What is considered a LTL?

Less-than-truckload, also known as less-than-load (LTL), is a shipping service for relatively small loads or quantities of freight—between 150 and 15,000 pounds.

What does LTL mean in shipping terms?

Less than truckload
Less than truckload (LTL) freight refers to the transportation of products or goods that do not require a full truckload. These smaller freight loads typically result in many separate shipments being transported on one truck.

What is the difference between LTL and TL?

The transport of freight that does not require the entire space of a truck is also known as less than truckload (LTL) shipping, whereas full truckload (TL) shipments take up the space or weight limit of an entire trailer.

What is a dedicated lane?

Dedicated lanes are defined as a single truck driver running from point A to point B with a load of freight and returning full to point A. Typically companies use dedicated lanes for permanent scheduled deliveries to large customers or distribution centers.

Is LTL cheaper than FTL?

Since LTL shipments are smaller and leave room for other shipments, they are cheaper because you will only pay for the space that you use. FTL shipments use most of the entire truck and cost more because you are paying for more space in the truck.

Who uses LTL shipping?

LTL shipping is ideal for businesses who have freight under 15,000 pounds and do not require a full trailer. Consider LTL when looking to maximize cost savings.

What is the max weight for LTL shipment?

The most commonly accepted LTL freight guidelines call for a single shipment to be between 100 and 10,000 pounds, although some carriers go as high as 20,000 pounds. At the same time the load should contain no more than six pallets in size.

What is LTL reefer?

“Reefer” is the term used to describe a refrigerated LTL truck. These shipments carry refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight. This protects the goods from deteriorating, perishing, or damaging during transport.

What is a dedicated truck driver?

What does it mean to be a Dedicated truck driver? Simply, a Dedicated truck driver hauls freight for one specific Dedicated customer, as opposed to hauling for many different customers as part of a large customer network (like with Van Truckload, Intermodal and many Tanker options).

What is dedicated load?

Dedicated truckload shipments are used when shipping cargo fills more than half of a 48′ or 53′ trailer, or the weight of the cargo requires the full carrying capacity of a trailer. When booking this type of shipment, your cargo is the only shipment on the trailer.

What is the difference between LTL and FTL truckloads?

LTL truckloads are great options for small businesses who are looking for a low cost freight shipping option to help them start building out their company. Full truckloads (FTL) are the opposite.

What is the difference between linehaul and dedicated?

Also, TMC uses “Linehaul” as the term for their regular OTR drivers. Dedicated is for a Company that has drivers that only pull freight for a certain customer. They deliver all the merchandise from distribution centers to the customers’ stores.

What is the difference between LTL and OTR shipping?

The difference lies in the shipment itself. LTL shipments mainly only contain one partner’s goods while OTR shipments can contain a wide range of goods. This difference in quantity can lead to some pretty big differences in costs and how much each shipment is going to weigh.

How are LTL rates determined?

LTL carriers each have standard LTL rates which are determined by your origin and destination, your freight’s NMFC class, the amount of space it occupies on the truck, and any accessorials you require. All of these variables are factored into the LTL rate you pay.