Freight shipping is one of the most useful forms of shipping today. In this shipping style, professionals use a variety of transportation methods to transport essential goods and commodities across land or sea. Freight shipping ensures products stay safe during shipments and arrive on time at their destination. Shipping freight via trucks is one of the most popular methods, with nearly three-quarters of the United States’ freight shipped this way.
Shipment professionals use a variety of options for freight shipping in trucks. The two most common forms are full truckload (FTL) shipping and less than truckload (LTL) shipping. It’s important to know the difference between these two styles to choose the best option for your goods.
What Is Full Truckload Shipping?
The first major option for freight shipping via trucks is FTL shipping. FTL is cost-effective and great for shipping delicate packages, making it a popular choice for many vendors and distributors with hefty shipping output.
FTL Definition
Full truckload shipping means a shipment fills an entire tractor-trailer. In this method, one business or organization books the whole trailer with only their goods filling the truck. Their goods take up the whole truck, whether or not they pay for the entire space. Once they load the cargo into the truck, it travels directly to its destination.
FTL loads normally travel to one location without any stops. Because of their direct travel route, the goods are handled much less and stay securely packed in the truck bed with no additional movement until unloading. This process makes FTL shipping ideal for fragile items because they aren’t constantly moved around and are at the risk of breaking.
Full truckload shipments typically arrive at the desired location quickly. Without any additional stops, the driver can take the goods right to the site. This cuts down on time and allows for a much quicker delivery.
Shipping specialists use FTL to move many products, such as:
- Time-sensitive products: Distributors often select FTL to ship fragile or time-sensitive items that must arrive by a particular time. Although large shipments of food aren’t typically considered a heavy load, they might still ship by FTL to arrive at a grocery store or other retailer before their expiration dates. Many vendors also need goods to reach the next location by a specific deadline to reach a certain inventory quota. FTL ensures time-sensitive products like these travel straight to the next location. With minimal handling, delicate items also remain safe during transport.
- Heavy items: You are guaranteed an entire tractor-trailer’s worth of space when you pay for an FTL shipment. While every load differs, an FTL shipment can carry tens of thousands of pounds. If you know your shipment is large or weighs a great deal, FTL provides enough room for the load, ideal for breakable and costly items, like large appliances and equipment or delicate technology.
Overall, full truckload shipping is a great option if you need a direct delivery or have a hefty product load.
FTL Benefits
FTL offers many benefits. The straightforward transportation and secure packaging ensure goods are safe throughout the entire shipping process. There are multiple other advantages to full truckload shipping, such as:
- High security: With an FTL load, your goods are the only ones in the truck. Only the driver and other transport professionals have access to your products, and they remain securely loaded throughout the entire drive. This removes any opportunity for goods to be mixed up or misplaced during transport. Without any extra stops, you can be sure your products will arrive at the correct destination.
- Quick delivery: Because the truck drives straight to your business’s desired location, the entire process progresses quickly. While not as fast as air travel, FTL is typically the swiftest option for ground transport. You can feel secure knowing your items will arrive on time or maybe even faster.
- Limited handling: Full truckload shipping is an excellent choice for delicate items. Because they stay in the truck bed the entire time with no additional handling, freight stays protected.
FTL Cons
Full truckload shipping also has a few cons to consider while evaluating if FTL shipping is the right choice for your goods.
Here are examples of FTL disadvantages:
- Higher costs: FTL shipments require booking an entire tractor-trailer, meaning the price is typically higher than other shipping forms like LTL. If you have a huge shipment, FTL might be the most cost-effective option. If you have a smaller load, reserving the entire space isn’t the most economical choice. However, the extra cost is sometimes worth it when you have a particularly strict deadline or time-sensitive products.
- Not suited for smaller shipments: Some FTL services might not carry smaller loads, though this depends on the carrier. If they do, a tiny load might move around unintentionally due to the extra space around it. If you have a smaller load of goods, you might consider LTL or other shipping forms.
- Not always environmentally friendly: If sustainability and eco-friendliness are essential values in your organization, FTL might not be the best option. Sometimes, the entire bed of the truck isn’t filled, meaning the vehicle emits large amounts of carbon emissions even with a near-empty load. Other shipping methods like LTL ensure the entire trailer is full and the maximum amount of truck power is used.
What Is Less Than Truckload Shipping?
The other main truck shipping option is LTL shipping. While LTL shipping is similar to FTL, a few crucial differences separate the two.
LTL Definition
Multiple pallets and shipments of various goods travel on one tractor-trailer in this shipping style. LTL loads can range anywhere from 150 to 10,000 pounds. Once the trailer is full, it follows a specific drop-off route with multiple stops to unload each shipment. Service professionals unload and reload the truck as each load is dropped off, maximizing the available space.
Because you only have to pay for your shipment’s space on the trailer, LTL is often a more cost-effective option. Instead of paying for the entire trailer, you essentially share the cost with other distributors. Sometimes, distributors don’t have enough goods to fill a complete truck, and sharing the space with other goods is the more economical choice.
