LTL freight shipping is the movement of goods that don't fill a full trailer. LTL orders can range from one to fifteen pallets. When shippers use this method, they save money on transportation costs because they share equipment and labour.
There are a few ways in which LTL shipping is different from shipping by truckload. Even though the beginning and end of the "life of a load" are the same, LTL is different because there are more steps in between.
Quotes
Just like with truckload shipments, the process of getting a quote starts with the origin and destination of the shipment. But for LTL, shippers must also give the length, width, and height of the pallet, as well as the weight and the type of freight.
With this information, LTL prices can be set, and service providers can map out which shipments can move together. The LTL quote will be more accurate the more accurate these details are.
When given more time with a shipment, LTL providers can offer better prices. If they don't have to deliver right away, they can better fit an order into their volume and schedule. More notice also helps make sure deliveries happen on time.
But LTL is also very quick and flexible. Even though it's best to plan ahead, you can call in an LTL order with as little as two hours' notice. And unlike truckload spot rates, short notice time doesn't usually lead to big price hikes. Since LTL providers often have more than one vehicle in an area, they can fit orders into their schedules more easily than truckload providers can.
To get quotes, make sure to visit https://shipinterlane.com/services/less-than-truckload-service/ and hire one of the best LTL services out there.
Tender
Like with truckload, you can book a truck by tendering a load by phone, email, or EDI, depending on how you're already set up with the carrier or a 3PL. A Bill of Lading must have a map of all the information given during the quoting process (BOL). It's important to spell out the details, like the size, type, how to handle and load it, deadlines, etc. This is the document that describes everything that goes on with an order.
Pick-Up
Truckload drivers are more likely to wait for a shipment that isn't ready when they get there. LTL drivers are less likely to do this. This means that you need to have paperwork ready as well as the pallets. Drivers are expected to pick up and drop off a lot of packages every day, so they can't afford to waste time waiting at a facility.
If a shipper isn't ready and a driver leaves, the shipper or 3PL will have to talk to the driver about rescheduling. Usually, this can be done on the same day, but sometimes it has to be put off until the next.
Hub and Spoke
Orders for Hub and Spoke are picked up and taken to an LTL terminal nearby. Here, they are combined with other shipments, reloaded, and sent to their final destination, or they move from one terminal to another until they reach the right person. This arrangement is called a "hub-and-spoke model."
Each LTL terminal serves an area that is usually a few hundred miles around it. There are a few long-haul LTL service providers, but the hub-and-spoke model is used more often. Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping hub and spoke diagram
Billing
After a package is delivered, the final bill for services is made. If the wrong pallet dimensions were given or handling instructions were left out, the final bill will be different from the initial quote. Carriers have to keep track of their time and work, so when they have to do extra work, they charge an extra fee for their time.
For example, if a shipment needs to be remeasured or weighed, or if it needs a liftgate, and that information was not given up front or put on the BOL, the carrier can charge for the extra work.
Comments