In this month’s episode of Unboxing the Trends, Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer dive into the latest shifts in the shipping landscape—no tariff talk this time. From the rise of regional carriers to DHL’s B2C restrictions and changes at the USPS, it’s a carrier-heavy episode packed with actionable insights. Lori also previews her upcoming appearance at the National Postal Forum and speculates on the future of USPS leadership.

Alternative carriers have stepped up in a major way, delivering 44% more packages in 2024 than the previous year. Much of that volume shifted away from FedEx and UPS, with major retailers like Amazon and Walmart expanding their own delivery networks.

Lori emphasizes the importance of carrier diversification, saying, “We’re no longer in that era of just sticking with the big dogs.”

If you’ve been relying on a favorite carrier, it may be time to rethink your strategy—and even renegotiate your contracts.

DHL has temporarily paused cross-border B2C shipments over $800, citing customs-related complications. This change doesn’t impact B2B shipments, but small businesses shipping high-value items to customers directly could be caught off guard.

Lori urges businesses to stay proactive by diversifying cross-border options and staying connected with customs advisors and logistics consultants to avoid surprises.

With Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stepping down, the logistics world is waiting to see who will lead USPS next. Lori floats the idea of a possible announcement at the upcoming National Postal Forum.

Meanwhile, USPS has adjusted service standards: Rural Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail may now see an extra day in transit. If you serve rural customers, it’s worth reviewing your delivery timelines to ensure you’re still hitting SLAs.

• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn
• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
• Visit EasyPost’s website

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Lori Boyer sits down with Brandan Gale, CEO of Retail Shipping Associates (RSA) and Package Hub Business Centers. With decades of experience and 38 stores under his belt, Brandon shares how RSA helps small businesses succeed through training, resources, and a powerful sense of community. His big takeaway? Small retailers don’t have to go it alone!

Brandon’s success story started with a single store and grew into a network of nearly 40 locations—all because he listened closely to his customers and responded to their evolving needs. He shares how this same mindset is essential for retail store owners today.

“The most successful people love their customers and want to know everything they can know about them to fill their needs,” he says. Knowing their needs helps because, as he says, “[O]ne new idea, one new product, one new service, a different way to approach marketing, can change the entire trajectory of how you're making money.”

Being attuned to their community helps businesses stay both relevant and profitable.

RSA provides members with tools most independent operators wouldn’t be able to access on their own: certification training, in-person bootcamps, regulatory updates, business insurance programs, website templates, webinars, and exclusive discounts through vetted supplier partnerships.

“I’m a giant fan of overwhelming my customers with value,” Gale says. And the resources RSA provides are designed to take pressure off of owners wearing too many hats and help them shift from working in their business to working on it.

While RSA offers plenty of formal training, Gale emphasizes that peer-to-peer learning is just as powerful. Events like the RS Expo and regional bootcamps give store owners the chance to connect, share strategies, and learn from one another.

He loves talking to conference attendees about their experience at the conference. “They walk away with a renewed enthusiasm for this business because they talk to people that have figured it out,” Gale reports. Many longtime operators leave their first RSA event wondering how much more successful they could have been if they’d joined sooner.

• Connect with Brandon Gale on LinkedIn.
• Visit the Retail Shipping Associates website.
• Visit the Package Hub Business Centers website.

You probably know Maersk as a container shipping company, but the end-to-end logistics provider now has a new offering for parcel shipping: Maersk Parcel.

According to John Kruzan, this regional service is made up of a “pickup and delivery network that can move packages … at a very competitive rate, at a very competitive time in transit.”

Listen to learn what makes Maersk Parcel great for small businesses and how to get started.

John starts by describing the current state of the parcel shipping industry, particularly when it comes to large carriers. Simply put, “ We've got fees going up, but we've also got services going down.”

Recognizing that rising costs and declining service quality aren’t a good combination, Maersk had an idea: “ We could take a look at the market and … change it and elevate it a little bit with a new product that does new things.”

Maersk Parcel is “specifically built for the small and mid-size business market,” John explains, adding that the service addresses the pain points of mom-and-pop shops, brick-and-mortar retail locations, and smaller ecommerce brands.

He mentions a few things these small businesses should keep in mind:

• Maersk Parcel focuses on shipping to zones 1-5
• It covers the top 30 metropolitan statistical areas (urban areas) in the U.S.

The main reason to add Maersk Parcel to your carrier mix? Maersk is focused on providing a top-notch delivery experience. John notes that “relationships are the lifeblood of a small merchant,” and shipping plays a big role in developing good relationships.

John also points out some specific benefits of Maersk Parcel: competitive rates (including a sub-pound rate), fast delivery times (three days in transit), and a super simple claims process backed by Maersk customer service.

Interested in shipping with Maersk Parcel? Their partnership with EasyPost makes it easy! As John puts it, “It's basically turning on a switch. There is no integration, there is no waiting for contracts to be signed.”

If you’re not already an EasyPost customer, sign up at https://app.easypost.com/signup—it’s free for small shippers. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to access a library of over 100 carriers, including Maersk Parcel.

• Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkruzan/
• Visit Maersk’s website: https://www.maersk.com/