Less-than-truckload transportation, commonly known as general cargo, is the most popular and cheapest form of domestic as well as international transportation. We offer our customers services in the TSL industry, which consists of comprehensive customer service.
What is LTL transport?
LTL transport (Less Truck Load) - A type of transport also called less-than-truckload. It is characterized (unlike FTL) by the division of cargo space into goods that ultimately go to several different destinations. It applies to goods that do not occupy the entire cargo space, but only part of it. In logistics, LTL transport can also be found under the name PTL (Partial Load).
What LTL transport is used for?
LTL transport is recommended, especially when the customer has a certain amount of goods to transport. This type of transport is an excellent solution for small goods such as several pallets. It is also used when the goods are too heavy for a courier to take and too small to qualify for FTL transportation. It is also perfect when the goods being shipped do not have an expiration date and do not need to be delivered quickly to their destination. LTL transportation can thus be tailored to a variety of cargoes from different industries available on the market.
The potential of LTL transportation has already been noted over the past few years. According to a report by Technavio (a company of Market Research Reports), forecasts from 2023 to 2027 illustrate a significant increase in the relevance of the use of the LTL transportation method relative to others. This is shown in the following report.
Source: Prnewswire.com
LTL, FTL transport - differences
The main difference between LTL and FTL transport is the nature of the cargo space. A customer who decides to transport by this method reserves only part of the space available on the trailer. The transported goods do not go immediately to their destination, as is the case with full truckload transport. Because the cargo space is divided for several customers, the driver has to stop at several different locations along the way to unload products that have been contracted to be transported elsewhere. One of the main differences separating these types of transport is the price, as LTL transport, due to its specifics, is more attractively priced.
Advantages and disadvantages of LTL transport
Less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation is a model of freight transportation in which different loads from different shippers are combined in a single mode of transport. Today, LTL transport is a popular way of transporting smaller quantities of goods that does not require the rental of an entire truck. Like any logistics model, this transport has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of LTL transport
Thanks to technological advances and exceptional attention to our clients' products, LTL transport is completely safe, so the client is guaranteed the highest quality of transportation and comprehensive services throughout the transportation process. In addition to safety, which is a priority value for us when transporting cargo, LTL transportation is characterized by the following advantages:
- Efficiency: right after safety, efficiency is one of the biggest advantages of LTL transportation. The cost of transportation is shared among the various shippers who place their loads in the trailer, making it a very economical solution that can significantly reduce the customer's transportation costs.
- Flexibility: the transport trailer offers an extensive possibility to adjust the amount of transported goods to the actual needs. There is no need to wait for the entire load to be completed in the trailer to perform LTL transportation.
- Additional Services: As experienced carriers, we offer our customers additional services such asdoor-to-door pickup and delivery, cargo storage in our temporary storage warehouse and real-time cargo tracking.
- Accessibility: general cargo transportation is a widely available mode of transportation, thanks to many facilities and full documentation over the years it has become an uncomplicated activity that brings many benefits to our customers.
It is important to carefully analyze the cost, delivery time and specifications for each cargo.
Disadvantages of LTL transport
- One of the main disadvantages of less-than-truckload transport is that it takes longer to transport goods in than FTL transport (in FTL transport, cargo is delivered directly from point A to point B).
- The fact that the goods delivered from the customer are initially stored in a warehouse to leave with other products that have been shipped near the lot can also be a disadvantage.
- The complexity of managing multiple loads additionally may require more administrative time associated with coordination in the relationship between the warehouse and the carrier.
Despite the disadvantages such as the initial storage, or the time it takes to transport the cargo, we believe that the number of superlatives is sufficient to opt for just this type of cargo transportation. It should also be recalled that the valuation of LTL transport service is individual in each case. Contact us - together we will negotiate the best rate for your transport, set convenient dates for the pick-up of the goods, the expected delivery date and inform you about the necessary documents related to the organization of LTL transport.