10 Common Shipping Issues and How To Overcome Them

Shipping should be simple: a customer clicks “buy,” and a package shows up at their door. But anyone who’s worked behind the scenes knows it rarely goes that smoothly. Containers get stuck at ports, labels print with the wrong address, trucks break down in transit, and seasonal surges stretch networks past their limits.

These shipping issues aren’t just minor hiccups, they can be very damaging, costing businesses money, frustrating customers, damaging brand loyalty, and more. The good news? With the right tools and strategies, most of these problems are fixable (or preventable altogether).

In this post, we’ll walk through ten of the most common shipping challenges companies face today and how you can overcome them. Use the table of contents below to jump straight to the issues that keep you up at night.

Common shipping issues and how to handle them

Did I just say shipping should be simple? Newsflash: it’s not. With more disruptors than ever, shipping issues have become both more common and more difficult to manage, impacting businesses on one side and customers on the other. 

We’ve all been on the receiving end. A couple of weeks ago a hammock chair I ordered showed up late, in a box that looked like it had fallen apart on a dirt road. The contents had been shoved back in, parts were damaged, and the hardware was missing. It was a mess. 

Was the carrier to blame, or was it a case of poor packaging? Either way, someone had to eat the cost, and many small businesses aren’t prepared to absorb that kind of loss (neither was I). 

It clearly pays to understand the biggest shipping challenges before they hit your bottom line. Let’s dive into the most common shipping issues and how to handle them, so you deliveries run a lot smoother than the ill-fated journey of my hammock chair. 

1. Supply chain disruptions

Few issues ripple through logistics like a disrupted supply chain. Global manufacturing delays, raw material shortages, and sudden factory closures have become more common in recent years, leaving businesses scrambling to maintain production schedules. Reduced capacity and unpredictable lead times force companies to constantly adjust operations.

Inventory management is often the hardest hit. Businesses can find themselves holding too much stock of one product while facing shortages of another. The result is higher carrying costs, lost sales, and dissatisfied customers. It’s not just a problem for manufacturers; retailers, distributors, and end customers all feel the strain.

What can you do? 

For companies to stay competitive, supply chain resilience is essential. That means diversifying suppliers, investing in smarter demand planning, and improving visibility across networks. When disruptions inevitably occur, having data-driven insights and flexible processes in place can mean the difference between a temporary setback and a major breakdown.

2. Transportation challenges

Even when products are ready to move, transportation challenges can slow everything down. Limited carrier availability, congested ports, and driver shortages continue to constrain capacity worldwide. Add volatile fuel prices to the mix, and transportation becomes both unpredictable and expensive.

These issues often cascade. A delayed container at a port might lead to missed delivery windows, increased storage fees, and frustrated customers waiting for overdue orders. Businesses that rely on just one carrier or mode of transport are especially vulnerable to these breakdowns.

What can you do? 

To mitigate these risks, companies are shifting toward multi-carrier strategies and flexible routing. Real-time transportation visibility platforms can also help anticipate bottlenecks before they spiral into bigger problems. By planning for disruptions rather than simply reacting, businesses can build resilience into their logistics networks.

3. Rising shipping costs

Shipping costs are on a steady climb, driven by carrier rate increases, fluctuating fuel surcharges, and seasonal pricing adjustments. International shipments add another layer of expense, with premium fees for cross-border transport and customs requirements. These rising costs can erode margins quickly, especially for businesses with thin profit lines.

For many organizations, absorbing these costs isn’t sustainable. Passing them on to customers can risk loyalty and competitiveness. Businesses that fail to optimize their shipping spend may find themselves outpaced by more agile competitors who do.

What can you do?

Start by analyzing your shipping mix and identifying opportunities for cost savings. This can include negotiating better carrier contracts, leveraging regional carriers, or consolidating shipments. Using technology to compare rates and optimize routes can also reduce spend without sacrificing service.

4. Delivery delays

Delivery delays are among the most visible shipping problems, and they can make or break customer trust. Last-mile delivery bottlenecks, unpredictable weather events, and lingering driver shortages all slow down delivery timelines. Rural areas often face greater disparities, while urban congestion creates its own set of challenges.

Customers may tolerate a delay once, but repeated late deliveries often result in churn. For businesses, the reputational damage can far outweigh the cost of the missed delivery itself.

What can you do?

Improving last-mile delivery strategies is key. Options include partnering with multiple carriers, using local couriers, and investing in predictive analytics to anticipate weather or traffic impacts. Providing accurate delivery estimates and proactive communication also helps set realistic expectations.

5. Damaged and lost shipments

Few things frustrate customers more than receiving a damaged package—or no package at all. Improper packaging, rough handling in transit, and even theft can compromise a shipment. The claims process is often slow and complicated, creating further headaches for both sender and recipient.

Lost or damaged shipments aren’t just a customer experience issue, they also represent direct costs. Replacement products, reshipments, and claims processing eat into margins and efficiency.

What can you do?

Preventing these issues starts with proper packaging and labeling. Invest in durable materials, test packaging for your product types, and leverage carriers’ package tracking tools. Offering package protection or insurance can also give customers peace of mind.

6. Customs delays

For international shipments, customs clearance can be one of the biggest roadblocks. Documentation errors, shifting regulations, unexpected inspections, and complex tariff calculations all add time and risk to the process.

Delays at customs not only frustrate customers but can also lead to additional storage fees and compliance penalties. Businesses new to international shipping often underestimate how much of an obstacle customs can be.

What can you do?

