Less than Truckload (LTL) shipping can benefit small and medium-sized businesses in several ways. It is used frequently for a number of different kinds of products, such as those that are bulky but relatively lightweight or perishable. LTL shipping is often less expensive than other types and easier to arrange than full truckload shipments. It also has advantages for businesses that operate in certain industries or regions. Use the best less than truckload freight shipping services near you.
Here is a list of the benefits small to medium-size businesses can get from using LTL shipping options over package delivery services:
Save Time
Since LTL shipments can be scheduled more easily than full truckloads, you do not have to spend time loading and unloading goods at your premises when deliveries are made. Larger less-than-truckload delivery services may even schedule deliveries to arrive at your business when you are less busy. In addition, less-than-truckload shipping carriers make pickups from a variety of commercial sources, and can often collect goods and return them back to the terminal on the same day.
Save Money
Since less than truckload shipments are less expensive than full truckloads, small businesses generally save money by using less than truckload options for shipping. The price of LTL is kept low because fewer trucks are used to transport more goods in one trip. Fewer trucks also mean that less time is needed to drive to each destination.
LTL deliveries can also be less expensive than package delivery services because of the lesser overhead costs incurred with less-than-truckload shipping. For example, less-than-truckload carriers generally do not have to maintain as large a network of business and residential addresses where they deliver packages. Federal regulations also require less documentation from less-than-truckloads shipping companies, resulting in fewer fees being deducted for administration costs.
Reduced Risk
The cost savings of less than truckload shipping options make risks associated with these shipments lower for small businesses compared to full truckload deliveries. When using less than truckload shipping options, businesses are able to limit the number of firms they rely upon for the supply chain of their goods or services. This means that less than truckload shipping is less risky because the scope of the supply chain is less and there are fewer companies involved in the delivery process for less-than-truck loads, compared to full truckloads.
In less than truckload shipping, delivery companies’ fleets pick up from a range of commercial sources including manufacturers, warehouses, retail outlets, and suppliers. On returning to their terminal, less than truckload carriers deliver directly to your location bypassing small transport firms or other lorry drivers who do not specialize in delivering specific kinds of goods. With less than a lorry load carrier’s network reaching only as far as transportation hubs instead of every business destination along a route, it means smaller risks for businesses using less than truckloads.
Reduced Storage Costs
When less-than-truckload deliveries are collected from a range of different commercial sources, less storage space is needed for goods at the delivery location or the distribution facility. This reduces the business’ overall costs since less space and less money are required to store goods waiting to be shipped out. It also saves time because it takes less time for trucks to pick up the load when they come collecting goods.
