Shipping round tubes: why square is the better choice
One of the most common shipping mistakes is using traditional round tubes for international express shipments. Round postal tubes may seem sturdy for posters or documents, but they're a nightmare for the automated sorting centres of carriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS.
Round tubes literally roll off the conveyor belts. That means they have to be taken out of the automated process and sorted by hand, and carriers often charge a hefty 'manual handling' surcharge for this. According to the test protocols of packaging bodies such as the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), it's crucial to choose packaging that stays stable during transport.
The solution: always choose a triangular or square tube. Still want to send round tubes abroad? Put the round tube in a long, rectangular cardboard box. That way you avoid unnecessary surcharges straight away.
Sending a long parcel or fishing rod
Besides the shape, the length of your shipment matters a lot. Sending a fishing rod or a long car part soon means dealing with the rules for sending a large parcel.
Carriers have strict maximum dimensions and lengths. Once a parcel is longer than the standard allowed size (often around 120 cm, depending on the carrier), an 'oversize' (length) surcharge may apply. Make sure the long item is held firmly in the box. Long, thin items such as a fishing rod can bend or break if heavy parcels are stacked on top in the plane or truck. Use sturdy double-wall cardboard and fill any gaps well.
For the specific rules per courier, see our current packaging guidelines per carrier (in Dutch).
How are tube shipping rates calculated?
Rates for tubes and long parcels are based on the volumetric weight (the space the shipment takes up in the vehicle or plane) and the actual weight. For long, light items (such as a poster or an empty rod tube), the volumetric weight is almost always higher than the actual weight. In that case you pay for the volumetric weight.
On top of that, allow for possible extra costs for odd sizes or manual handling. For a complete, up-to-date overview of these extra costs, see our surcharge information page (in Dutch).
Send your business shipments with ParcelParcel
Shipping odd sizes doesn't have to be complicated with the right partner. On the ParcelParcel shipping platform you easily compare rates from top carriers and see straight away what it costs to deliver your tube or long parcel worldwide. We work out the volumetric weight for you automatically, so there are no surprises afterwards.
Got an odd-shaped shipment ready to go? Calculate the shipping cost for your parcel now and see how easy our platform and in-house customs specialists make it.
