The Complete Guide to Less Than Truckload Shipping Options
Less than truck load (LTL) shipping is a smart solution for businesses that need to transport smaller quantities of goods efficiently and cost-effectively. Instead of waiting to fill an entire truck, LTL allows multiple shippers to share space on the same vehicle, reducing costs by optimizing available space. This approach is especially beneficial for companies needing to maintain reliable inventory levels without incurring the expense of a full truckload.
LTL is an essential tool for companies that want to ensure their products are available when and where they’re needed—without the overhead of full truck shipping. By understanding LTL, businesses can better manage their supply chain and meet customer demands efficiently.
Understanding Less Than Truck Load
Benefits of LTL Shipping
Less than truckload (LTL) shipping is an effective way to move smaller freight, typically between 150 and 15,000 pounds. This option is perfect for businesses that don’t need a full trailer. Instead, several companies share the space, which leads to significant cost savings.
Cost Savings: You only pay for the portion of the truck that your freight occupies. Other companies cover the rest, making it an economical choice.
Special Services: LTL shipping provides access to services like liftgates, inside pickup, and delivery. These services can make the shipping process smoother and more efficient.
LTL vs FTL: Key Differences
Understanding the difference between LTL and full truckload (FTL) shipping is crucial for making the right shipping decision.
Freight Weight and Size: LTL is ideal for smaller shipments that don’t require a full truck. In contrast, FTL is used when you need the entire space or weight capacity of a trailer.
Shipping Methods: LTL uses a mixed trailer approach, combining freight from different shippers. This method is cost-effective but can result in longer transit times due to multiple stops. FTL, on the other hand, offers direct shipping routes, which are faster but more expensive.
Pallet Shipping: In LTL, goods are often placed on pallets. This not only protects the items but also makes loading and unloading more efficient.
By choosing LTL, businesses can enjoy the benefits of shared transportation costs while still accessing specialized services. It’s a flexible and cost-effective shipping method, perfect for companies with smaller, regular shipments.
How LTL Shipping Works
Less than truckload (LTL) shipping relies on a well-coordinated system to get your goods from point A to point B efficiently. Let’s break down the process:
Hub-and-Spoke Model
LTL shipping uses a hub-and-spoke model. Imagine a wheel, where the hubs are large central terminals, and the spokes are local terminals. Your shipment starts at a local terminal, travels to a central hub, and then moves through other hubs as needed before reaching its destination.
Cross-Docking is a key part of this system. It involves unloading goods from an inbound truck and loading them directly onto an outbound truck with minimal storage time. This speeds up the process and reduces handling costs.
Linehaul refers to the main transportation leg between hubs. During this stage, your freight travels long distances, usually between cities or states, before reaching its final delivery area.
Preparing Your LTL Shipment
Proper preparation is crucial for smooth LTL shipping. Here’s what you need to know:
- Packaging: Secure packaging is essential. Use sturdy boxes and palletize your goods to prevent damage during transit. Pallets make it easier to load and unload shipments.
- Labeling: Clear labeling helps ensure your shipment reaches the right destination. Include all necessary information, like addresses and contact details, on the labels.
- Bill of Lading: This document is a contract between you and the carrier. It outlines the shipment details and serves as a receipt. Make sure it’s accurate and complete.
Tracking and Pricing
Keeping track of your shipment and understanding pricing are important aspects of LTL shipping.
- Online Tracking: Most LTL carriers offer online tracking services. With a tracking number, you can monitor your shipment’s progress and estimated delivery time.
- Shipment Class: LTL pricing is influenced by the shipment class, which considers factors like density, stowability, handling, and liability. Use online tools to determine your freight class easily.
- Distance-Based Pricing: The cost of shipping is largely determined by the distance your freight needs to travel. Additional services, such as expedited delivery or liftgate assistance, can also affect the final price.
By understanding the mechanics and details of LTL shipping, businesses can make informed decisions and optimize their shipping processes. This knowledge helps in choosing the right services and ensuring that shipments are prepared correctly for a seamless journey.
