What is Less Than Truckload (LTL) Shipping? A Complete Guide
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You're in the right place if you've ever wondered what shipped less than a truckload (LTL) means. LTL shipping is what we do best, and it's a great choice for small businesses that don't need a full truck.
It saves money, gives you options, and works great for small packages that don't need a full truckload. Let me explain how it works and why it might be good for your business.
What is Meant by Less-Than-Truckload?
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What does "less than truckload" mean, you might ask? This means that you don't have to fill up a whole truck with goods when you use less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. Instead, your LTL freight shares space with other shippers' goods, which makes it a cheaper choice for smaller packages.
When to Use LTL Shipping
It is best to use LTL shipping when:
You don't need a whole truckload of your goods.
Sharing space with other shipments will help you save money on shipping.
The weight range for LTL shipments is usually between 150 and 15,000 pounds.
How LTL Freight Works
Several LTL carriers put together shipments from different companies on the same truck in LTL freight shipping. This makes it easy to deliver smaller loads without having to pay for a full truckload.
What is the Difference Between FTL and LTL?
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If you're not sure what the difference is between LTL freight and truckload shipping, read this quick guide. When you ship goods by LTL, you can share the truck space with other shippers, but when you ship goods by full truckload (FTL), your goods take up the whole truck.
LTL vs. FTL: Key Differences
LTL Shipping: You only pay for the space your shipment occupies. Great for smaller loads.
FTL Shipping: You’re paying for the entire truck, regardless of whether you fill it up or not. Best for large shipments.
Cost Comparison
LTL Freight Rates: Lower costs since your shipment shares space with others.
FTL Costs: Higher because you're renting the entire truck, even if it's not full.
What is TL and LTL in Trucking?
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When it comes to trucks, TL means "truckload" and LTL means "less than truckload." If your shipments are big or need to get there quickly, each type of freight shipping has its own benefits.
TL (Truckload) Shipping
This option is best when:
Your goods need the entire truck for themselves.
You have a large shipment that weighs more than 15,000 pounds.
Your delivery is time-sensitive and can’t afford any stops along the way.
LTL Freight Shipping
This option is better for:
Most LTL shipments are under 15,000 pounds.
Businesses that want to reduce shipping costs by sharing space with other shippers.
Flexible deliveries, where your goods can be delivered with stops along the way.
How Freight Class Affects LTL Shipping
When LTL freight is shipped, each package is given a freight class. The LTL freight rates are based on this classification. Your freight class affects your costs, which are based on things like the size, weight, and type of goods you're shipping.
Benefits of LTL Shipping:
Lower shipping costs for small to medium-sized shipments.
You only pay for the truck space you use.
LTL carriers are experts in consolidating LTL freight shipments, so your goods are handled efficiently.
That’s why shipping LTL freight can be a great option for businesses that want to ship freight regularly without the high costs associated with truckload freight shipping.
What Counts as LTL?
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So, what does an LTL shipment mean? We ship things that are too small to fit on a whole trailer but too big to ship as packages here at A Few Imports. LTL shipments are usually between 150 and 15,000 pounds and only take up a small portion of the trailer's space.
Freight Classification
Your goods are given a freight classification before they are shipped. Based on things like weight, size, and the type of goods you're shipping, this grouping is made. Your LTL shipping rates are directly affected by the freight classification. Knowing this helps you better control the costs of your freight.
LTL Shipping Rates
The rates for LTL shipping depend on things like distance, weight, and the type of freight.
A lot of LTL carriers also charge based on how much space your goods take up in the trailer. This means that the less space your goods take up, the less you pay for freight.
Who Should Use LTL?
Small to medium-sized companies that ship between 150 and 15,000 pounds.
They want to save money on freight costs by not having to pay for a whole trailer.
Companies that don't need deliveries all the time and can share trailer space with other trips.
You can save your business money by making smart choices when you know about LTL shipping rates and the role of freight classification. We at A Few Imports are here to help you handle your shipments quickly and cheaply!
How A Few Imports' LTL Service Works
At A Few Imports, we know that not every shipment needs a whole trailer. That's why we offer dependable LTL shipping services. Our freight services are made to save you time and money, no matter what kind of business you run or how often you ship freight.
We work with LTL carriers who are experts at making the best use of trailer space so that you only pay for the space your shipment takes up.
How We Handle Your LTL Shipment
We consolidate your LTL shipment with others, making sure your goods are efficiently packed.
We work with most LTL carriers to ensure that your shipment is handled with care and delivered on time.
With our service, you avoid paying for an entire trailer when your shipment doesn’t require it.
Benefits of Choosing A Few Imports
Flexible Delivery Options: We work with various LTL carriers to offer flexible schedules and routes.
Cost Savings: You only pay for the trailer space you use, helping reduce freight costs.
Final Thoughts
We know how important it is for your business to pick the right shipping service here at A Few Imports. LTL shipping is the best way to go when you don't need a whole truckload. It saves time and money, especially when working with more than one shipper.
When you use an LTL carrier, your load shares space with other shipments, so you only pay for the space your freight occupies. This makes it a great choice for companies that want to streamline their supply chain but don't want to pay the high costs of FTL freight. We are LTL providers, so you can trust us to keep your shipments moving smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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LTL shipping combines several shipments into one truck, while FTL freight uses the whole truck for one shipment.
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LTL companies put together goods from many different shippers into one truck.
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When your LTL load is small and doesn't need a whole truckload, you should use LTL shipping.
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LTL helps you get the most out of your supply chain by making smaller shipments more efficient and cutting costs.
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Yes, sometimes. Because an LTL carrier takes care of many shipments, there may be extra stops along the way.
