Valentine’s Day may be a time to express one’s love for a partner, but for transportation professionals, this holiday is all about logistics. In the weeks before Valentine’s Day, Americans purchase millions of sentimental cards, flowers, chocolate and other candy. All of those goods need to get from Point A to Point B in a hurry, and freight and local delivery drivers are the people who make it happen.
Here’s How Much People Spend on Valentine’s Day
Money might not buy love, but Americans sure do enjoy spending to show their love for one another. On any given year, Valentine’s Day spending might total as much as $19.6 billion. It’s not surprising that jewelry purchases make up a significant portion of that total ($4.7 billion). On average, most consumers will spend a total of $143.56 on all the gifts they buy for the holiday. In addition, couples will exchange about 144 million cards, over a hundred million roses, and tens of millions of pounds of chocolate. That’s an awful lot of freight to ship around the country.
Here’s How Logistics Professionals Make Valentine’s Day Happen
One of the demands of Valentine’s Day is the fact that much of the cargo is temperature-sensitive. Flowers must be shipped in refrigerated containers or else they will wilt and die. Chocolate must also be shipped in refrigerated cargo areas to prevent it from melting. Typically, temperature-sensitive cargo is shipped as quickly as possible. That raises another issue: the timing of the delivery. No one wants their Valentine’s Day gifts delivered the day after the holiday—or later. To coordinate this massive logistics puzzle, delivery companies use advanced software to figure out the best possible routes and track the movement of the freight in real time.
Whether you are a local florist in need of prompt delivery services or a major retailer that requires freight delivery solutions, you’ll find what you need at Xcel Delivery Services. Our professional drivers can make sure your Valentine’s Day flowers and chocolates arrive on time and in good condition. Call our office in Phoenix at (602) 368-1300 to request a quote.
