If you are in the business of shipping goods across the USA or Canada using land transport, you are concerned about cost-effectiveness, timely delivery, and the safety of your shipment. As there are multiple modes of moving your cargo, it’s important to know which mode to choose. Most common among these modes of transport are LTL (Less than Truck Load) and FTL (Full Truck Load).
The mode of shipping that is best for you depends on:
- the size of your shipment,
- the budget,
- the sensitivity of the freight,
- and the time frame for delivery.
Which mode is right for your business: LTL or FTL?
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LTL Shipping |
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Pros |
Cons |
| You don’t have to pay for an entire truck when you can share the cost of one with other shippers | LTL freight may not cover all routes within the country as volumes may not be available |
| LTL shipping may suit you whether you are a conglomerate or a mom-and-pop store | It may not be the best choice for handling sensitive cargo due to possible multiple handling along the route, as the freight is being transported from and to multiple terminals |
| Shipping is possible to various locations around USA and Canada, and cross-border, with hundreds of carriers offering this service | It may not be the best choice for guaranteed time-sensitive cargo as your freight might have to wait a while for carriers to consolidate cargo on that particular route |
| Your freight can be secured and safely transported using pallets or skids | Rates may not be the best for cargo of more than 6-8 pallets, which may be more cost-effective if shipped as an FTL |
| It’s a cost-effective transportation option for any cargo less than 6 pallets | Not all carriers offering this service have their own hubs and they may depend on 3rd party hubs, which could increase the shipment costs |
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FTL Shipping |
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Pros |
Cons |
| It’s the best option to handle high value cargo as you will have a dedicated truck to yourself | Shipments could cost considerably more than LTL freight |
| It’s the most suitable option for handling sensitive cargo due to the reduced handling of the goods at transit points | LTL carriers can usually offer better rates than FTL carriers because of economies of scale and various partnerships they have with other carriers |
| It’s a better option if you require guaranteed timely delivery – you get a dedicated truck which doesn’t need to wait for consolidation of cargo | FTL carriers may not provide value added services such as handling services at pickup or delivery points |
| It’s a cost-effective method of transportation if you have more than 6-8 pallets to ship | FTL carriers may be restricted in terms flexibility of cargo movement – e.g. if a truck breaks down and the goods are stranded |
| You can get quicker and more accurate rate quotes from carriers as they may have set rates based on your FTL weight and locations | FTL shipping does not offer the opportunity for E-Commerce type of shipments where the volumes may be smaller and specific to the cargo or business |
Interested in learning more?
You may also be interested in these informational articles of our blog (they’re specifically written and designed to help YOU, the customer, make better informed shipping decisions & ship with a peace of mind).
Choose the best freight options for your shipping needs:
- Train vs. Truck Shipping
- Rail vs. Road Shipping
- Plastic Pallets vs. Wooden Pallets
- Pallet vs. Skid vs. Crate [Infographic]
Freight how-tos:
Extra reading (because sustainability is important!)
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Article updated in May 2019
This article make me understand FTL and LTL better, thanks!
Very insightful post. Excellent information on the comparison of LTL and FTL. Thank you for this blog!