From extreme weather to limited road networks, Alaska is a challenging place for shipping. Learn the 6 things you need to know about shipping to Alaska!

1. THE SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT SHIPPING TO ALASKA

2. ?
ALASKA
Alaska can be a challenging
place to move freight.
This ebook will familiarize you with
the things that make Alaska unique,
particularly when it comes to shipping.
From extreme weather conditions to
the lack of roads, from a large moose
blocking the road to penguins... (Are
there penguins in Alaska?) Alaska has a
little of everything.
But if you know what to expect and what
to look for in a transportation provider,
the experience can be as smooth as ice.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

3. 1
GEOGRAPHY
It’s big up there. At about 663,000
square miles, Alaska is the largest of all
U.S. states. To deal with that kind of
space, you need to know that someone
is taking care of your shipments for
the long (cold) haul. Find a carrier
that has some time and experience in
Alaska. They will, or should, know the
ins and outs – literally. Even better, find
a company with a network of offices
throughout the state, ideally hitting
the major points like Prudhoe Bay in
the extreme north, the Southeast coast
ports like Skagway and interior cities
like Fairbanks.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

4. 2
ROADS, OR NOT?
The lack of highways in Alaska means
that most shipments go by air or sea.
There is no railroad service from
the Lower 48 states or from Canada
to Alaska, so railcars must move on
barges. From frozen tundra to rocky
coastline to volcanoes that are sleeping
(for now) the geography is a major, but
not insurmountable, obstacle to freight
delivery, particularly in Southeast
and Western Alaska. These factors
require a carrier with mixed modes
of transportation. Let’s say you want
to move a container of retail products
(sweaters and earmuffs perhaps?).
In the Lower 48, the container could go
on a flatbed from one place to another.
In Alaska, you have to depend on an
innovative transportation provider to
move it by barge, then rail and finally
by truck to get to its destination on
time. That’s just one more reason to
find a company you can count on with
an established track record of Alaska
service.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

5. 3
TIME FRAME
With Alaska’s challenging geography
and harsh weather, you’ll need a
transportation company that is
equipped to tackle the challenges
Mother Nature can throw at your
shipment. The need for vehicles to
cross mountain passes in blizzards
or occasionally having a truck driver
stare down a moose in the middle
of the highway can lead to delays.
By using a company with multiple
transportation modes, you pay only
for the speed you need. Whether
shipping by air, ground or sea, be
sure your transportation provider
has all the necessary specialized
equipment to deal with the extreme
conditions so you can avoid delays.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

6. 4
The map doesn’t lie. Alaska is a long
way from the rest of the U.S. and
shipping costs are understandably
higher. That’s why a gallon of milk
may have a $9 price tag in a Bethel
grocery store. True story (but an
extreme example). There are many
options to choose from. Overnight
air freight delivery from just about
anywhere is available, or seven-day
Alcan highway truck service from
COST
Houston. How about twice weekly
barge service from Seattle to
Southeast Alaska ports like
Ketchikan, or weekly service to
Central Alaska? Or, if you need to
get something to a remote outpost
like Kaktovik (population 293) on
the Beaufort Sea, you might need
a combination of barge, rail, truck
and bush plane. To save the most,
look for carriers that are prepared
to match your time requirement by
offering multiple shipping modes –
ground, sea, or air in any
combination.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

7. 5
WEATHER
Batten down the hatches! Alaska’s
weather is unpredictable and extreme.
Bad weather delays are especially
common in Alaska so you need a carrier
that has the knowledge and experience
to minimize the impact on freight
delivery. Weather can affect the time
it takes to deliver your shipment, the
cost, and it can spoil your Aunt Edna’s
Christmas fruitcake that you were
shipping back up to relatives in Nome
after they sent it to you last year. Even
if you wanted that particular package
to freeze, you wouldn’t want your
expensive shipment of electronics to
sit in a truck in sub-zero temperatures.
Make sure you find a carrier who
is prepared to get your shipment
delivered on time and protect your
freight with temperature-controlled
equipment.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

8. 6
SHIPPING OPTIONS
Back in the 1950s, affordable delivery
options were often limited to the
bigger cities like Anchorage and
Fairbanks. Today, there are hovercraft
to deliver mail and supplies to
inaccessible villages. Ice roads, bridges
and landing strips pave the chilly way
for trucks and bush planes into the most
remote Alaska locations. There are more
ways than ever to deliver your
shipments so find a company with a
large “toolbox” of transportation
options and use it. Also, make sure
the company has an established online
program to allow you to track and trace
your shipment electronically at any
point in the process.
This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska

9. Now you are an Alaska expert! Let’s see if you can pass this pop quiz:
ALASKA
What is the only U.S. capital that can only be reached by sea or air? Answer:
JUNEAU
Yep, Alaska’s own capital is without road service. You gotta love this place.
HAPPY SHIPPING!
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This ebook courtesy of Lynden Incorporated @ www.lynden.com • The Six Things You Need to Know About Shipping to Alaska, Copyright © 2010 Lynden Inc.
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