Courier For Large Items Australia: How to Ship Large & Heavy Items

21st August 2020, 10:10am in Shipping Advice by Cassie Puah

No matter the size, you’ll save time and money on large parcel delivery when you book with Interparcel. Our platform is equipped to handle bulky gym equipment and other bulky items, ensuring your large shipments are managed with care.

We have over 15 years of experience sending to 250 destinations and territories, and we’ve negotiated the best large parcel postage prices to keep delivery affordable! Our service allows you to compare prices and quotes from multiple couriers, ensuring you find the best courier service for large boxes and large packages at competitive prices.

In this article, we’ll outline everything you need to know about shipping heavy items, the top courier picks found on our platform, and how you can get a custom strategy created uniquely for your business. With our fast courier options, you can rest assured that your items, regardless of size, will be transported safely, keeping courier costs in check while shipping large items within Australia.

Why Shipping Large Packages Can be Challenging

Shipping heavy items presents unique challenges that can significantly impact eCommerce businesses. Understanding and preparing for these challenges will help streamline the shipping process and ensure that heavy items reach customers securely and efficiently. Here are some common difficulties:

High Shipping Costs: Heavier items often incur higher shipping fees due to the added weight and required specialised handling. Businesses must strategise to minimise these costs, which can affect overall profitability.
Packaging Complexity: Properly packaging heavy items requires durable, reinforced materials to withstand the rigours of shipping. This adds an extra layer of complexity and cost, particularly for irregularly shaped items that need custom packaging solutions.
Carrier Restrictions and Surcharges: Some courier services impose weight and size restrictions that can complicate logistics. Larger and heavier packages might also attract additional surcharges, making it essential to choose the right carrier.
Handling Risks: Heavier packages pose a higher risk of damage due to mishandling or insufficient packaging. Fragile contents need extra protection to withstand possible impacts during transit, especially when items require special handling.
Logistical Challenges: Shipping heavy goods may require specialised equipment or additional personnel, increasing lead times and causing logistical bottlenecks if not carefully planned. This could also create a need for alternative delivery methods or additional service fees.
Customer Expectations: Managing customer expectations becomes trickier with heavy shipments. Delays due to longer processing times or specialised handling can lead to customer dissatisfaction. Providing accurate and frequent shipment updates is crucial to maintaining trust.
Customs and Regulations: For international shipments, heavy items are often subjected to more rigorous customs checks and regulations, resulting in potential delays and added paperwork.

How to Pack Heavy and Large Items

If you want to ship bulky, large, and heavy items, there are different methods to consider depending on the size and shape of your parcels. For items below 25kg, it's recommended to use a double corrugated cardboard box, and for parcels over 25kg we recommend using a pallot. However, each method requires adequate packaging techniques to keep the items secure and safe for travel. Here's the steps to follow for each method.

Using a Cardboard Box

1. Size, Shape, Weight:

Ensure the box is appropriately sized for your oversized package.
Verify that the box is strong enough for durable protection during transit.
Your box should be slightly bigger than the size of your product in order to leave 3 - 5 cm (2 inches) between your product and the sides of the box.

2. Choosing the Right Material:

For heavy items (over 5kg), use a double or triple-walled corrugated box.
Opt for boxes with stitched or stapled seams, not glued seams.
Choose new boxes over old ones for better strength and weight support.

3. Internal Protection:

Pad the inside of the box with materials like packing peanuts, inflatable bags, crumpled paper, thermocol, or bubble wrap.
Aim to minimise movement within the box during transit.

4. Sealing the Package:

Once padded, seal the box with strong packing tape.
Avoid using masking tape; opt for duct tape or a similar strong adhesive.

Using a Pallet

It’s advised that for all items over 25 kg you use a Pallet, especially if you have multiple orders.

Pallets are not only a fast and straightforward solution for packing a large number of goods, but they also offer significant advantages in terms of cargo security and cost-effectiveness.

By stacking your regular boxes on the pallet, you ensure that your goods will always be transported in the correct orientation, preventing any confusion about the top and bottom of the load. This method protects your items from mechanical damage, weather conditions, and significantly reduces the risk of deformation and impacts from dropping, a common issue with goods shipped in cardboard boxes only.

Ensure you follow these steps when loading up your pallet.

1. Select the Correct Pallet

Ensure the pallet is large and sturdy enough for your shipment, with no broken boards or protruding nails.

2. Stack Items Carefully

Use new, strong cartons.
Close and seal cartons securely.
Stack boxes in aligned columns.
Keep boxes within pallet edges and the top layer flat.

3. Secure Your Shipment to the Pallet

Wrap goods with quality stretch wrap (at least five revolutions).
Include wrap around the top and bottom, adding corner boards and banding for stability.
Place cardboard layers between freight layers.

4. Label Your Shipment

Attach address labels on each side and top of every pallet.
Include complete delivery information and contact numbers.
Securely attach any shipping labels specific to your pallet service.

5. Collection of Your Pallet

Ensure large trucks can access your premises for collection.
Complete all packaging and labeling before the driver arrives to avoid delays and extra costs.

Shipping Insurance Details

When sending oversized packages of substantial value, covering the cost of loss or damage is essential. Consider getting a transit warranty to cover the potential damage of your products. Interparcel provides a free transit warranty of up to $100. For higher value items, additional cover is available and is calculated at 2% of the item value, up to a maximum of $2,000. If your products exceed this value, consider getting a third-party warranty before using our platform.

