Less Than Truckload (LTL) Freight

For shipments using land freight or ground freight forwarding, there are two major types of shipment bookings, namely, Less Than Truckload (LTL) Freight and Full Truckload (FTL) Freight. First, we will discuss Less Than Truckload or LTL Freight.

Less Than Truckload (LTL) Freight refers to packages, products and commodities that do not require booking an entire truck for delivery. LTL Freight, also known as Partial Truckload Freight, is a shipping service for relatively small sized shipments or minimal quantities of cargo. Mainly, the goods being loaded into a delivery truck will not completely occupy all of the truck’s cargo space. This allows multiple shippers to share one delivery truck, which saves more money for clients delivering smaller shipments.

LTL Freight Service is most useful and advantageous to small businesses and medium-sized companies that need their products and goods to be delivered in smaller batches. In general, if your package is more than 45 kg but less than a full truckload, then LTL Freight shipping might be the most efficient and economical choice for you.

Because one truck’s cargo space is shared by several shippers, freight forwarding companies will combine a few different product shipments from various clients with multiple delivery stops, in relation to the freight routes.

As your shipment is combined with products from other shippers, you will need to stick to prearranged delivery schedules set by the shipping service provider. Another consideration is that LTL Freight shipments need to go through a distribution center for sorting, in preparation for distribution before the last leg of delivery to your shipment’s destination. As a result of these additional steps, LTL Freight deliveries can be slower than FTL (Full Truckload) Freight deliveries.

As for shipping costs, Less Than Truckload Freight rates are based on your product’s actual weight or volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is how much space your package occupies based on its dimensions; while actual weight or true weight is how heavy your package is, as it says on the weighing scale.

As an alternative, another option to consider is using Expedited LTL Freight service. Expedited LTL freight shipping is designed to reduce unnecessary and avoidable delays whenever possible, in order to deliver your goods where they need to be, in a quicker and more efficient way. This makes Expedited LTL shipping particularly beneficial for factories that need to replenish their raw materials, hospitals that require medical supplies or any other urgent and time-dependent matters. However, this does mean that Expedited LTL comes at a higher price range but the benefits are well worth the costs. Some of these benefits include: dedicated delivery transport from pick-up point to cargo’s destination in adherence with shipping zones and routes; reduced transfers and transit times; and fewer stops, which adds to the shipment’s security.

With Fast Courier’s quick quote tool, we will help you decide if Less Than Truckload Freight is the way to go, or if Expedited LTL Freight is the better delivery option for your delivery needs, all with just a few clicks on your computer or your smartphone!

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