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What is Surface Mail?

Koren Allen
Koren Allen

Surface mail is a mail delivery system in which letters and packages travel over the surface of the Earth, as opposed to traveling via airplane. It may include shipping by truck, train, or boat. Most companies and governments that offer international shipping have both a ground service and air service. The advantage of this service is that it tends to be less expensive than air-carried deliveries, but this depends on the location the package is being shipped to. The main disadvantage is that it takes longer for a package to reach its destination.

There are many reasons why surface mail is often less expensive than air mail. The vehicles that transport the mail, such as trucks, cost less to operate and maintain than airplanes. It may also be less expensive because most mail is transported this way, so regular transportation routes and schedules are well-established and often automated for maximum efficiency in moving mass quantities of mail. Because of this, the cost-per-piece is generally lower than mail transported by air, which sometimes requires more labor-intensive handling procedures.

Surface mail is delivered to its destination via ground transport rather than through the air.
Surface mail is delivered to its destination via ground transport rather than through the air.

Surface mail takes longer to arrive at its destination because trucks and boats travel at slower speeds than airplanes. This mail may also be a lower class than air mail, and therefore lower priority during loading and delivery. For example, if someone sends a package via international surface mail and it has to travel by sea, at some point it will reach the loading docks and be classified according to importance and urgency. Lower-class mail may not be classified as important as other freight, such as perishable food items. Consequently, the mail may sit at the loading dock for several days before it is loaded onto a ship, adding to the overall delivery time.

International surface mail often travels to its destination by boat.
International surface mail often travels to its destination by boat.

As more international business mailing is done via air delivery, the shipping rates are being lowered somewhat for this type of service. Surface mail is usually still the most economical means of shipping a package, however. Therefore, as long as a package is not time-sensitive or perishable, sending it by ground will probably save the sender quite a bit of money. In some remote inland areas, surface mail may be the only delivery method available, and in remote island or mountain areas, air delivery may be the only option.

Discussion Comments

tamas

Does anyone know if surface mail (like SAL China Post) when sent to France, has to go through customs?

lighth0se33

I often order things online, and I always choose surface mail as my shipping option. It is always the cheapest method, and some of the other options are often more expensive than the items that I'm ordering. It doesn't make any sense to me to pay more for shipping than for the items you are receiving.

If the item is small enough to fit in my mailbox, then the mailman will place it in there, and I know to check my mail every day for it. If it will be bigger, then the mailman will leave it on a shelf in my carport.

I love having items sent directly to my home at a low cost. I can't see any reason to use any method other than surface mail.

cloudel

Surface mail is the best way of sending mail where I live. I am nowhere near the ocean, and I live way out in the country, so delivery trucks are about the only thing that run out here.

Even if I did have other options, I would probably still choose surface mail. What's the point of paying more for faster service if you don't need it?

The only case in which I would choose a different method of shipping would be if I had forgotten a family member's birthday until the last minute. Then, I would be willing to pay extra for air mail to send them their present on time.

anon77670

This article was great! I didn't know what surface mail was. Now I do! Wisegeek is awesome!

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    • Surface mail is delivered to its destination via ground transport rather than through the air.
      By: tab62
      Surface mail is delivered to its destination via ground transport rather than through the air.
    • International surface mail often travels to its destination by boat.
      By: gwen0
      International surface mail often travels to its destination by boat.
    • Goods delivered via delivery truck are consider surface mail.
      By: iceteastock
      Goods delivered via delivery truck are consider surface mail.
    • Surface mail can take a long time to reach its destination.
      By: 135pixels
      Surface mail can take a long time to reach its destination.