| What is LTL Freight? | | | | example, a particular shipment is being picked up and |
| LTL is an acronym that stands for Less Than Load - | | | | delivered by the same freight terminal, you would |
| this means that the cargo that is being shipped does | | | | most likely be able to receive the shipment on the |
| not require an entire truckload by itself. Generally, an | | | | next business day upon pickup. In the event that the |
| LTL shipment ranges between 100lbs and 20,000lbs. | | | | freight must be sorted out and routed more than |
| Most of the time, LTL shipments share the cargo | | | | once, then the transit time of that shipment will |
| space of a trailer or a truck with other LTL | | | | definitely be longer than usual. Another factor that |
| shipments that are destined to the same or different | | | | adds on to the days of transit time would be delivery |
| locations. What really happens is that the less than | | | | to remote areas or beyond the common delivery |
| truckload carriers would collect shipments from | | | | points of the respective carrier. |
| different shippers and then they will consolidate all | | | | The cost of using an LTL carrier is a whole lot |
| the shipments onto enclosed trailers and most of the | | | | cheaper in comparison to having to hire an entire |
| time, these shipments would be going to the same | | | | truck just for one exclusive shipment that would not |
| destination. Generally, the truck drivers would start | | | | utilize the full space of the truck. That is why many |
| the day by making delivery of shipments first then as | | | | small time business operators would prefer to use an |
| the truck empties, they would begin picking up | | | | LTL carrier to transport their shipment, as they only |
| shipments or freight from the respective shippers. | | | | need to pay a fraction of the cost of hiring an entire |
| Hence, you will see that most deliveries of shipments | | | | truck. Another great advantage of using an LTL |
| are performed in the mornings while pickups are | | | | carrier is that they also provide other accessorial |
| made in the afternoons. | | | | services such as residential service at pickup or |
| However, the transit times for LTL freight are | | | | delivery, notification prior to delivery, liftgate service |
| considerably longer compared to FTL freight. The | | | | during pickup or delivery - usually at a predetermined |
| reason is due to the dependence of the makeup of | | | | fee or is charged accordingly to the weight of |
| the network of Terminals and Breakbulks that are | | | | shipment. Such additional services are not available |
| operated by any given carrier as well as that said | | | | with FTL carriers. |
| carrier's beyond agents and interline partners. If, for | | | | |