FAQ: Less Than Truckload

Having trouble shipping heavy or oversized goods?

Do you have more than four pallets you need to ship? Perhaps the item you need to move is too large and fragile for a regular moving van and requires a heavily insulated crate. The post office won’t even talk to you, and it would cost you way too much to rent out an entire truck. Fortunately, Freight Buddy is here to help. We’ve partnered with some of the best freight carriers in the country to provide you with a much more affordable, efficient option—less than truckload shipping.

What is Less Than Truckload shipping?

Less than truckload, or less than load (LTL) shipping, is the transportation of relatively small freight that doesn’t fill an entire truck. They generally contain shipments that are crated or palletized to reduce damage risks. The alternatives to LTL carriers are parcel carriers and full truckload carriers. Parcel carriers typically handle small packages with individual units weighing less than 150 pounds (think your traditional USPS or FedEx). Full truckload (FTL) carriers handle items that take up the entire truck and therefore only have the one destination.

Less than truckload is the most popular way to ship freight today. Think about it—the majority of freight items are too large to take to the post office, but too small to fill a full truck. Most LTL shipments come through local distribution centers, however residential pickups and deliveries can also be scheduled through the majority of carriers. Since most homeowners don’t have access to a forklift, many carriers offer a lift gate option as well.

Why choose LTLfreight shipping?

Every shipping option has its pros and cons of course, but LTL shipping is by far the most cost-effective and reliable method for transporting freight. When you’re only charged for the space your cargo takes up in the truck, you can save a ton of money. Freight shipping is also the simplest option for moving large and bulky items quickly and efficiently. At Freight Buddy, we have established relationships with many of the top-rated LTL freight carriers out there. While they’re all competing for your business, you win. Go ahead and compare rates today to see how much you can save.

Why do I need a freight broker?

You might think that you can save a bunch of time and money by contacting LTL freight carriers directly to schedule your next shipment. You would be wrong. Carriers substantially discount their rates for legitimate 3rd party freight brokers who regularly send them a certain volume of contracts, which ends up saving you more.

In addition to price, scheduling freight shipping can be very complicated. There are dozens of specific variables and classifications to consider, which can result in a lot of wasted time if you don’t know what you’re doing. Freight brokers are experts on shipping logistics and will make the entire process as simple as possible, from start to finish. Freight Buddy’s shipping agents are all highly trained and ready to help you schedule your next LTL shipment. Give us a call at (763) 317-9271 and let us take care of all the messy little details so you can get back to doing what you do best.