“Other carriers and services” covers every way to move a shipment beyond standard USPS, UPS and FedEx parcel service: international express carriers such as DHL Express, regional parcel carriers, LTL and truckload freight for anything too big for a parcel network, same-day couriers, and auto transport for vehicles. Each one solves a specific problem, so the right choice depends on the size of the shipment, how far it’s going and how fast it has to arrive.
This hub explains when each option makes sense and links to our detailed guides for each one. For a side-by-side look at the national carriers themselves, start with the shipping companies comparison of USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and more.
Table of Contents
- Which other carrier or service fits your shipment?
- When should you use DHL or another international carrier?
- What are regional carriers, and when do they help?
- When does a shipment need LTL freight instead of parcel service?
- When do same-day and courier services make sense?
- How do auto transport and vehicle shipping services work?
- Do carriers deliver each other’s packages?
- How do you choose the right mix of carriers?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which other carrier or service fits your shipment?
Start with the shipment, not the carrier. Weight and size decide whether it can travel as a parcel at all, and the destination and deadline narrow the field from there.
| Shipment | Best-fit service type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel to another country, needed fast | International express (DHL Express, UPS Worldwide, USPS Priority Mail Express International) | Door-to-door air networks with customs brokerage built in |
| Parcel within one region of the U.S. | National carrier or a regional parcel carrier | Regional networks can be fast inside their footprint |
| Over 150 lbs, or palletized | LTL freight | Beyond UPS’s 150-lb parcel limit; priced by freight class and lane |
| A full trailer of goods | Full truckload (FTL) | One shipper uses the whole truck |
| Same-day, across town | Local courier or on-demand delivery | Picked up and delivered within hours |
| A car, truck or motorcycle | Auto transport carrier or broker | Parcel and freight networks don’t move vehicles |
Our guide to shipping methods and options at every service level explains these categories in more depth, and the How to Ship Guide walks through packing and booking for each one.
When should you use DHL or another international carrier?
DHL Express is built for international shipping: it focuses on cross-border express delivery and says it serves more than 220 countries and territories, but it doesn’t offer U.S. domestic express service. It’s a common choice for time-sensitive international parcels and documents, especially when the recipient is overseas.
Our guide to DHL shipping costs by weight explains what drives DHL’s international pricing, and the DHL vs UPS comparison shows where each carrier is stronger. If a DHL shipment goes missing, our guide on how to file a DHL claim covers the documents you’ll need.
Customs rules changed for imports in 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries on August 29, 2025, so commercial imports into the United States now owe applicable duties regardless of value. That affects anyone receiving goods from abroad, whichever carrier delivers them.
What are regional carriers, and when do they help?
Regional parcel carriers deliver within a defined part of the country rather than nationwide. OnTrac in the West, Spee-Dee Delivery in the Upper Midwest and LSO in Texas and nearby states are well-known examples. Inside their footprint, short distances and dense routes can mean fast ground transit.
The trade-off is coverage. A regional carrier only works when both the origin and the destination fall inside its service area, so most shippers use one alongside a national carrier rather than instead of it. Service areas change, so check each carrier’s current coverage map before you plan around it.
Package handoffs between networks are another source of confusion. Our explainer on whether FedEx delivers UPS packages covers how carriers do, and don’t, work together on the final mile.
When does a shipment need LTL freight instead of parcel service?
Once a shipment is too heavy or too large for a parcel network, it moves as freight. UPS accepts parcels up to 150 lbs and 165 inches in length plus girth, and USPS caps most parcels at 70 lbs, so heavier items, multi-box orders and anything on a pallet usually go less-than-truckload (LTL). LTL carriers combine freight from several shippers on one trailer, and the price depends on freight class, weight, the lane and accessorial services such as liftgate delivery.
