Ftl trucking full#
Ftl trucking pro#

Can’t Decide Between FTL and LTL?Įven though you now know the answer to “what is FTL and LTL?” you may still have questions. You can also use added services, including the option to ship and receive items anywhere.

Perishable, time-sensitive products should also be sent with FTL.įor most shippers, eCommerce entrepreneurs, and small businesses, LTL is the preferred and much more economical method. Even then, it will only be economical if the shipper can afford to buy the whole space.įor shipping large and fragile items, however, the minimal handling of FTL could be more beneficial.

Ftl trucking full#

FTL/LTL Freight: Which Method is Best for You?įTL is reserved for larger companies with the infrastructure and logistics to receive a full truck carrier at the destination. The downside of LTL is that multiple handlings mean your goods need to be well packaged for over the road transport and a transfer between the line haul trailer and the local delivery trucks. There are also added services you can use, such as white-glove pickups and deliveries as well as specialized handling. You can ship items of various sizes from multiple sources and destinations.

Ftl trucking pro#

The main pro of LTL shipping is that it’s flexible. Also, you often need to be able to effectively manage the substantial paperwork that FTL requires. Your destination needs to have a loading dock to receive deliveries properly. The carrier will also usually arrive directly at the destination without passing through a central hub.īut because FTL doesn’t pass through a hub system, you don’t get the same handling and added services as you do with LTL. The added advantage of FTL is privacy and security as you won’t need to share the cargo truck with other shippers.

Other than price and time, you need to consider other pros and cons to see which shipping method is for you.

This is the only way to truly see how long the actual shipping time is, then correctly balance the need for a quick timetable vs. The best move, however, is to ask for exact timetables for both FTL and LTL shipping. On the other hand, if a small delay is acceptable, the lower cost of LTL is more advantageous. This, of course, takes a longer time.įTL might be costlier, but it can potentially save you down the line, especially if you need to ship time-sensitive items. The carrier will also often need to consolidate and fill up the cargo capacity to maximize space and fuel. LTL, in contrast, may need to pass through a few hubs before reaching its final destination. That’s because the entire trailer is going to a single location. The timeline, or how long it would take for your shipment to arrive, is an equally important factor.įTL is the fastest option. Timeline of LTL and FTL TransportationĬost is, of course, just one aspect when comparing FTL/LTL logistics. Therefore, it might be prudent to get both LTL and FTL quotes from a broker and see where the savings are more significant. FTL is often quoted per mile, while LTL is quoted per weight and pallet space. You also need to know that there’s a difference in quoting LTL vs. This is due to the fact that you’re paying on an “as needed” basis. LTL, on the other hand, is an economical method in almost all circumstances. This is especially true if the entire shipment is going to the same destination. However, if you can fill up and maximize the entire space given to you, then FTL shipping might turn out to be cheaper. Based on the FTL/LTL meaning, it would be easy to assume that FTL is much more expensive as you’ll be renting the entire trailer. FTLĬost is, undoubtedly, one of the prime considerations when choosing between LTL vs. The question is, which method should you choose -FTL or LTL? Cost of LTL vs. In contrast to FTL, LTL (or Less-Than-Truckload) is where you only use a portion of a truck’s space. This process entails hiring an entire truck or carrier to carry a large shipment. But what do LTL and FTL stand for?įTL (or Full Truckload) is the “traditional” way of shipping. With the prevalence of eCommerce and direct-to-consumer deliveries, shipping methods have adapted to accommodate smaller, custom-sized loads.īecause of this, a new type of shipping method was introduced in the 1980's: LTL. Large, whole-truck-only shipments are now, for the most part, a thing of the past.