How LTL Freight Shipping Can Work for You
Did you know that there are many types of freight shipping options? If you’re like most people, you only use LTL freight shipping. But what is LTL loads freight shipping? And how does it work? It’s actually a lot more complex than one might think! In this blog post, you will figure out what LTL freight shipping is and how it works so you can start using this form of transportation in your business.
Table of Contents
What does LTL mean?
LTL is a term for less than truckload freight shipping. It’s the most common type of freight shipping and it’s available to businesses that have either very small or large shipments, as well as those in between. LTL freight is also a popular choice for companies with frequent shipments, especially if they don’t have their own fleet of trucks or drivers on staff.
Choosing your freight class
The three most common freight classifications are:
- Less-than-truckload (LTL) – This means that you’re getting a portion of a truckload’s cargo capacity and paying for it on a per-pound basis, which is usually less expensive than full truckloads.
- Flatbed – A flatbed is used when your load requires specialized palletizing or loading methods, like an oversized trailer or container. It’s also generally more expensive than LTL because there’s no additional space to use for other packages like with full truckloads (FTLs).
- Full Truckload (FTL) – A FTL shipment is when all available space inside the trailer goes toward transporting one customer’s goods; however, this can sometimes result in delays if not enough space is available for other shipments ahead of yours.
“Knowing your LTL freight’s whereabouts empowers you to make better business decisions and focus on the other parts of your busy workday” as experts like Flock Freight allow real-time tracking of your freight.
Choosing a carrier for your LTL shipments
When selecting a carrier for your LTL shipments, it’s important to choose a carrier that has a local terminal and a good reputation. Also, choose one that is reliable and has an experienced team of drivers.
It will be helpful if the carrier you choose offers you features such as:
- An easy-to-use shipment tracking system (this will allow you to track every shipment’s progress throughout its journey)
- Flatbed trailers (these are more cost-effective than drop deck trailers)
Shipping Volume and Base Rates
As you load your truck with more and more freight, you’ll notice that the total cost to ship is significantly less than it would be if you were shipping one or two pallets at a time. The reason for this is because of base rates, which are the default amount that all shipments fall under.
Base rates apply to any shipment that’s less than 1,000 pounds (453 kg) in weight and 100 cubic feet (2 ¼ cubic meters). When calculating base rates on LTL shipments, you need to take into account how much space your shipment takes up in your trucks when loading them (i.e., palletized vs non-palletized) and whether or not any hazardous materials are being carried.
In other words: larger clients who ship frequently save money through lower per-mile charges because they require more space in the fleet of vehicles on average.
LTL freight shipping is a great way to ship small packages and large loads. By choosing the right carrier and shipping class, you can save time and money on your LTL shipments.