Dimensional Weight is becoming a bigger factor in shipping boxes and packages across the United States. UPS now factors the size of the box in along with the weight on the UPS Ground fees. Therefore, you will need to find a solution that will allow you to accurately measure not only the weight of your boxes but the physical size as well. Below are the dimensional measuring tools we currently offer. These items calculate dimensions very quickly and instantly captures dimensions, weight, barcodes, OCR text and image of static items. Dimensions packages, flats and irregular objects. Converts irregular objects like cylinders, spheres, tubes, polybags and uneven objects to accurate cubed dimensions and uses no moving parts. Interfaces with most shipping scales and select Rice Lake indicators. Please take a look at the items and contact us for a quote.
Dimensional weighing is the shift in the shipping industry by determining shipping prices based on a package’s length, width, & height as well as weight, and charge for whichever is greater.
Why has dimensional weighing become such a key focus?
A carrier’s truck is often filled due to space restrictions much sooner than it reaches its weight capacity, such as over-using packing materials, which creates empty space in boxes.
1. Dimensional weighing is not really focused on increasing prices for shippers. It's about charging for the volume that's utilized.
2. By shipping smarter, you can adapt to dimensional weighing easier.
3. Remember, with dimensional weighing; it's really about volume & efficiency.
First, measure the length, width and height of the item you are shipping. If you are shipping poly bags, tubes or shrink-wrapped items, you need to find the item’s cubed dimensions.
Use the dimensional weight formula. L x W x H inch/ 139 (U.S. domestic shipments) = dim weight in pounds
Next, weigh your item on a calibrated scale and determine if the item’s dimensional weight or actual weight is greater.
The shipping carrier will charge you based on the greater of the two, so use the greater number to compare your available shipping rates.
Most dimensioning systems use safe laser sensing technology to determine the cubed dimensions of items. Although each manufacturer has specific selling points, each dimensioning system should provide accurate, cubic dimensions. The following are questions you should ask about each dimensioning system you review prior to purchase.
According to the UPS website, an audit fee will be assessed when the average shipping charge correction during an invoice week is greater than $5.00 per package subject to a shipping charge correction. The fee will be calculated per account number, based on shipping charge corrections billed to the account number during the applicable invoice period.
And, these fees can add up. They are supposedly $1.00 per package subject to a shipping charge correction during the applicable invoice period; or 6% of the total amount of shipping charge corrections during the applicable invoice period.
How can you avoid or limit some of these shipping charge correction audit fees? Here are three suggestions. #1 If you can, accurately measure each box you ship out each day and precisely type the measurements into your shipping software. If that's too time consuming or difficult to do, #2 try using the "Package Type Editor" in UPS Worldship to save some time. If your shipping process is still too time consuming, then #3 buy one of the dim weighing systems above.
