companies, like FedEx, have struggled with labour shortages and high employee turnover in recent months. This means that packages are delivered more slowly and often must be rerouted (for example, in September 2021 FedEx was rerouting 600,000 packages a day—wow!).

Local courier companies won’t bite off more than they can chew, so you can be sure your package will be delivered how and when it was said it would be.

‘MC’ Dispatch serves the Edmonton and Calgary areas! Reach out to get your quote today.

#7 Your Priority is Our Priority

With a major courier service, thousands of packages are marked as “high priority” every day, but a local courier will be able to prioritize packages based on the actual needs of each client. More importantly, a small courier can meet those needs. Most major companies can’t accommodate when a package needs to be delivered on the same day.

‘MC’ Dispatch and other local courier companies specialize in same-day services. Our business model is set up to get city-wide deliveries completed within 4 hours or less, from the time the order is placed to the time the package reaches its destination. This is possible through ‘MC’ Dispatch’s years of expertise, familiarity with the Alberta region, and agility when it comes to prioritization.

For extremely urgent packages, our team offers a point-to-point service that means your package will be delivered as soon as possible. This is not a service that’s offered through big couriers, because they’re simply not built in a way to accommodate designating a driver who postpones other priorities for one shipment.

Have a high-urgency shipment? We can help with that. Fill out our form to get your quote.

#8 Accountability & Reliability

A large courier company works with hundreds of thousands of packages every single day and they’re bound to misplace or ruin a few packages along the way. That small percentage means that big companies don’t have as much pressure to keep themselves accountable; their client’s packages are just a tracking number to them.

A local courier company works with a considerably smaller number of packages each day, and they need to care about every single box and envelope because the stakes are higher. Even one misdirected or damaged package can harm a small courier’s reputation in a big way, so you can be sure they’re putting care into each delivery.

Courier services like ‘MC’ Dispatch keep themselves accountable by ensuring we do exactly what we say we’ll do: Deliver your package on time and in the same state we picked it up. A local courier like ‘MC’ Dispatch won’t make a commitment that they can’t keep.

Don’t just take it from us. Read countless 5-star reviews from our satisfied customers.

#9 Proudly Albertan

And the final reason you should choose a local courier company is that you’ll be supporting a local business. We have our roots in Alberta and we make sure to put most of our energy and care into our home.

If the past couple years have taught us anything, it’s that it’s important to support the businesses closest to our home. By doing so, we support our local economy and ensure a healthy cycle of money throughout our communities. A local business puts its money back into its hard working employees, whereas a large company just keeps cushioning the chief officers’ wallets.

To Sum Up

Don’t get us wrong, we know that big, international courier services have their perks, but they can’t shine a light when it comes to courier services that are focused on local shipments.

Small businesses, like ‘MC’ Dispatch, have the upper hand for regional deliveries for a multitude of reasons, including:

1. Specialized shipping for your pharmaceutical, legal, or food requirements.
2. Competitive and fair pricing.
3. Transparent and clear pick-up & drop-off times (and same-day delivery!).
4. Consistent communication with real people who are connected to your order.
5. Simplified processes for your supply chain.
6. Experts who know how to navigate your area.
7. Shipments that are properly prioritized.
8. A courier company that cares, so you can be sure you’re working with an accountable and reliable service.

Trust us to be your first choice for all your local deliveries! Call ‘MC’ Dispatch for immediate help.