Companies that ship goods either to Europe or around the world are always looking at ways to not only improve the service they get but minimize their costs. Especially in a Post-Covid world, it’s even more important to keep those transportation costs under control and Equator are the experienced team you need to get the best advice and options for your cargo.
A large amount of freight especially in the UK and across Europe is transported on trucks. In this environment, there are two shipping processes to be aware of: Full truckload shipping or TL and less than truckload shipping or LTL.
Understanding the difference between the two can bring cost savings to your business.
What is Full Truckload Shipping?
If your load fills the entire space of a container it is referred to as full truckload or TL. It means that goods from no other business are being transported at the same time. It doesn’t, however, mean that the shipper has to fill the entire truck.
This is an effective option if you either have a big enough load to fill the truck but no less than 10 pallets of freight. It’s suitable if, for instance, you want speedy transportation which is entirely focused on your load. If you have fragile shipping that you want to protect, whether you can fill the truck or not, it’s also a good idea.
Full truckload shipping is the more expensive option, especially if you are unable to fill the vessel but it increases the likelihood that your goods will arrive on time and in good condition.
What is Less Than Truckload Shipping?
Another option is LTL which means sharing your truck space with other companies and products. It’s the cheaper option when it comes to shipping and is popular with smaller businesses that might operate with less expansive loads.
LTL is focused on loads that are less than 10 pallets or under 1000kg. It’s a cheaper option because the cost of shipping is shared with other companies. On the downside, you can’t always be guaranteed tight delivery time, as this may be affected by where the most appropriate drop-off point is for individual loads and other delays.
If you have freight that is fairly robust and not fragile, and you aren’t strict on how long delivery takes then this may be a great option. The downside is that your freight may well be loaded on and off the truck several times as it journeys to its destination. This can increase the likelihood of damage, particularly if the freight is not properly packaged on the pallets.
Companies that use LTL also need to focus on the factors that can add to the costs. Longer delivery times can impact on optimal delivery and, if delays occur, this can affect the bottom line.
The main value of less than truckload shipping is the cost savings that it gives to businesses. If you are a company that is searching for optimal efficiency and keeping the costs down it makes much more sense.
If, on the other hand, you have a fragile shipment or can provide a full truckload or your delivery is sensitive to time, then full truckload shipping is the better option if a more expensive.