What does ftl mean in trucking

What is the definition of FTL? A full truckload that takes advantage of the entire volume of the vehicle can weigh 20, pounds or more.

Shipping this way also minimizes damages from handling as the same container is carried from start to destination point without any transfer of goods. Shippers use FTL when they need peace of mind that there will be minimal disruptions on the shipping route.

You will have to weigh the costs against the speed and care of handling too. Dispatching an entire truck with just a few pallets is also not an environmentally-conscious option when you take into account the cost of fuel and labor. Understanding the difference will help you make better freight choices. The term freight shipping refers to the paid process of shipping goods by ground, sea, or air. Freight is typically composed of goods that are being transported to another location in bulk.

Two subcategories that fall under the umbrella of freight shipping are less than truckload LTL shipments and full truckload FTL shipments. Less than truckload freight shipments, commonly abbreviated as LTL, are shipments that exceed the size limit required to be able to ship as a single package through the mail a parcel shipment.

Less fuel is used when fewer trucks are needed to transport the same number of total shipments. By adopting LTL shipping, companies relieve themselves of the stress that comes with having too much product built up in their warehouse or staged at their docks. Through shipping consistently, companies are able to keep less in their warehouse and also keep a more accurate inventory as a result. Traditionally, the lowest rates are reserved for shippers that can fill the entire semi-truck trailer and qualify for full truckload rates.

With LTL shipping, companies only pay for the weight of their freight and the space it uses on the trailer. Companies have been investing in logistics automation for years — then the pandemic took digital transformation to a whole new level. But how much is really being taken over by technology? You may know how important your supply chain is, but does your boss understand?

Get the budget you need to set a long-term strategy by explaining it in a language your C-suite understands. All businesses, even smaller ones, can benefit from using different modes. Learn how to save time, money and resources by blending truckload, LTL and intermodal in yours. As we head into Q4, shippers continue to face a tight freight market with demand outpacing carrier supply.

Will these trends continue into Peak Season? Or will rates peak and cool off? Get actionable. Find out how to avoid common mistakes in this webinar.

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Learn how we're improving the carrier experience with policies and technology that supports drivers. See what's in store for our next 15 years. FTL shipping is commonly used for large shipments that require taking up the entire truck, or at least close to it.

With FTL, your freight is the only freight moving on an individual truck so you have exclusivity to the entire truck and theoretically are filling the truckload. LTL carriers have to maintain efficiency by filling the excess space with other shipments, so they get as close as possible to maximizing the available space on their trucks. If you have a full truckload your carrier will pick up whatever you are shipping and drive it straight to the receiver—this makes transit very predictable.

However, the transit for LTL does not go directly to the end customer because of all the different stops they have to make, so the actual delivery date may be very different than the estimated delivery date.

FTL carriers will arrange a firm delivery time since they are only picking up one shipment. Since trucking carriers handling LTL shipments have to pick up and deliver at multiple locations, their pick-up times will occur in a broader window and will require more flexibility on your end. Another difference is that with a full truckload the shipper will load your product at the point of origin, seal the trailer, and take it straight to its delivery destination.

With an LTL shipment, your product will typically be loaded and unloaded in and out of trailers and warehouses not just once but several times before reaching its final destination. This means there is an increased amount of handling and exposure which means a greater chance that your products could incur damages, especially if they are sensitive or fragile.

There are no hard and fast rules by which you must abide by, however, there are certain situations where full truckload freight might be more appropriate than LTL. If you are shipping more than six pallets at a time, then the full truckload option is going to be best for you.