For many companies with smaller loads, LTL is their go-to option.
LTL Benefits
LTL shipping also has many advantages for distributors. Many choose it for its convenience and cost-efficiency. With the continued growth of online shopping, combining multiple shipments has become an ideal option for many online sellers.
LTL has many other benefits, including:
- More frequent shipping: Many companies using the FTL method wait to ship until they have a nearly full load. With LTL shipping, you can send smaller shipments more frequently and usually at a lower cost. This method is a great option for companies with a variety of products or frequent online sales.
- Lower costs overall: Because you don’t have to rent an entire trailer, the cost is usually much lower with LTL shipping. You only pay according to the space you need, meaning you don’t have to pay for extra space if you don’t need it.
- More environmentally friendly: LTL shipping combines multiple loads, reducing the overall number of trips and carbon emissions. Instead of each small load getting its own trip and producing excess carbon emissions, they may all get packed into one shipment. The fewer trips the truck takes, the smaller its carbon footprint.
LTL Cons
LTL shipping also has a few drawbacks to also consider when selecting options. While LTL is usually better for the budget, it has other features that might not be as fitting:
- More shipping and handling: LTL shipments make multiple stops as they deliver each separate shipment. With each stop, shipping professionals might move your goods as they unload others. The frequent movement might not be suitable for fragile items that break easily.
- Often takes longer to arrive: As mentioned, the LTL method doesn’t travel directly to one destination. Instead, it stops at various locations along the way, unloading shipments from various vendors at each stop. Because of this, your items will probably take longer to get to their destination. If you need a quicker option, LTL might not work for you.
- More complicated shipping process: With FTL shipments, your order is the only one on the truck. The independence makes it simple to plan shipping times because you only have to coordinate your business’s schedule with the truck’s schedule. Because LTL shipments can contain many different orders from a variety of businesses, you’ll probably have a limited timeframe to choose from, meaning your LTL shipment might not arrive at the exact time you need. If you don’t have a particular preference for an arrival date, more restricted options shouldn’t be an issue.
Key Differences Between LTL and FTL
One of the most significant differences between these two types is truck capacity. While FTL shipments take up an entire truck, LTL orders are just one part of a larger shipment. LTL and FTL may also differ by order size. LTL orders are typically smaller so they can fit in with other shipments. FTL orders can be as large as the entire tractor-trailer.
When comparing LTL and FTL, you might note some cost differences. Because FTL requires renting an entire trailer, it usually costs more than LTL shipments.
How to Choose Between LTL and FTL for Your Product Shipments
Because LTL and FTL vary by shipping weight, cost and timing, you should consider a few things about your shipment before selecting between the options. That way, you can choose the shipping option that suits your business and products and keep your items safe while meeting any critical deadlines.
Here are some things to keep in mind for your decision:
- Time sensitivity: Consider the time urgency of your products. Some businesses require goods to be delivered by a specific time due to expiration dates or business needs. Others might not need such a strict deadline. FTL shipments usually travel straight to one specific destination, while LTL might have multiple stops and extend the trip. While many factors influence shipment and delivery times, FTL shipments are the best way to ensure a direct delivery.
- The number of pallets: Think about the size of your shipment. FTL and LTL differ by size and weight limits, so it’s best to know how big your product shipment is before choosing one. Because FTL shipments fill an entire truck, they’re usually the better option for bigger freight amounts. However, it depends on your shipment’s overall weight and size. Be sure to measure these before selecting between LTL and FTL.
- Item delicacy: You should also consider how fragile your products are before choosing a shipping style. Do they require delicate handling, or are they fine to be loaded and unloaded from truck to truck? If you know your items require careful attention, FTL might be the better choice. LTL shipments have much higher handling rates and sometimes less security.
- Budget: It’s always good to keep your overall budget in mind. FTL and LTL often differ in price range, so it’s crucial to select the lower cost if you’re on a tight budget. For large shipments, FTL is typically the most cost-effective, while LTL is better for smaller loads.
Depending on the nature of your items, one consideration might be more significant than others. It’s sometimes best to rank the importance of these factors to see which shipping method fits your preferences. For instance, if FTL aligns with your shipment size, item delicacy and time sensitivity but is outside of your budget, FTL is most likely still the best option.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all option, you’re sure to find the best choice for your shipment when you understand these key differences between FTL and LTL.
Contact Kesco Logistics for Freight Forwarding Today
If you’re still unsure whether FTL or LTL is better for your goods, contact Kesco Logistics. We understand the importance of choosing the right freight shipping option. That’s why our specialists help you find the best shipping solution for your needs. From freight forwarding to specialty services based on industry, we have the freight solution for you. We’ll help you craft a personalized global logistics plan that’s best for your products and shipping timeframes and ensure you make the best choice between LTL vs. FTL.
Our dedicated team of experts can guide you through the entire freight shipping process. We strive to offer the highest quality of customer service to find the solution your business needs. Contact Kesco Logistics today to get started with our freight shipping services.
