In this modern era of shipping and logistics, shippers often find it challenging to attain knowledge about the best ways to ship products. We all have the same goals: save on costs, reduce risk, and ensure that you’re using your time wisely.
Full truckload shipping is one relevant method and refers to the usage of an entire truck for one shipment. Depending on the industry and carrier involved, there are many different terms for this, but in general, full truckload is subject to three common maximum limit roles. This includes shipping 44,000 pounds of product, or 48 pallets or 2,500ft.³. However, this option is often used whenever shipping more than 15,000 pounds of product or more than 10 pallets. Let’s look at why.
What Makes it Different
There are other methods of OTR (over-the-road) shipping, including parcel or LTL (less-than-truckload). Full truckload shipping is defined by its stricter routes, shipping from one point directly to another, and taking advantage of the full space and weight capacity of the truck being used. Many people opt for LTL shipping and it certainly is suitable for a number of applications. However, there are plenty of savings and benefits to using full truckload shipping as well.
Why Full Truckload Shipping?
By taking advantage of the entire space of the truck, you do get a few benefits. That includes:
- Save on costs. Shippers using FTL freight aren’t subject to many accessorial fees, like reweigh, redelivery, or other charges. Plus, no need to worry about the reclassification of your shipment (and any of the costs that come with that).
- Prevent damage. You don’t need to pick up other freight, which cuts down on the possibility of damages. The product also ends up being handled less, which again results in less damage.
- Create options. This is important if you’re in a specialized industry where you may need refrigerated trucks, flatbeds, or dry vans. Specialty freight often benefits from and takes advantage of full truckload shipping.
What About the Drawbacks?
There are some challenges associated with this kind of shipping. It’s more important to package your shipments properly, you have more strict schedules, and it can be difficult to get full truckload availability in the first place. Full truckload shipping is suitable for your needs if you know you have enough product to fill a truck, prefer a dedicated truck for your product, have sensitive delivery schedules, and if the weight of your total product makes it more effective than less-than-truckload shipping.
For All Your Trucking Needs
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