Our complete guide to LTL freight and logistics explains freight classes, pallet prep and accessorials. ParcelPath handles LTL through PalletPath, and you can get a pallet quote in the PalletPath LTL freight quote tool.
| Service | Typical shipment | How it’s priced |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel (USPS, UPS) | Boxes up to 70 lbs (USPS) or 150 lbs (UPS) | Weight or dimensional weight, zone and service level |
| LTL freight | One or more pallets sharing a trailer | Freight class, weight, origin and destination, accessorials |
| Full truckload | Enough freight to fill a trailer | Lane, distance and equipment type |
When do same-day and courier services make sense?
Same-day couriers pick up and deliver within the same metro area in a few hours, which suits legal documents, medical supplies, replacement parts and other shipments where hours matter more than cost. Options range from traditional local courier companies to app-based networks such as Roadie, which UPS owns, and Uber Direct.
For deliveries that cross state lines, express parcel service is usually the faster and more predictable choice. Our comparison of expedited 2- and 3-day carrier options shows what national carriers offer when same-day isn’t possible.
How do auto transport and vehicle shipping services work?
Vehicles move through their own network of auto transport carriers and brokers. A broker arranges the move with a licensed carrier, and the carrier hauls the car on an open trailer, the most common option, or an enclosed trailer that protects classic, luxury or freshly restored vehicles from weather and road debris. Our auto transport hub explains how pricing and booking work.
Distance, vehicle size, the season and how busy the route is all affect the quote. These guides cover the most common situations:
- Vehicle shipping services compared, including open and enclosed transport
- Auto transport companies in Ohio, an example of a state-by-state guide
- The cheapest way to ship a car to Alaska, where ocean transport is part of the route
Do carriers deliver each other’s packages?
Sometimes, and it explains a lot of confusing tracking. Some economy services hand packages to USPS for the last mile at certain addresses, such as P.O. boxes and military addresses, and a tracking number may switch carriers partway through. A package delivered by the Postal Service still follows USPS delivery days and holidays once it’s handed over.
Our USPS shipping hub covers USPS tracking and delivery exceptions, and the FedEx shipping hub covers FedEx’s own services, including Ground Economy.
How do you choose the right mix of carriers?
Map your typical shipment first: average weight and box size, where you ship from, where most orders go and how fast customers expect them. Then match each type of shipment to the network that fits it, rather than defaulting to one carrier for everything.
For everyday parcels, ParcelPath gives you USPS and UPS side by side, free, with no subscription or contract and up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS. Browse the UPS services available through ParcelPath and the USPS options, compare live rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator, and move up to PalletPath when the shipment outgrows parcel limits. More reference material is collected in our shipping resources library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as other carriers and services?
Other carriers and services are the shipping options outside standard USPS, UPS and FedEx parcel delivery. They include international express carriers such as DHL Express, regional parcel carriers such as OnTrac and LSO, LTL and full-truckload freight, same-day couriers, and auto transport for cars and other vehicles. Each one fits a specific shipment size, distance or deadline.
When should I switch from parcel shipping to freight?
Switch to freight when a shipment exceeds parcel limits or is palletized. UPS accepts parcels up to 150 lbs and 165 inches in length plus girth, and USPS caps most parcels at 70 lbs. Heavier items, multi-box orders and pallets usually move as LTL freight, priced by freight class, weight, lane and accessorial services.
Is DHL a good option for shipping within the United States?
Not for domestic express parcels. DHL Express focuses on international shipping, serving more than 220 countries and territories, and it doesn’t offer U.S. domestic express service. For packages that stay inside the United States, USPS, UPS or FedEx are the usual choices, with regional carriers as an option inside their service areas.
Do I pay duties on imports under the de minimis rule anymore?
For most imports, yes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for goods from all countries on August 29, 2025, so commercial imports into the United States now owe applicable duties regardless of value. The change applies whichever carrier delivers the package, including postal and express services.
Sources
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment fact sheet
- UPS: Package dimensions and weight limits
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 201: Physical standards
- DHL Express: U.S. products and services overview (dhl.com)
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