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    LTL Shipment Guide: Shipping Steps, Rates & Tips

    Less-than-truckload (LTL shipping) is the efficient, cost-effective, and eco-conscious way to send shipments that won't fill a whole trailer. However, successful LTL shipping requires a significant amount of preparation.

    In this article, we'll review the primary benefits of LTL shipping and go through the ten steps you can take to simplify, ease, and speed up the process of building LTL shipments.

    5 Benefits of LTL Shipping

    Before we get into how to simplify the challenges of LTL shipping, let's review five of the most important reasons why we undertake this mode of shipping.

    LTL Shipments Enjoy Reduced Shipping Costs

    Since LTL is based on combining smaller loads from various customers into one trailer, it reduces the shipping cost for everyone concerned, including the carrier.

    Eco-Conscious

    LTL is one of the greener options available in truck freight. Allowing optimal routing and fewer vehicles to deliver shipment contents to their ultimate destinations also cuts down on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

    Increased Safety

    LTL routes are set up to have the fewest stops possible. Shipments combined in the LTL load are usually protected by palletized, containerized, or wrapped in other protective covering. Although usually repacked each time the LTL shipment is altered, the chance of being misplaced is slight due to tracking technologies and notification requirements.

    LTL Shipments are Generally Better Organized

    LTL is ideal for customers who have regular shipments, which allows the shipping company to be more accurate in its planning and provide more consistent and reliable availability.

    Plenty of Options

    LTL carriers often make various shipping options available, including limited pickup, liftgate delivery, expedient timeframes, and custom delivery windows.

    10 Steps for Simplicity and Speed with Your LTL Shipments

    To be successful with LTL shipping, you need to build your loads specifically for it. Otherwise, you risk delays and issues later on that can remove the efficiency and cost-effectiveness you were after. By following these 10 steps, you'll simplify and speed up the process of LTL shipping.

    Develop a Carrier Mix

    Giving all your freight to one carrier can create unnecessary risk in the long run. Develop a carrier pool across multiple types of LTL carriers and divvy up your inbound and outbound freight to increase the efficiency of on-time delivery.

    Plan in Advance

    Remember holidays and take weather conditions into account when choosing carriers. They are among the factors most likely to interfere with traffic processes. If your shipment includes time-sensitive goods, choose a guaranteed service in advance to avoid the extra expense of last-minute expediting costs.

    Choose a Qualified LTL Carrier

    Not all carriers provide LTL services, so your first challenge is finding one that offers LTL to your destination.

    To simplify this process, consider Redwood's Modern 4PL approach, which can track down the most efficient and cost-effective carriers for your LTL shipments. Powered by RedwoodConnect, the service offers LTL users several advantages, including scalability, cost savings, increased capacity, ease of distributing inventory, and more.

    Use Efficient Packaging for All Your LTL Shipments

    Palletizing is perhaps the most used packaging method for LTL shipping. Wrapped pallets keep your freight safe during loading and unloading and all along the journey. Crating, boxing, and otherwise containerizing are also widely used.

    Use the Technology

    Online LTL shipping services are one way to get started. These typically offer an online portal for booking and scheduling shipments. Online shipping platforms help with advance planning and last-minute booking. These portals automate the logistics process and provide customer support services.

    Redwood's Modern 4PL approach can meet all your logistics technology needs with one of the industry's best online portals and most advanced customer support services.

    Know Your Freight Class

    Knowing your freight class upfront is essential to getting an accurate rate. Otherwise, you risk being hit with a re-class or invoice revision after the audit. Keeping classification documentation can help you settle any discrepancies between quote and invoice.

    Get the Best LTL Shipments Rates

    LTL rates vary based on pickup/destination zip codes, freight class, total weight, and additional services, if any. Transportation management systems (TMS) will help you find carriers offering the best rates for your service needs. Employ a multi-carrier rating TMS to identify pricing and the lanes served by each carrier.

    Complete the Bill of Lading

    The bill of lading is the most critical piece of documentation in the whole LTL process. Think of it as your legally-binding shipment receipt. It provides evidence of your contract with the carrier and is a title document for the shipped goods. Ensure it is accurate and in the carrier's hands at the pickup time.

    Check Insurance Coverage

    LTL shipping companies provide a variety of insurance coverage for your freight. However, pay attention to liability limits, as you may occasionally need extra insurance.

    Track the Transit Time

    Some carriers prioritize LTL shipments more than others when there's a capacity crunch. Track your shipments to ensure your freight is moving expeditiously, and take note of carriers who appear to be de-prioritizing LTL loads.

    Final Thoughts

    Following these ten steps will make LTL shipping easier, simpler, and faster to process. Of course, you can also look to Redwood's Modern 4PL approach to modernize and manage your LTL supply chains from start to finish – from order entry and carrier selection to shipment visibility and payments.

    FAQs

    What is LTL shipping, and when does it make sense?

    LTL shipping stands for less-than-truckload shipping, which means multiple shippers share space on the same trailer. It makes sense when your freight does not require a full truckload and you want a cost-effective option. LTL is also useful for recurring shipments, because it can offer more predictable planning and a wider range of service options.

    How do I reduce LTL shipping costs without creating delays?

    You can reduce LTL shipping costs by classifying freight correctly, using efficient packaging, consolidating shipments when possible, planning ahead, and working with a logistics partner that has strong carrier relationships. Avoiding last-minute expediting is especially important, because rushed bookings often add unnecessary cost. Better preparation usually improves both rate accuracy and transit performance.

    What information should be on an LTL bill of lading?

    An LTL bill of lading should include shipper and consignee details, pickup and delivery addresses, a freight description, weight, dimensions, freight class, and any special handling instructions. It is the key legal document for the shipment, so accuracy matters. If the bill of lading is incomplete or wrong, it can create pickup problems, billing disputes, or delays.

    How do I determine the right freight class for an LTL shipment?

    Freight class is determined by density, stowability, handling requirements, and liability. The National Motor Freight Classification, or NMFC, is used to determine the class for a shipment based on those characteristics. Getting the class right upfront is important because it helps avoid re-class charges and invoice revisions after the shipment is audited.

    What packaging works best for LTL shipments?

    Palletizing is one of the most common and effective packaging methods for LTL shipments. Wrapped pallets help protect freight during loading, unloading, and transit, while crating, boxing, and other containerized packaging can also improve protection. The goal is to make freight easier to handle and less vulnerable to damage as it moves through the network.

    How long do LTL shipments usually take in transit?

    LTL transit times vary based on distance and the number of terminals a shipment passes through. Regional LTL shipments typically take 1 to 3 days, while cross-country shipments often take 5 to 7 days or more. Service level, capacity conditions, and carrier priority can also affect how quickly freight moves.

    What should I check before booking an LTL shipment?

    Before booking an LTL shipment, check the carrier’s service area, your freight class, packaging method, required insurance coverage, and whether the shipment needs special services such as liftgate delivery or a custom delivery window. It also helps to confirm timing, because holidays, weather, and capacity constraints can affect both cost and transit performance.