Be aware that the authority to leave services is excluded. Also if your product is on the prohibited items and restricted list, it will not be covered by our transit warranty.

Examples Of Packing Large & Heavy Items

How to Ship Bulky Gym Equipment

If you want to ship bulky, large, and heavy items, there are different methods to consider depending on the size and shape of your parcels. For items below 25kg, it's recommended to use a double corrugated cardboard box, and for parcels over 25kg we recommend using a pallot. However, each method requires adequate packaging to keep the items secure and safe for travel. Here's the steps to follow for each method.

How To Ship Gym Equipment

Disassemble the equipment into smaller parts if possible.
Organize the pieces carefully, keeping screws, bolts, and other small parts in clearly labeled bags.
Wrap each disassembled piece in protective material like bubble wrap or foam sheets.
Secure the wrapping with tape or shrink wrap. Place the pram inside a double-corrugated cardboard box.
Boxing: Use sturdy, reinforced boxes, ideally double-walled, for heavy equipment.
Palletising: Consider palletizing extremely bulky or heavy pieces.
Add padding at the bottom, between layers, and at the top to prevent movement.
Fill gaps in boxes with foam or packing peanuts.

How to Ship a Bike

Use a double-corrugated cardboard box to protect the bike.
Dismantle all parts that are detachable (saddle, pedals, wheels, handlebars).
Deflate each wheel.
Wrap all loose parts in protective material.
Place each item inside your box.
Fill the space in the box with protective materials.
Tape the box closed and seal all edges.

How to Ship a Fishing Rod

Dismantle the fishing rod and make sure it's as short as it can be.
Wrap each part separately in protective materials.
Place the elements into a cardboard box or tube.
Pad any empty space inside the box with protective materials to minimise movement.
Tape the box up to secure the fishing rod inside.

Some Top Couriers For Heavy Parcels

When it comes to shipping heavy items, choosing the right courier is crucial for ensuring your parcels are delivered efficiently, safely, and at a reasonable cost. Here are some of the best choices for shipping heavy items, each offering unique advantages to meet your specific needs.

Aramex: Previously known as Fastway Couriers, is a well-regarded option for shipping heavy items and provides competitive rates.
CourierPlease: Another cost-effective option, known for its efficient and affordable delivery services.
TNT: A widely known and premium shipping service excellent for shipping heavy and oversized items.
StarTrack: Owned by Australia Post, they're another premium service renowned for its reliability and efficiency in handling heavy items.
Hunter Express: Specialises in road freight and is well-known for its cost-effective solutions for heavy items, especially for items 25kg or more.

What are the Benefits of Shipping Heavy Items with Interparcel?

Shipping heavy items can be a significant challenge for small to medium-sized businesses, often leading to high costs and logistical headaches. Interparcel transforms this daunting task into a streamlined, cost-effective process. Here’s how:

Cost-Effective Pricing:
Interparcel acts as a courier aggregator, which means we negotiate cheaper rates with individual couriers on your behalf. This unique position allows us to offer small and medium-sized businesses the competitive rates typically reserved for large enterprises with high shipping volumes. Additionally, our diverse range of courier partners ensures that you can choose the best shipping solutions tailored to your specific business needs without the hassle of managing multiple accounts.
Seamless eCommerce Integration:
Interparcel integrates directly with your eCommerce platforms, allowing you to connect all your online stores to our centralised platform. This integration means that orders from different eCommerce sites are automatically populated in our system, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors. This seamless integration saves time and simplifies the shipping process for heavy items, which often require more detailed information and handling instructions.
Dedicated Customer Service Team:
Our customer service team maintains a direct line of communication with couriers, enhancing our ability to quickly address and resolve any queries or issues that arise. This direct communication streamlines interactions and provides faster resolutions than businesses might achieve on their own. This service is invaluable when shipping heavy items that may require special handling or encounter unique challenges during transit.
Advanced Automation Tools:
Our sophisticated automation tools significantly reduce the time it takes to fulfill shipping orders—by up to 85%. These tools automate various steps in the shipping process, from label printing to scheduling pickups, making it easier and quicker to manage and dispatch heavy items.
Customisable Branded Tracking Portal:
Interparcel provides a free branded tracking portal that can be customised with your logo and website colors. This personalisation not only enhances your brand’s presence but also creates opportunities for additional revenue through upsell offers displayed on the tracking page. The branded tracking experience not only reassures customers about their shipment’s status but also enhances their overall post-purchase experience.
Proactive SMS/Notifications:
We understand the importance of keeping your customers informed. Our system sends automated SMS messages and notifications to update customers at every step of the shipping journey. These updates build trust and transparency, key factors in customer satisfaction and loyalty, especially when dealing with the complexities of shipping heavy items.

Ready To Try The Platform?

Reading about the benefits of interparcel can only take you so far! The next step is to create a free account and try the platform out for yourself. We invite you to create a free account and start integrating our solutions into your business today. It's simple, quick, and requires no upfront commitments. Plus you can compare all the different quotes from our rage of couriers. And to top it off, all you pay for are the shipping costs!

If you're looking for a more tailored approach, why not book a call with one of our shipping experts? Our team is ready to work with you to develop a a customised shipping strategy that meets your unique business needs. Whether you're dealing with heavy items, require specific courier insights, or need help optimising your logistics, our experts are here to guide you every step of the way.

Don't let complex shipping needs slow down your business growth. Join Interparcel and discover how easy and efficient shipping can be.