Shipping requires many rules and regulations that vary according to the things which are being shipped and the destination of the product (where you want to send the product). Other things, unlike liquids, can be transported or shipped easily, but when it comes to liquids, it is a hard task to ship them, whether it is through road, air, or sea. In this article, all the rules, regulations, and methods of shipping liquids have been described. Let us know more detail about ‘How To Ship Liquids?’.
How To Ship Liquids?
When a person needs to ship liquids domestically, they can send those liquids which are inflammable, but while shipping those liquid products that are flammable, one needs proper guidance because without that it may create a dangerous situation for the carriers.
When liquids are shipped internationally, it becomes a very hard situation because rules and regulations grow more. The few liquids that seem dangerous to the officials have been prohibited from being shipped internationally. These liquids are:
- Gasoline
- Alcohol contains perfumes.
- Nail polish
- Aerosol (by air is not allowed but can be shipped by sea or road).
Three things should be taken care of when shipping liquids: the type of liquid that needs to be shipped, the method of packaging that liquid, and the rules set by the shippers.
All of these methods are described below:
Things to take care of while shipping:
While shipping any liquid, you need to take care of their behavior. Whether they will spill or not during transportation, will those liquids cause any danger to the one who is carrying them, and the most important thing to take care of is whether that liquid is flammable or not. Flammable liquids are not allowed to get shipped.
Liquids that are allowed for shipment:
- Juices
- Soft drinks
- Perfumes
- Oils
- Soaps
- Shampoos
- Soups
- Water
Liquids that can be shipped according to the quantity:
- Paints
- Sprays
- Rubbing alcohol
- Can with hazelnuts
- Syrups
Methods of packaging liquids for shipment:
When you are shipping a liquid, you need to keep in mind that the carrier of the shipment can face many problems like leakages, bursting of liquids from containers due to high temperatures or pressures, puncture of containers, and expansion of liquids. So to get rid of all these issues, you need a great packaging selection for your shipment, and for that, you need to understand the properties of liquid as well as packaging material.
The following points must be considered to choosing the right packaging for your shipment:
- If your liquid is for human consumption, like beverages, water, juices, etc., it must be packaged in safe boxes of plastic or cardboard.
- Your liquid must not be in those containers which are breakable. If your liquid is in glass, then it must be packaged in anything else. That is to keep the liquid-containing containers in a safe place.
- Do not ship those liquids which can cause the carrier to get into trouble. Those liquids include corrosive elements, flammable elements, etc.
- The liquid must not be too sensitive so that it can also bear intense temperature and pressure conditions.
- The liquid must not be too much in quantity. Because the likelihood of trouble increases as there is more liquid.
All of these issues can be solved by using the best packaging products such as watertight containers, cardboard boxes, paddings, and sturdy bottles. Liquids like soft drinks should be kept in coolers or containers that are safe to keep bottles in.
Shipping carriers:
There are specific rules and regulations set by the shipping carriers that ship the products internationally. Not just international shipping, but even domestic shipping has some rules that need to be followed by the people who are shipping their products.
The following shipping organizations are working to make the experience better for customers:
- USPS
- FedEx
- UPS
USPS Shipping:
USPS provides the best and most affordable shipping opportunities to customers by not charging extra amounts for shipping liquids. It also delivers products in less time as compared to other shipping organizations. USPS is providing three offers to its customers, which are as under:
- Priority mail (1-3 days)
- Priority mail express (1-2 days)
- USPS retail ground shipping (2–8 days)
These three (3) offers are based on delivery time.
USPS also has some restrictions, such as they do not allow alcoholic products to be transferred through its platform.
FedEx:
FedEx allows more shipments through its platform as compared to USPS. It only restricts a few things, such as flammable liquids, etc.
The offers provided by FedEx are based on the weightage of products as well as delivery time.
The offers based on weightage are given as under:
- Shipping is free for orders weighing less than 5 pounds.
- Freight shipping: Under 150 lbs.
The offers based on time of delivery are given as under:
- The day of shipping and delivery must be the same.
- Overnight shipping is an option.
UPS:
UPS has a website or cover page to guide its customers regarding the shipping rules and regulations for the shipment of alcohol. UPS provides its customers with variable shipment rates and delivery times.
Conclusion:
For shipping liquids, one needs to take care of the type of liquids and packaging techniques as well as the transportation or shipment method of the liquid, so following the tips and tricks provided in this article will help customers ship their liquid products properly without bearing any loss or hazardous situation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
- Can we ship alcohol internationally?
It requires some rules and regulations for shipping alcohol, so with the correct packaging method and rules and regulations set byshipping company, alcohol can be shipped.
- Every shipping company allows liquids to get shipped?
Not every company but a few allow liquids to get shipped with strict rules and regulations.