Ensure your shipping documentation is accurate and up to date. Partner with carriers or brokers that specialize in international shipments, and stay current on regulatory changes in your markets. Automating customs paperwork through technology can also reduce errors and speed clearance.

7. Customer service issues

When shipping problems occur, customer service is often the front line. Unfortunately, limited shipment visibility, communication gaps, and inefficient resolution processes make it difficult to resolve issues quickly. As customer expectations rise, these gaps can create lasting damage to brand loyalty.

Customers today expect real-time updates and fast resolutions. Without them, businesses risk losing repeat customers and generating negative reviews.

What can you do?

Improving visibility is critical, both internally and externally. Implement tools that allow customers and support teams to track shipments in real time. Train service teams to proactively manage expectations, and streamline resolution processes to reduce friction.

8. Holiday and seasonal bottlenecks

Peak seasons put extraordinary strain on shipping networks. During holidays and major sales events, carriers hit capacity limits, delivery times stretch out, and costs surge due to demand-based pricing. Businesses without contingency plans risk disappointing customers when it matters most.

Seasonal surges magnify existing inefficiencies. A supply chain that runs smoothly in July may buckle under the weight of November and December volumes.

What can you do?

Plan ahead by forecasting seasonal demand and securing capacity early. Diversify carrier relationships and build in extra lead time for fulfillment. Transparent communication with customers about realistic delivery windows can also protect brand reputation. Check the postal holidays calendar to stay ahead of peak disruptions.

9. Technology integration challenges

As shipping grows more complex, technology should make it easier. But many companies still struggle with legacy systems, multi-carrier integration complexity, and inconsistent data synchronization. Implementing APIs or modern platforms can be daunting, especially for resource-strapped IT teams.

The cost of poor integration is high. Errors multiply, visibility suffers, and businesses lose the agility to pivot when conditions change.

What can you do?

Invest in modern, flexible systems that integrate seamlessly with carriers and internal tools. APIs can streamline processes, but they must be implemented with a clear roadmap and adequate support. For many companies, working with a shipping technology provider—and consulting implementation experts when needed—can help minimize risk and ensure long-term success. 

10. Incorrect shipping data

Data errors are one of the most common and costly shipping issues. Invalid addresses, inaccurate package dimensions, mismatched service levels, and inaccurate customs information lead to returned shipments, unexpected surcharges, and customer frustration. Even minor data errors can snowball into major financial losses.

These issues often stem from manual entry errors or outdated systems. For high-volume shippers, even a small error rate can create a significant drain on resources.

What can you do?

Automate data validation wherever possible. Address verification, dimensional weight checks, and system safeguards can catch errors before they become costly mistakes. Standardizing data inputs across systems also helps ensure accuracy from order entry through delivery.

Who is affected by shopping issues?

Customers

Shipping issues hit customers hardest because delivery is the most visible part of their experience with a brand. A delayed, damaged, or missing order can undo even the best marketing or product design. Delivery performance directly shapes brand perception, and consumers increasingly associate shipping reliability with overall business quality.

Beyond perception, direct costs play a role. Customers may end up paying more for expedited shipping that doesn’t arrive on time, or face frustrations with unclear return processes. Uncertainty and anxiety about when—or if—a package will arrive can erode trust quickly. Just think of a customer receiving a broken chair or a box missing hardware. The frustration is real, and when those problems pile up, people are more likely to abandon future purchases and share negative reviews.

Businesses

For businesses, shipping issues trigger a cascade of operational inefficiencies. Unexpected costs from reshipping, damaged goods, or surcharges eat into margins. At the same time, internal resources must be diverted to resolving shipping disputes rather than driving growth or innovation. The constant cycle of troubleshooting creates unnecessary overhead.

The longer-term risks are just as significant. That same company that shipped out a broken chair is now facing replacement expenses, customer complaints, and reputation damage—all from one mishandled delivery. Poor shipping experiences like these hurt customer satisfaction and retention, while competitors with smoother logistics quickly gain an edge. In short, the inability to manage shipping effectively can become a serious barrier to long-term competitiveness.

How to resolve shipping issues with EasyPost

Smart carrier selection

With EasyPost’s Shipping API, businesses can instantly compare rates and delivery timeframes across multiple carriers. Instead of relying on a single option—or manually reviewing rates—our technology does the work for you. Automated selection ensures that the fastest or most cost-effective carrier is chosen based on your rules, removing the guesswork and reducing errors.

Proactive tracking system

Customers want visibility, and businesses need control. EasyPost provides real-time package tracking across all major carriers, enabling early identification of shipments that are falling behind schedule. With proactive notifications, businesses can communicate delays before customers even ask “Where’s my order?”, improving transparency and reducing support costs.

Address verification

Incorrect addresses are one of the leading causes of failed deliveries. EasyPost validates addresses before shipping, ensuring they are accurate and complete. By catching errors early, businesses avoid costly carrier returns, prevent wasted postage, and ensure smoother deliveries that build trust with customers.

Streamlined customs processing

For international shipments, paperwork is one of the biggest hurdles. EasyPost automates the generation of required customs documentation, reducing errors and helping shipments move more smoothly across borders. By ensuring forms are complete and accurate, businesses can cut down on border delays and protect both customer experience and margins.

Holiday and peak season tools

Seasonal surges don’t have to derail your operations. EasyPost offers alternative carrier recommendations during bottlenecks and provides priority routing options when standard shipping channels are congested. With these tools, businesses can stay ahead of demand spikes and ensure reliable delivery even during the busiest times of year. Learn more about standard shipping.