| LTL or Less than Truck Load freight shipping | | | | shipment volumes. |
| provides shippers the convenience of transporting | | | | Due to trucking deregulation, the industry is |
| smaller volume shipments at affordable prices. This is | | | | hypercompetitive. The increased competition has also |
| an emerging trend that is fast becoming popular | | | | forced many LTL shipping companies to buy trucks |
| among shippers. | | | | with modern technology, such as diesel-efficient |
| LTL Freight Shipping Process | | | | engines and accident-reducing mechanisms. They also |
| LTL shipping takes place in several steps. First, the | | | | tend to employ the latest technologies to optimize |
| operator collects shipments from several customers. | | | | the efficiency of their operations. Relative to the full |
| These shipments are then taken to a terminal where | | | | truckload industry, the LTL segment requires more |
| they are sorted according to their destinations. | | | | capital investment. |
| Consolidated shipments with like destinations are then | | | | Benefits of Less than Truck Load Shipping |
| placed in an outbound vehicle and taken to the | | | | Less than Truck Load shipping of freight is beneficial |
| regional terminal. Here, the shipment is unloaded and | | | | to shippers because: |
| distributed to individual destinations. | | | | - Regional terminals facilitate delivery of shipments |
| LTL Freight Shipping as an Emerging Industry | | | | even to the remotest areas. |
| Less than Truck Load freight shipping is a new trend | | | | - Small shipments can be delivered cost-effectively |
| in the shipping industry that is providing significant | | | | with LTL freight shipping, since customers do not |
| costs savings to shippers. However, it is a highly | | | | have to pay for the whole truck. |
| volatile segment of the trucking industry, since it | | | | - Customers can ship their goods at discounted prices |
| involves frequent handling of packages. The process | | | | if they use the services of one LTL freight company |
| involves picking up, sorting, consolidating and the | | | | for all their delivery needs. |
| delivering of packages, making it a labor-intensive | | | | - Most LTL freight companies provide modern |
| exercise. As a result, the LTL shipping industry works | | | | tracking technology to help users track their shipment |
| on smaller margins, covering fixed costs with huge | | | | in real time. |