As you may be aware, freight forwarders assist in the transportation of one’s shipment from point A to point B, and the process is frequently complex. Today, we’ll go over what LTL and FTL are and how to determine which is the best option for your situation.
Less than Truckload (LTL)
Less than truckload freight shipping (LTL) is used for small freight or when the freight does not take up the entire trailer space. In this case, shippers only pay for the space that their freights occupy, with the unoccupied spaces filled with shipments from other shippers.
Full Truckload (FTL)
Full truckload freight shipping (FTL) is used for the transportation of shipments that are large enough to fill or nearly fill an entire container. It is when a truck carries only one dedicated shipment.
Differences between LTL & FTL
Cost:
It is obvious that the cost of LTL will be less than that of FTL because you are only paying for the space that you occupy. It is critical that you select the proper method for your shipment, or you may end up incurring additional costs that could have been avoided.
Time:
FTL freight shipping is much faster than LTL freight shipping in terms of delivery time because LTL freight shipping involves more than one shipper. Before a shipper’s shipments arrive at their final destination, the truck carrying these LTL shipments will have to stop several times. As a result, because FTL freight shipping involves only one shipper, the delivery time will be reduced.
Risk:
With LTL freight shipping, since the shipments may undergo multiple transfers, it is possible that the shipment may be damaged or lost during the process. With FTL freight shipping, your shipment will stay on the same truck, lowering the risk of damaged or lost shipments.
When to use FTL or LTL?
| LTL | FTL |
| Shipping less than 12 pallets at once | Shipping more than 12 pallets at once |
| No special handling required | Shipments contain high-value and sensitive goods |
| Shipment deliveries are not urgent | For timely pickups and deliveries |
| Limited budget | No constraints on budget |
How Falcon can help
If you are still unsure about whether to use the LTL or FTL freight shipping method for your shipments, feel free to contact our logistics experts for advice. With a well-established network of carriers, truckers, and overseas agents, we are confident in coming up with the best solution that will meet all your shipping needs.
