Practical
freight guide
Sending a parcel starts before the quote. The carton needs to contain and protect the goods, and its finished dimensions determine which services can handle it. Clever Couriers lets Australian businesses compare eligible options using the actual packed parcel.
Use a transport-ready carton
Select a rigid box appropriate to the contents and weight. Remove old labels, repair no crushed corners and avoid damp or open packaging. Retail display boxes often need a stronger outer carton.
Protect each item, fill voids and prevent movement. Keep fragile faces away from the outer walls and seal all main seams with suitable packing tape.
Measure and weigh after sealing
Measure the longest outside length, width and height. Bulges and protrusions count. Weigh the parcel with all cushioning and packaging included.
Courier pricing may compare actual weight with cubic or volumetric weight. A lightweight but large carton can therefore rate above the number shown on the scales.
Enter every parcel
For a multi-piece consignment, provide the dimensions and weight of each package. Do not tape unrelated cartons into a bundle or enter an average size. Every handling unit needs its own routing label.
Confirm the total piece count before the driver arrives and keep a dispatch record for the receiver.
Describe what is inside
Use a specific description such as “boxed cotton uniforms” or “plastic plumbing fittings”. Declare batteries, liquids, aerosols, chemicals, magnets and other restricted characteristics.
Dangerous goods require correct classification and approval. Ordinary online parcel selection cannot be used to bypass transport rules.
Choose speed around the requirement
Standard road services can suit planned shipments. Express options may suit shorter operational deadlines. Same-day courier service is a separate local or dedicated model and is subject to location and availability.
Check whether the delivery date is a preference or a firm dependency. Transit is estimated unless an explicit commitment forms part of the booking.
Collection details matter
State whether pickup is from a residence, shop, office or warehouse and provide opening hours and a reachable contact. Place the labelled parcel at the declared accessible point before the collection window.
A booking confirmation does not mean the driver will pack goods, wait while an order is completed or search multiple buildings for the parcel.
Prepare a deliverable address
Use the receiver’s full business or personal name, street address, suburb, postcode and telephone number. Add suite, unit, dock or building details. PO boxes are not accepted by every courier service.
Tell the receiver what is arriving. Missed access, closed premises and rejected parcels can lead to redelivery or return costs.
Apply the label correctly
Print the current label clearly and place it flat on the largest suitable face. Do not fold the barcode around an edge or place it beneath tape glare, straps or a box seam.
Cover old barcodes and addresses completely. Keep the booking and tracking references separate from the parcel.
Follow the scan history
Tracking can show booking, collection, depot processing, linehaul, onboard-for-delivery and delivery events. Scan detail varies by carrier and is not normally continuous GPS.
If the parcel misses the expected stage, contact Clever Couriers with the reference, last scan, sender and receiver details.
Before you send
- confirm lawful and accepted contents;
- finish cushioning and outer packaging;
- verify dimensions and gross weight;
- enter the correct address types and contacts;
- select a service suited to the deadline;
- attach one correct label per parcel; and
- retain dispatch photographs for valuable goods.
FreightSafe provides limited protection only and is not comprehensive transit insurance. Packaging duties, exclusions and claim limits apply. Once the parcel is genuinely ready, compare eligible services through your Clever Couriers account.
Sending a parcel to a business receiver
Include the business name, department, order reference and named contact. Distribution centres, hospitals, campuses and shopping centres can require delivery appointments or special labels. Find those rules before the parcel enters the network.
If the destination is a parcel locker, post office box or unattended site, confirm that the selected service accepts that address type. Do not redirect the driver through an informal note after dispatch.
Sending several parcels together
Record each package as a separate handling unit and apply its correct label. Do not tape boxes into a loose bundle or average their measurements. Retain the piece count and, for mixed orders, a note showing which products are in each carton.
Several boxes for one warehouse may be more practical as carton freight or a stable pallet. Compare the handling method once the complete order is known.
Check whether the receiver will accept split arrivals when several labelled parcels move together. If the order must arrive as one controlled unit, discuss consolidation before booking.