4 of the benefits of shipping LTL freight
In this post, we show you 4 of the benefits of shipping LTL freight. Remember the specs for the LTL loads: from 1 to 6 non-stackable pallets, with a total weight of no more than 10 000 pounds and whose measures do not exceed 12 linear feet. For more information on consolidated transport, you may be interested in reading: The beginner’s guide on LTL.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) freight is a great way to cut transportation costs by 40%
On an LTL service, each customer pays according to the shipment’s type (class), amount, weight, size and density. LTL is the most affordable transportation service when customers need to transport less than 12 linear feet and less than 10 000 pounds of product.
For example, sending 6 pallets of a standard size from Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Laredo, Texas, United States, in LTL can mean a saving of 40% compared to the cost of sending the same number of pallets in the same route in a Full truckload (FTL) service.
LTL shipments can be delivered and picked up in residential areas in the United States
In the United States, it is possible to deliver consolidated cargo in residential areas because trucks have Lift-gate, which is a loading ramp that is used when the shippers or consignees do not have a dock to load and unload. This is very useful for small and medium businesses that require receiving or sending less than 10 thousand pounds of merchandise and that do not have a dock.
It is possible to get the guaranteed delivery additional service on your LTL shipment
Less Thantruckload shipments are generally slower than Full Truckload shipments because LTL shipments often make several stops before reaching their final destination. This cause the delivery date to be unpredictable on LTL shipments. That is why LTL companies generally provide only an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), instead of providing guaranteed delivery.
However, it is possible to add the guaranteed delivery service to your LTL shipment so there is a guarantee that the delivery will be made on a specific day. While there is always a probability of delays, shipments with guaranteed delivery will enjoy a faster treatment at the terminals. If you need to reduce transit time, it is advisable to purchase the additional service of guaranteed delivery when hiring an LTL service.
Just note that the guaranteed delivery service is not applicable when transporting hazardous materials.
If your LTL shipment has to be delivered quickly, hire a transportation company that ships LTL regularly on the route where you need to transport your goods
Freight Forwarders are able to make LTL deliveries with reduced transit times on their most frequent routes for two reasons:
Shipments make fewer stops. Freight forwarders have several customers who need to transport their cargo from the same point of origin and to the same final destination.
When freight forwarders have frequent customers on a single route, they make regular shipments on specific days, sometimes up to twice a week, in order to expedite deliveries.
For example, Mexicom Logistics makes LTL shipments from Quebec and Ontario to Mexico twice a week. LTL shipments leave from Montreal on Mondays, and Thursdays; and from Ontario on Tuesdays, and Fridays to deliver in Mexico promptly.
