Why Medical Equipment Needs More Than Standard Carrier Coverage
Medical equipment is expensive, often precisely calibrated and slow to replace. Carriers usually limit their liability for high-value goods well below their real value, and a late delivery can matter as much as a lost one.
A declared value is not the same thing as insurance. It states what you say the shipment is worth, but the carrier's own limit can still decide what is paid. With full-value insurance, the declared value of the shipment is covered, up to $150,000 with Unival.
Documentation matters as much as coverage. Serial numbers, photographs, tracking scans and a stored proof of delivery show exactly what was sent, when it moved and who received it.
What to Prepare for Each Type of Medical Shipment
Different shipments carry different risks. This table shows what to focus on for each.
| Shipment | Typical sender | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic and monitoring equipment | Clinics, labs, device companies | Declared value, careful packing, signed delivery |
| Medical supplies and consumables | Clinics, suppliers | Delivery on a set date, tracked scans |
| Documents with a deadline | Clinics, labs, offices | Proof of delivery, stored record |
| Equipment for service or calibration | Equipment owners, service companies | Condition receipt, each leg insured |
| Demo and loaner equipment | Device companies, sales teams | Itemized list, serial numbers, insured both ways |
Whatever you ship, the declared value should match your paperwork. A value that is too low can reduce what is paid out if you need to make a claim.
Medical Shipping in the Chicago Area
West of the Loop, the Illinois Medical District brings together more than 40 healthcare organizations, including major hospitals. The wider Chicago region adds universities and medical schools, and medical technology companies headquartered north of the city.
Typical shipments from the Chicago medical community include:
- Equipment shipped from manufacturers to customers and distributors
- Supplies sent to clinics and facilities on a set date
- Equipment sent for service, repair or calibration
- Demo and loaner equipment moving to and from customers
Unival is headquartered in the Los Angeles Jewelry District and insures and tracks shipments to and from Chicago. Read more about our secure transportation or see our overview of insured shipping in Chicago.
Overnight and Two-Day Options
The service is chosen at booking, for each shipment. Overnight services are the usual choice for urgent deliveries, and two-day service suits shipments that can wait a little longer.
Tell us how soon the shipment must arrive when you request a quote, and we will confirm which option fits.
What to Check Before You Ship Medical Goods
Items such as biological specimens, controlled substances, hazardous materials and some batteries are subject to special carrier and legal rules. If your shipment includes any of them, contact us before you ship so we can confirm what is possible.
For equipment and supplies, check the following before you ship:
- Record the serial number and model of every item.
- Photograph the equipment and its condition before packing.
- Pack each item so it cannot move, with padding on every side.
- Keep patient information off labels and packing lists, and use order or reference numbers instead.
- Declare the full, accurate value of the shipment.
- Confirm the delivery date and make sure someone is available to sign.
What Affects the Cost of Insured Medical Shipping?
The price has two parts: the shipping and the insurance on the declared value. The service you choose, the size and weight of the equipment, the destination and the declared value all change the total.
We quote each shipment before it moves. Get a quote with the equipment, its declared value, how soon it must arrive, the pickup location and the destination.
