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Does LTL Make Sense for Small Business Shipping?

December 3, 2022
5 min read
3PL
Less Than Truckload
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forklift with packages on pallets

Less Than a Truckload, or LTL, is a cost-effective way to ship goods throughout the United States. LTL is used to transport small freight or freight that does not require an entire trailer. It is usually used when freight weighs between 150 and 15,000 pounds.  If you work at or own a small business, you may find that, in some cases, LTL is a better option than parcel shipping through carriers like UPS and FedEx.

Let’s take a look at how LTL may benefit your small business.

Financial Savings

Small package shipping via parcel can get very expensive very quickly. Shipping costs aside, the packaging material cost of boxes and insulating material can get costly. In some cases, parcel shipping may be the best or only option. LTL might make better sense if you have many packages going to the same destination or large, bulky items which would fit better on a pallet than they would in an individual box.

The cost advantage with LTL is similar to the savings you’d receive at a warehouse superstore like Costco. You save at Costco because you’re buying in bulk. You’re saving on shipping with LTL for the same reason. Placing several items on a pallet rather than shipping them individually is going to cost less. It’s especially effective when you’re shipping goods to a warehouse.

Additional Options

Compared to other forms of transportation, LTL offers more shipping options. These options include liftgates, notifications prior to delivery, special handling, inside delivery and pickup, and freeze protection. You may not find these options if you use another shipping mode.

Improved Security

If you opt for LTL freight services, you can expect your items to be loaded onto pallets or into crates. This can protect them from the wear and tear that often occurs as a result of handling, residual damage, or interaction with other freight on the same truck. In addition, the risk of your items is significantly reduced with LTL shipping.

Space Savings

To use the full truckload shipping method, you’ll need to wait until you have enough items to fill up an entire truck before your shipment can be picked up. LTL offers the option to ship on-demand. You’ll be able to save warehouse space and avoid having piles of items that are waiting for pickup taking up space in your warehouse.

Reduced Emissions

Using LTL shipping is one of the best ways to reduce the number of carbon emissions making their way into the environment. Since LTL discourages trucks from driving around unless they are at full capacity, this shipping method is extremely environmentally friendly.

Professional Expertise

If you’re a small business, you may not have the ability to hire in-house shippers. By turning to LTL shipping, you can gain access to the knowledge of logistics professionals that can help you improve the way you operate.

Greater Transparency

It can be frustrating not knowing where your shipment is. By working with an LTL shipper who has a state-of-the-art tracking system, you and your customers can easily keep track of the progress of your shipments.

Contact Amware Today

If you are interested in learning more about LTL shipments and how they may be valuable to your small business, contact Amware today. LTL isn’t a great fit for all small businesses, but for those regularly shipping goods, it may provide cost savings and help streamline your shipments.

To see how LTL might fit your business, contact an Amware LTL rep today or request a free trial of Amrate, Amware’s cloud-based LTL software. Amrate offers LTL clients the option to obtain rates from multiple carriers or load their own rates!

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