When to Choose Less Than Truck Load
Choosing the right shipping method can save time and money. Less than truck load (LTL) shipping is a great option for businesses with smaller shipments and flexible delivery needs. Here’s when to consider using LTL:
Small Shipments
If your shipment weighs between 150 and 15,000 pounds, LTL is usually the way to go. This method combines multiple smaller loads into one truck, making it a cost-effective choice. Instead of paying for a full truck, you only pay for the space your goods occupy.
Flexible Delivery
LTL shipping offers flexibility in delivery schedules. Because your shipment shares space with others, it may take a bit longer to reach its destination. However, this flexibility can often lead to cost savings, which is beneficial for non-urgent deliveries.
Regional Moves
For businesses looking to move goods within a specific region, LTL is ideal. The hub-and-spoke model of LTL shipping efficiently covers shorter distances, making it perfect for regional deliveries. This ensures that even smaller loads can be moved without unnecessary expense.
Additional Services in LTL
LTL shipping isn’t just about moving goods from point A to B. It also offers a variety of additional services that can be custom to your needs:
- Expedited Shipping: Need your goods faster? LTL offers expedited options for quicker delivery, though this comes with an additional fee.
- Liftgate Service: If your destination doesn’t have a loading dock, a liftgate service can help. This equipment assists in loading and unloading heavy shipments, making delivery smoother.
- Inside Delivery: Sometimes, deliveries need to go beyond the curb. Inside delivery involves bringing shipments into a building, which can be essential for certain businesses.
These services provide extra convenience and cater to specific delivery requirements, ensuring that your LTL shipment is handled with care.
Choosing LTL shipping can streamline logistics for small to medium-sized shipments while offering flexibility and additional services to meet your business needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Less Than Truck Load
What is considered less-than-truckload?
Less than truck load (LTL) shipping is used for shipments that weigh between 150 and 15,000 pounds. These shipments occupy only a portion of a truck’s trailer, making it a cost-effective option for businesses that don’t need a full truckload. Typically, LTL shipments are palletized and can consist of multiple smaller loads combined into one truck. This method leverages the hub-and-spoke model, where goods are transported from local terminals to central hubs before reaching their final destination.
How is LTL freight priced?
The pricing for LTL freight is determined by several key factors:
- Distance: The farther your shipment needs to travel, the higher the cost.
- Freight Class: This classification is based on density, stowability, handling, and liability. Each of these factors affects the freight class, which in turn influences the price.
- Weight and Dimensions: Larger and heavier shipments typically cost more. However, using our free online quoting tool can help you determine the dimensional freight class, streamlining the pricing process.
- Additional Services: If you need extra services like expedited delivery, liftgate, or inside delivery, these will add to the cost.
Density-based pricing is also gaining traction, where the shipment’s density (weight relative to volume) plays a significant role in determining the cost.
Should I ship parcel or LTL?
When deciding between parcel and less than truck load shipping, consider the weight and size of your shipment:
- Parcel Shipping: Ideal for shipments under 150 pounds. It’s a good choice for smaller packages that don’t require palletization.
- LTL Shipping: Best for shipments over 150 pounds. If your goods are palletized and occupy a portion of a truck, LTL is more economical. It offers competitive rates and expert advice, making it suitable for larger, non-urgent shipments.
In summary, if your shipment fits the LTL criteria, it offers a cost-effective and flexible solution compared to parcel shipping, especially for larger loads.
The FLEX Logistics Team is Here to Help!
At FLEX Logistics, we understand that every shipment is unique. That’s why we offer custom solutions custom to meet your specific needs. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, we have the expertise to optimize your less than truck load (LTL) shipping experience.
Our strategic location near Los Angeles seaports, railways, and freeways allows us to provide on-time delivery consistently. This is crucial in the world of logistics, where timing can make or break your supply chain efficiency. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your shipments arrive when and where you need them, every time.
But we don’t just stop at on-time delivery. We pride ourselves on offering a range of additional services such as expedited shipping, liftgate options, and inside delivery to make sure your LTL shipments are handled with care and precision.
By choosing FLEX Logistics, you’re not just opting for a service—you’re partnering with a team that cares about your business’s success. Our goal is to make your logistics as seamless and efficient as possible, providing you with peace of mind and the ability to focus on what you do best.
For more information on how we can assist with your LTL shipping needs, visit our services page. Let’s work together to craft a logistics solution that’s perfect for you.