 |
Did you know that your commercial shipping crate moves via LTL shipping? LTL shipping, or less than truckload shipping, is one of the most common shipping methods in the transportation industry. Learn more about LTL shipping and how it can work for you.
LTL shipping simply means that your shipment takes up less than a 48 or 52 foot trailer. Your shipment shares space with other freight on a trailer. This means LTL shipping reduces costs and more.
Table of Contents
In most cases, LTL shipping works on a hub and spoke model. In this model, smaller local terminals are considered the spokes and the larger, central terminals are considered the hubs. Spoke terminals get shipments of cargo or freight and then combine it onto the outbound trucks. From there, goods are transported to the hub terminal or distribution center. There freight or cargo is delivered to or consolidated to make it out further.
There are many reasons why you might choose LTL freight shipping. Not only does this method of shipping make the most sense when it comes to moving a commercial shipping crate, but it comes with a few other advantages.
Some of the benefits of LTL shipping include:
When combined with the previously-mentioned reduced costs, these benefits make LTL freight shipments a smart choice for shippers of smaller-volume freight.
Many companies take advantage of LTL shipping. In fact, You Crate commercial shipping crates move on R+L Carriers’ LTL trucks.
Companies often choose LTL carriers when they have a smaller load of freight to move. LTL carriers can move freight in crates, on pallets, bagged or bundles. LTL carriers can also move drums. Freight that can be broken down into smaller groups can be shipped with LTL freight.
LTL shipping came about when the trucking industry started being regulated. The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 brought about the first rules. This new law limited the hours truckers could work, set rate regulations and monitored range.
More changes came in 1948. With legislation passed then, Congress allowed carriers to fix prices and put them exempt from antitrust laws. Competition between carriers was limited because there were few trucking companies on the road at this time.
The trucking industry was deregulated in the 1970s. Price fixing was brought down. The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 came with even more changes for the LTL industry. The passage of the law led to many non-union carriers entering the marker, which drove down prices.
Changes in the industry brought competition and made LTL shipping what it is today.
According to numbers from the U.S. Department of Transportation, about 54 million tons of freight worth $48 billion are on the roads in trucks each day. The supply chain thrives on LTL transportation.
How does LTL shipping compare to truckload shipping? There are many ways to answer this question. Some shippers take advantage of both services, while other rely on just one. Learn about the differences between LTL shipping and truckload freight to learn which option is best for you.
LTL trucks are loaded with different freight from different companies. This means that your cargo shares space with other companies’ freight. LTL freight might make many stops at different terminals along the way. Your freight could be handled at each stop. This can increase transit time.
When shipping an entire truckload of goods, handling is reduced. This means your freight will stay on the same truck from pickup to delivery. This can mean quicker transit time.
LTL service for commercial shipping crates through You Crate is priced by delivery zone, regardless of the freight class. Zones are based on ZIP code. In other cases, LTL shipping is monitored by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association . The NMFTA classifies each freight commodity based on density and ease of transport with a freight class. The freight class must go on the Bill of Lading. Many carriers price LTL freight service base pricing on freight class, the origin and destination, how much space it takes up on the truck and any additional requirements, like guaranteed service or white glove delivery. These factors add up to the LTL price you pay.
When you’re shipping an entire truckload of goods, you might find that prices can fluctuate. Truckload pricing is based on factors including origin and destination, freight class, weight of the shipment, truck capacity, seasonal shifts, the shipping route, fuel prices and operating costs.
The size of LTL shipments can vary. Your shipment might be one crate or 6 pallets. LTL freight usually takes up less than 12 feet of space in a trailer. Twelve feet of space in a trailer is equal to about 6 pallets. Depending on the commodity you’re shipping, this might weigh 200 pounds or it might weigh 2 tons.
Truckload shipments can accommodate much more freight. A full truckload might be 24, 30 or even more pallets of goods. When it comes to truckload freight, the amount of space your shipment takes up is more important than the weight. A full truckload might weigh 500 pounds, 5 tons or even more.
You Crate ships commercial shipping crates via LTL shipping. This means your crate will share cargo space with other freight, but it also comes with reduced costs and a reduced carbon footprint.
Other advantages of working with a commercial shipping crate through You Crate include:
By working with R+L Carriers, one of the top LTL shipping providers, You Crate is dedicated to handling your shipment with ease and without hassle. Call today at 877-558-2580 or request a quote online to get started with You Crate and R+L Carriers service.
