With its growth in recent decades, the benefits of LTL shipping has become apparent in the transportation industry. LTL or less-than-truckload is a method of cargo movement where the shipment does not take up the entire truck. Unlike parcel shipping, the freight is generally more oversized but smaller than FTL (full truckload). The size is usually from 1 to 6 pallets and less than 14 feet across. LTL shipments also tend to weigh between 150 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. A 40ft carrier may fill several LTL shipments based on the goods’ size. This article will introduce LTL’s benefits and explain and explain how it differs from FTL transport.
What Are The Benefits of LTL Shipping
Many shippers that move their goods domestically choose LTL over FTL shipping due to the many benefits. One of the most significant advantages is the lower transportation cost that can arise. Instead of paying for the entire trailer, you pay for a portion of the space, depending on the shipment size. The numerous shippers using the trailer share the cost. A benefit for the business or individual is that the carrier can send smaller shipments. When using a full truckload to ship, shippers may have to wait until they have enough cargo to be cost-efficient. The result is that delivery times can get longer instead of immediate transport using LTL shipping.
Another benefit of LTL shipping is the high amount of safety and security that is possible. Since a trailer can move multiple shipments at once, loaders are very careful when loading the shipments. The loaders carefully secure and separate the cargo inside the carrier to prevent damage or loss during the journey. With multiple shippers using one trailer simultaneously, the LTL industry has grown to provide better tracking. Several shippers also mean that there can be many handling points, which means greater tracing. A common trend the trucking industry has pushed towards is becoming more environmentally friendly. LTL shipping allows for greater eco-friendliness by decreasing the number of fuel and trucks for transporting freight.
How Does LTL Compare to FTL Shipping
Along with the shipment size, there are vital distinctions between LTL and FTL shipping. An example of a difference is that the cost for LTL depends on freight class. Freight class is a pricing classification method in LTL transport where factors like density, weight, height, and value determine the price. FTL does not deal with freight class. Carrier transit times in LTL are also different from FTL. In FTL shipping, a carrier picks up cargo and delivers it straight to the receiver. LTL tends to have more stops since the same truck can move multiple shipments. This means that the time of deliverance may differ from the estimate in LTL.
Another difference between LTL and FTL is that in LTL, you only pay for your portion of capacity. In FTL, the capacity is the entire truck, so you pay for the whole trailer. While both methods of transport have their distinct differences, they are equally important when transporting freight. Contact A1 Freight Solutions at 786-375-9420 or info@a1fsinc.com to begin moving your LTL and FTL shipments domestically. We also provide trucking solutions like expedited, drayage, and temperature-controlled shipping to add value to your supply chain.