If your small business needs a freight carrier frequently, you must understand the transportation options to save time and money. LTL (less-than-truckload) and FTL (full truckload) are two popular and widely-used modes of transportation. You need to be aware of how LTL transport and FTL differ from each other and which one among them would work best for your business.
LTL services:
As the name suggests, less than truckload (LTL) implies the shipment will not require the entire space of the truck, and your consignment will be sharing space with other shipments. Customers will pay according to the area their consignment takes in the truck. LTL is a low-cost solution for individuals and small businesses not having large quantities of shipment. You may have to deliver your shipment to the shipping company office.
The shipping company will have fixed delivery timings and may wait till the truck- load is full. LTL transport will usually go to a distribution center or warehouse for sorting and distribution. Since different consignments going to various locations, there will be frequent stops and unloading of goods. While it is money-saving, there may be issues if there are urgent shipments.
Full Truckload
On the other hand, FTL service means one single customer hiring an entire truck. You pay a fixed price for the whole vehicle, whatever the load and space you use. Trucks come in different sizes, and the charges vary as per the size you choose. FTL can be much faster than LTL for several reasons. The transporting company will send an empty truck to your address to pick up the load. Since there is no requirement for sorting, the truck will directly head to the consignee’s destination. You can ask for the FTL when you are ready as it does not adhere to a schedule.
Conclusion:
Before you book your transport, make sure of the consignment load and the truck space you require. If your shipment is not large, you will be leaving the truck half empty but still paying for the entire truckload when you book an FTL. If the consignment is small, using an LTL will save you money.
