What to Know About Less-than-Truckload Trucking System

UPS is among the big brands of carriers in the United States

. Although the brand is regarded as the largest among the parcel delivery companies, its trucking division, UPS Freight is on the 9th spot of top 10 US truck carriers based on revenue during 2005. UPS Freight is an LTL carrier-type division of the Big Brown brand. But this article is not intended to discuss further the trucking division of the world-renowned brand.

Among the top 10 truck carriers in the United States, five of them are LTL truck carriers. YRC Worldwide is the largest truck carrier in the US doing operations in LTL. Meanwhile, the trucking divisions of globally-known brands such as FedEX and UPS also handle small cargoes restrictively making them LTL carriers. Less-than-truckload is what LTL stands for but you might wonder what is its difference from other truck carriers and if there is such a big difference in trucking carriers at all.

LTL truck carriers operate, collect and distribute shipments to different customers, commercial and residential. LTL truckers handle freight and consolidate shipments to a delivering terminal where cargoes are to be sorted, weighed and inspected and then the truck drivers load the trucks with shipments for delivery to the consignees.

The cost saving in operating an LTL trucking business is the low shipping cost compared to the amount of hiring the entire truck or trailer to transport an exclusive cargo. The comparative cost is regarded as the main advantage of this type of truck carrier.

Moreover, LTL truck carriers operate value-added services, offers that may not be found in full-truckload carrier, a carrier-type that handles homogeneous shipment. Liftgate service using machines, prior delivery notification and residential services at pick-up or delivery are among the service offers of LTL truckers. Some of the services may be add-on costs and may be billed on flat fee or on weight-based surcharge. They may be availed if you take particular caution to the safety of your delivery or to your purchases or for convenience purpose.

LTL is a type of carrier that handles shipments weighing between 68 and 9,072 kg. Carriers of this type normally collects small freights from one or different shippers which could include manufacturing and retail entities. Hub terminals are existent where weighing and inspecting of goods prior to billing or to intended delivery are done.

Because of the en route-kind of delivery, truck drivers can establish rapport with customers. And more importantly, if you seek a ruck driving job in this type of carrier business, time and route management strategies are helpful qualities. The jobs of loading from shippers to terminals and then to the unloading of deliveries require efforts and management skills to ensure efficacy and efficiency of performance.

To a business perspective, LTL trucking can be deemed a viable one if you have existing trucks you want to maneuver for cargo deliveries. Contracting with big carriers and being subcontractors are among the potential business opportunities to grab and engage in this trucking business type.

LTL business model works in a viable way. That is why most large trucking businesses are into this carrier-type. Moreover, integrating it with TL or full-truckload carrier can be possible for cost-saving purpose. This carrier-type business integration can be availed in shipper's perspective in certain situations to attain a cost-benefit objective.

What to Know About Less-than-Truckload Trucking System

By: Armil Velos

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