LTL Shipping vs FTL Shipping: Which is Right for You?
If you’re new to needing logistics, it’s easy to get lost when learning new terms or figuring out what it is you need in terms of logistics. You may have heard about FTL and LTL and know that FTL means full truckload while LTL means less-than-truckload, but you’re not exactly sure how choosing one option would affect you. In this post, we’ll go over each one, the benefits, and the disadvantages to help you decide which shipping method suits your needs.
What Is FTL Shipping?
FTL refers to when there is an entire truckload of freight that you’re shipping or is shipping to you. It contains only your freight, which takes up the whole truck, or close to it. With FTL shipping, the truck drives straight to the receiver, making the transit time of your freight predictable as they offer a delivery time. FTL is the better option if you have a strict deadline.
The benefits of FTL shipping include:
- You don’t have to worry about your freight mixing with others
- It ships directly and doesn’t make frequent stops
- You don’t have to worry about others accidentally getting part of your freight
- Faster transit times
- No weight or size restrictions
- It saves you money when you ship in bulk, or ship large or heavy items.
The disadvantages of FTL shipping include:
- Costs more than LTL
- Not cost-effective for small volumes
- Some carriers don’t provide added services such as handling
What Is LTL Shipping?
LTL refers to using less than a truckload, such as when you only ship a few pallets simultaneously. With this method, you don’t pay for the space you use; instead of paying for a truck that you won’t fill to capacity. With LTL shipping, the carriers usually fill the extra space with other shipments to maximize efficiency. Because they add other shipments, the freight doesn’t go directly to the end user because it makes multiple stops, which means it has an estimated delivery date. In LTL shipping, the cargo is loaded and unloaded out of trailers several times.
The benefits of LTL shipping include:
- Not paying for unused cargo space, cutting down on costs
- Reduces warehousing costs
- Better shipping rates
- LTL shippers ensure the safety and security of items
- More options
- Lower carbon footprint
The disadvantages of LTL shipping include:
- Greater predictability as you’re never sure how many stops the trailer will have.
- It will take longer due to other stops the trailer makes
- Not as secure as FTL due to the number of stops.
- Higher risk of damage – Your freight might have to come out before someone else’s.
- Higher risk of missing cargo – Something might not return to the trailers.
Which Is The Better Option For You?
While one isn’t inherently better than the other, the one that’s better for you depends on a few things. If you have flexibility in scheduling and have less than 12 pallets, then LTL is a better choice. If you have fragile cargo, a strict delivery deadline, or more than 12 pallets of freight, then FTL is the better choice in that regard. A few other factors you need to consider are your shipping budget, the size, and the weight of your goods.
At AFP Global Logistics, we’re committed to building partnerships and mission achievement. With more than 30 years of experience, we’ve created a strong team and a global network of more than 9500 partners. Contact us today for your logistics needs by either filling out our online form or calling us directly at (800) 274-1237.