You may have heard the term LTL (less than truckload) freight service being thrown around before, and you are unsure what it means. In this article, weโll outline precisely what it is and how it can greatly benefit your business, especially in the early stages as you continue to grow and fill additional orders.
INSTANT QUOTE
You can think of LTL freight service as carpooling. Rather than waste money on petrol for three or four separate vehicles, some colleagues choose to share the same vehicle to work to save money, which is better for the environment.
The same logic applies to LTL freight forwarding. If you have to make deliveries but have not sold enough volume to fill a whole container or 10-wheeler truck, you can have your goods delivered by other companies in the same delivery vehicle.
The alternative to LTL would be FTL shipping. If you are considering FTL services, you will need to be able to fill a container worth of goods. While your goods will stay on the same truck until their destination, this is not the most economical or affordable option unless you successfully fulfill large orders.
What Are the Advantages of LTL Freight Service?
When using LTL freight services, depending on your 3PL provider, you will have access to a number of other great advantages. For example, some fleets will provide you with the option for inside pick-up and delivery, liftgates, and non-commercial delivery options. In addition, you can receive real-time notifications as to where your cargo is, allowing you to efficiently track your order and offer a more accurate ETA to customers.
To give you a better understanding between FTL/whole vehicle and LTL cargo/send cargo of Transportify, the comparison table below will give you essential points you need to know:
Lower Cost, More Savings
Domestic freight services for less than truckload have lesser costs because you are only required to pay for the space your cargo will take up in the truck. Your cargo will be co-loaded with others on a similar route. Combining your cargo with others in one delivery truck maximizes the use of cargo space, which as an effect, reduces shipping costs. These expected savings are passed on to you.
Itโs Better for the Environment
Aside from the economic benefits, LTL trucking companies’ service is much better for the environment because it minimizes oil usage. When combining cargo with other sellers, you significantly reduce the carbon footprint of each party involved. Having one truck dedicated to delivering multiple loads is far superior to having multiple trucks delivering singular loads. And, of course, fewer emissions are kinder to our environment, which is great for your brand image.
Easy to Track & Trace
Another great benefit of LTL freight services is the estimated delivery dates. It is much better for anyone who needs to receive time-sensitive goods. It also allows businesses to easily plan delivery times to ensure that someone is always on the receiving end. Companies like Transportify, which offer their clients access to a state-of-the-art mobile and web application that allows tracking of packages in real-time, are even more sophisticated.
You Can Get More Out of Your Order
By combining your cargo with other customers, you can expand your potential. For example, certain suppliers will understandably require that you meet a minimum order request to ship. With LTL service,ย your can place your smaller shipment along with other shippers’, even if it’s smaller or bigger, as long as it will fit.
Disadvantages You Should Know:
- Trucks that transport LTL usually make many stops since cargo from numerous sources must be loaded and unloaded.
- Waiting times might occur at each loading and unloading station, delaying the entire shipment.
- Not all products may be carried together. Dangerous goods, specific chemicals, and unfinished items are examples of items that are not suitable for LTL transport.
Properly Prepare Goods for LTL Shipment
Unlike FTL, your cargo with LTL will be co-loaded with others’. It is important to prepare your cargo properly to avoid mishandling and damage throughout the delivery. Here are ways how you can effectively do that:
Take note of your dimensions
Always measure your cargo’s length, width, height, and weight. By being accurate on this, you are helping LTL carriers provide you with the most accurate price quotation, which will cause you to avoid the wrong budget allocation. Thus, avoiding further delays and delivery operation disruptions.
Why this step is important: LTL freight carriers fill a truck with multiple loads from different clients. Giving them accurate cargo dimensions will help them determine how much cargo will fit the truck available.
Ensure safe packaging and clear labeling
Customers should load their items onto pallets or crates before collection. Larger products should be placed on the bottom of the pallets or crates, while lighter items should be on top. Including at least one large label on each handling unit in the cargo is also good.
Why this step is important: Freight is typically handled several times throughout the LTL shipping procedure. Well-packaged items can be protected from knocks and drops during the journey.
The proper label should be attached to each cargo that would aid the transporter in recognizing how to handle the package, such as “Do Not Stack,” “Fragile,” “This Side Up,” and “Handle with Care.” Labeling freight helps truck drivers understand how to transport it without causing damage.
SEE ALSO
Less than Truckload Service of Transportify for Heavier Shipment
Less than Truckload trucking service is a more flexible way to make deliveries in the early stages of your expansion. This allows you to ship your goods far and wide without hitting a certain amount of orders first. This means your customers are not kept waiting unnecessarily and can receive their goods as soon as possible. This will improve your customer care, reputation, and retention rate.
It is an important stepping stone to economically filling an FTL freight delivery vehicle. Work your way up and focus on what matters while your 3PL company takes care of the rest.
Transportify offers Send Cargo (LCL) service in Luzon to areas in Visayas and Mindanao. The platform can match your cargo to different vehicles, whichever is available and will best fit your cargo. We understand the value of giving options to our customers and clients, so we have a full truckload and less than truckload.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Which is cheaper, LTL freight services or full truckload?
๐ฆ LTL freight service is cheaper because you are required to pay only the space that your cargo will occupy. The price of LTL is calculated based on dimensions, so the smaller your cargo, the lesser the price will be. If you are to ship one mid-sized cargo and you are not in a rush to deliver the items, LTL can be the most cost-effective option for you.
Does Transportify offer less than truckload service anytime?
๐ฆ Yes. Our customers can book our less than truckload service anytime through the logistics app (mobile or web application). However, expect that the earliest pick-up time would be 8 am the next day. This is because certain arrangements will be done with other cargo as well, looking into considerations of the cargo dimensions and point of origin.
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