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Some of the benefits of LTL shipping:
- Flexibility — Compared to FTL, LTL shipping is generally quick and convenient, whether you’re shipping regionally or nationally, as there are less logistics in the shipping process. Additionally, LTL carriers offer flexibility that many FTL shipping providers don’t such as service-types including standard, expedited and guaranteed shipping as well as the option for lift-gate pick-up/delivery and more!
- Lower Environmental Impact — By maximizing the space from the same truck and optimizing pathways, you’re cutting down on the number of trucks traveling and transporting shipments while reducing the amount of fuel. Employing LTL shipping services is a great way to reduce emissions and lower the carbon-footprint.
- Cost-Effective — Because your shipments don’t fill the entire truck, you only need to pay for the space you’re filling. While it may take more work to prepare your shipments for the appropriate lane and carrier, a GCL representative can maximize your LTL savings in a way that is convenient for you.
Additional LTL Shipping Options:
Most shipping companies offer various shipping options. Though these options can come at a higher cost, they can also make your shipping much better organized. Some of these possibilities are:
1. Expedient shipping:
- You can use this option if you want your goods to arrive faster than standard transit times. This option is quite useful for emergency shipping or time-sensitive orders.
2. Liftgate:
- If your freight weighs 100lbs or more, you should consider a lift-gate, especially if the receiving location doesn’t have a clear dock for shipments.
3. Limited access/ Residential:
- You can use this type of LTL for locations that have limited access due to safety reasons or truck-maneuverability. This includes but is not limited to: construction sites, fairs and carnivals, vineyards, military bases/installations, mine sites, prisons, schools or universities, churches, storage facilities, piers, airports, farm or ranches, campgrounds, zoos, reservations, government facilities, hotels/motels, casinos or resorts, hospitals, doctor’s offices, small strip malls, rural areas, or any location that requires a smaller or specialized truck, etc.
4. Custom delivery window:
- If you need your shipment to arrive within a specific period, you can opt for custom delivery windows. Most companies will deal with your package so that it fits their workload, allowing for transport to be cheap and efficient. So, this option can also be costly and should, therefore, be used with ample forethought.
Limitations of LTL Shipping:
1. Longer transit times
With numerous stops, carriers may delay your shipment. This means you’ll need to budget more time to ensure your shipment will arrive on time.
2. More planning
Because carriers make various stops and shipping numerous parcels, you’ll need to stay up-to-date. There are a lot of details to focus on, such as freight class, pickup and destination locations, and more. Paying attention to these factors is key to successful shipping processes.
3. Increased damage risk
Carriers are unloading and reloading your freight at several stops per lane, so be sure you package your products carefully to minimize the risk of damage. Make sure your shipment does not exceed the dimensions of the pallet, and it’s a good idea to secure your items with shrink wrap for additional protection. If you have sensitive cargo, consider a different shipping method.
Density Calculator
The Class number provided by our GCL Density Calculator is only an estimate and does not take into account the commodity. Morsover, this calculator does not factor in possible liability or handing characteristics of the commodity. Due to these limitations, items shipped that are not clased solely based on density may be more likely to have an incorrect classification.
HOW TO DETERMINE FREIGHT CLASS
In an effort to establish fair measures and standardize freight pricing, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) created a classification system for every type of freight.
The 18 freight classes are defined with a number between 50 and 500. Below are four things to consider when determining your shipment’s freight class.
1. COMMODITY / DENSITY
Some products have pre defined freight classes. Others are determined by density.
2. STOWABILITY
Difficulty of transporting items due to irregular sizes will result in a higher freight class.
3. HANDLING
Objects that are fragile, heavy, hazardous or require additional handling are subject to a higher freight class.
4. LIABILITY
Products that are easily damaged or that can cause damage to other freight have a higher freight class and may not be covered by the freight carriers liability.
Freight Class | Example Commodities | Density(LBS/Cubic Foot) |
50 | Buts, Bolts, Steel Rods | 50+ |
55 | Hardwood Flooring, Bricks | 35-50 |
60 | Ceramic Tiles, Foodstuff | 30-35 |
65 | Books, Bottled Beverages | 22.5-30 |
70 | Food Items, Paper In Boxes | 15-22.5 |
70.5 | Tires, Bathroom Fixtures | 13.5 – 15 |
85 | Engines, Transmissions | 12 – 13.5 |
92.5 | Computers, Monitors | 10.5 – 12 |
100 | Car & Boat Covers, Wine Cases | 9 – 10.5 |
110 | Cabinets, Framed Artwork | 8 – 9 |
125 | Small Household Appliances | 7 – 8 |
150 | Refrigerators, Freezers | 6 - 7 |
175 | Lighting, Signs | 5 - 6 |
200 | Packaged Mattresses | 4 - 5 |
250 | TV’s, Toys, Pet Products | 3 - 4 |
300 | Wood Cabinets, Glass | 2 - 3 |
400 | Light Fixtures | 1 - 2 |
500 | Ping Pong Balls | < 1 |
Classification
Typically the NMFTA considers the following factors when determining freight class:
Generally speaking, carriers require products that are well-packaged and have a low probability of being damaged during transit. These nuances are determined by The National Motor Freight Transportation Association (NMFTA) who sets standard rates for every product shipped. The NMFTA provides a uniformed price for all LTL carriers to apply. Each product is assigned a freight-class-number within 18 classes and is typically rated per hundred pounds; the higher the freight-class-number, the more costly that product is to ship.
Density - How heavy or solid is your product?
- Simply put, density is determined by dividing the weight by the total cubic feet. One must first measure the dimensions (height, width and length/depth) from the farthest points including the pallets or other packaging.
- The classification ranges between 50 to 500. More dense items such as steel and machinery have lower freight classifications (50 through 85). The lower the class, the less the rate, and vice versa. However, fragile or bulky items generally fall into freight classes 125 to 500, and cost more to ship.
Stowability - How easy or difficult is it to load your product into a truck?
Stowability refers to how the dimensions of goods being shipped fits into the container that is facilitating transport. This is one of the seven major categories that affect the economics of transportation services, along with distance, volume, density, handling and liability.
Handling - How easy or difficult is it to tightly pack your product into a truck? Can it be stacked? Does it easily fit on a standard pallet?
To reduce damage, LTL shipments often fitted in wood crates or on wrapped pallets, therefore, every order is contained into one unit (or pallet).
Liability - Is your product extremely valuable or delicate?
This refers to what the carrier deems is the actual cost of the product is worth to move. Accidents can happen. You may acquire insurance for your freight to avoid costly charges later.