Cost saving

As mentioned above, LTL costs way cheaper than FTL shipping because you are only paying for the space you use, rather than paying an entire trailer that isn’t filled to capacity. Usually, your shipments and many other shipments will be placed as close as possible to maximize the available space on their trucks to maintain high efficiency. If you are looking for an option to ship only a few pallets at a time, LTL shipping is the perfect choice, as it gets the job done and helps maximize your profit!

Delivery time

Think about it, one truck consists of a few shipments all together with different destinations, and another truck with only one shipment straight delivered to the receiver, which one would take less time? I am sure it is the later one as it makes transit very predictable. LTL shipment usually takes much longer because of all the different pick-up locations and stops the carrier has to make, so the actual delivery date may be different than the estimated delivery date. However, you can check with your LTL provider on this matter and make sure they always ensure shipments arrive on time.

Condition of the shipment

With LTL shipment, your product will typically be loaded and unloaded multiple times at each warehouse before reaching its final destination, this means higher risk of damages because of the increased amount of handling and exposure by the carrier. This is even worse if your shipment is sensitive or fragile. But for FTL shipment, the carrier will load your shipments at the point of origin, seal the trailer, and deliver straight to its destination, with minimum handling required. Therefore, it has lower risk of damages and you can expect shipments to arrive in good condition.

Flexibility

FTL carriers usually arrange a firm delivery time since they are only picking up one shipment from the shipper, so they have lesser flexibility. Since LTL carriers have to pick-up and make deliveries at multiple locations, they usually have longer windows and allow more flexibility on your end, such as rescheduling another pick-up time, additional services, and many more. However, every carrier has their own ways of working, always check with your LTL provider for more information.

Both LTL and FTL are reliable, safe and efficient methods for businesses to transport their goods. Each has their pros and cons in their own ways, it is up to business to consider the factors in play when choosing between LTL and FTL. Or… use a combination of both to optimize their logistics and supply chain operations? It is up to you, big boss, to decide. Since you are here… do consider using Spots Logistics if you are searching for a reliable LTL shipping provider. We are a web-based 3PL logistics aggregator for businesses delivering to Malaysia and Singapore, helping businesses to deliver parcels, large/bulky cartons, or palletized cargo efficiently. We make logistics SEXY.

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