If you are engaged in a business where you need to ship many products or goods, then you need to understand the difference between the full truckload and less than truckload.
In a general sense, we can say that the Less Than Truckload (LTL) service is the ideal choice for smaller loads while the Full Truckload Services in BC is advised for large and heavy loads.
But when broadly understanding these two transit services, there are still additional factors to take into account. Less than Truckload, or LTL, shipping is a separate shipping service from full truckload shipping.
Understanding the effect of risk, speed, and the cost is the first step in determining if you are doing everything possible to ensure the effective shipment of your inland cargo.
This article provides you with direction so that you will be able to choose which of the two services best suits your specific transportation requirements.
FULLTRUCKLOAD
What is Full Truckload Shipping?
A complete truck is allocated to a single load, or a single customer, as part of the ground transportation service known as FTL, or full truckload. The FTL transport service is appropriate for huge loads that can fill a whole truck. Additionally, it is the best choice for delicate or temperature-sensitive loads.
Opting for full truckload service ensures that your goods would never be trapped with other things or change hands at any point.
What is Less Than a Truckload?
Less Than Truckload or LTL Freight Shipping Services in BC, is the process of transporting freight by combining shipments from various clients into a single truck that is meant to be for the same destination.
In other words, since each customer’s shipment does not take up the entire truck, the space left behind is filled with the shipment of another customer.
LTL is one of the most affordable options when it comes to land transport.
After gradually understanding the meaning of both terms, let’s come across the difference between the two with numerous bases of comparison.
Risk Comparison
There is always a chance of loss, delay, or damage during transportation. But rather than while the freight is in transit, many damages occur when it is handled at distribution terminals and centers.
FTL transportation reduces the chance of freight damage because the shipment is only handled twice.
When it comes to LTL shipments, they generally unload and reload each time a truck stops at a terminal before reaching its destination.
There is a higher risk of damage, theft, or incorrect loading of the items while using less than a truckload.
Size comparison
While shipping the goods, size is one of the most important factors that must be considered. The names full truckload and less than truckload are self-explanatory as LTL are for smaller shipments which do not fill the entire truck, leaving space for other small shipments.
Whereas FTL shipments typically fill a whole truck and are substantially larger.
So if you need to transport bulky goods or bigger cargo then FTL will be the suitable option for you.
Speed Comparison
The quickest way to deliver freight is through full truckload because there is only one load to take into account. The only things that can affect how quickly the freight will arrive are capacity restrictions and the driver’s work schedule.
Due to ride-sharing in the same trailer, LTL shipments don’t travel in a straight line to their destination. The distance traveled is reduced by the diversions and stops made along the way.
LTL shipments, on the other hand, may be planned more regularly and don’t need to wait for a full truck to leave, thus smaller loads can be delivered to market more quickly.
Cost Comparison
The full truck (FTL) is still your best financial option if your cargo is sizable
enough. Full truckload shipping should be used by companies when shipments are large enough to fill the entire vehicle or when the cost of the goods being sent is significantly more than the cost of renting a dedicated truck.
The Less Than Truckload service will be the cheapest option if your cargo is small. Because the whole cost of shipping is split among many customers, the LTL transport service is by definition the least expensive.
When it comes to LTL, the carrier is concerned with what you are sending because it will be transported with other shipments and you will share the cost with other customers. You just pay for the space you utilize, that is why this is less expensive for you than paying for a whole truck that isn’t fully loaded.
Time comparison
When comparing transit times, there are significant differences between LTL and FTL. Transit is highly predictable when you have a full truckload because your carrier will pick up whatever you are sending and drive it directly to the recipient.
However, due to the various stops that LTL must make, the transit does not travel straight to the final consumer, so the real delivery date may go beyond the expected delivery date.
The sort of your freight and the pace at which you need it to reach the market will determine whether you choose full truckload or less-than-truckload delivery. The freight shipping company can use both full truckload (FTL or TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) options.
The size, weight, freight classification, and delivery requirements of your package are just a few of the factors that must be taken into consideration when picking the best freight shipping method.
All Track Transport has the expertise to ensure your business will have a simple cross-border shipping experience.
We are a renowned container Heavy Haul Services with our main office in Surrey, British Columbia, and we focus on cross-border shipping between Canada and the US.
You can contact us – at 604-575-9495
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Phone: 604-575-9495 Fax: 888-875-5602
Company Address:
Unit 291, 7184 120th Street
Surrey, BC V3W 0M6
All Track CY Terminal:
10354 120st, Surrey, BC V3V 4G2
Phone: 360-993-8622 Fax: 360-750-7597
Company Address:
600 SE Maritime Ave Bldg 3, Ste 120, Vancouver, WA 98661
All Track Tacoma Terminal:
1501 Portland Ave E, Tacoma, WA 98421