What is LTL shipping?

When a shipper only needs to a move a small number of pallets LTL is the best option to use. When the shipment is ready, a pickup request is scheduled and a local LTL carrier will pick it up at your facility. Once that LTL driver fills out the trailer, it is brought back to their terminal. Its then sorted and moves from terminal to terminal until it reaches the destination. 

  Shipping LTL is a slower transit time option when compared to truckload so why use it? LTL is more cost-effective shipping method. Since the shipper is only paying for a portion of the truck instead of the whole trailer. So, each shipper is paying only for the amount of space used.

  Since it takes a little longer for LTL shipments to get from the shipper to the consignee, how do you keep track of where the shipment is at? Easy! When the driver goes to pick up a shipment, they will place a label on each pallet. this label has what is known as a Pro number. This label is scanned at each terminal showing exactly where your freight is located. 

  What if you have more than a couple pallets but still less than a truckload. Then Volume LTL comes in to play. If a shipper needs at least 10' linear feet of space they can request volume rate. This rate tends to be a more cost-effective solution then regular LTL, but has an even slower transit time. LTL carries will only move these when the have capacity at each terminal. 

When shipping LTL, the word accessorials comes up all the time. What is it? Accessorials occur when the shipment requires a certain way for it to be picked up or delivered. Such as if the shipment is being delivered to a residential location or needs a liftgate.  Accessorials do cost extra to begin with, but if not added on correctly from the start they will incur additional costs after.