What to Know About Trucking and LTL Freight Companies

When it comes to shipping products, you have a variety of choices. You can ship items directly through the mail carrier system in your country. You could use an LTL (less than load) company, or perhaps you want to expand into your own shipping system to offer better control and quality to your customers.

Finding the available options is the only way to ensure that your choice is right for your company and your budget. You don’t want to pay money needlessly. Choosing between your own trucking system or an LTL freight company can be tricky, but by following this guide, you can determine which plan is right for you and your company in no time:

What is the Difference Between Trucking and LTL?

The main difference is whether you need to use your own truck or an LTL service is the purpose behind your company. For example, if you are a small to mid-sized company that is shipping stock to select companies around the country, LTL is the right choice for you.

On the other hand, having your own trucks can be exceedingly helpful if you are a construction company and need to bring materials and equipment to the site. Most companies do not own their own fleet for shipping purposes alone as it is costly.

Therefore, it is often reserved for only the global, multi-billion companies that have a vested interest in lowering the cost of shipping massive quantities of products.

When Would LTL Freight Companies Be the Better Option?

LTL, or Less-Than-Truckload, refers to when the volume of your shipment does not fill an entire load of a truck or carrier. This often refers to small businesses or mid-sized companies.

For the most part, it is a great choice when you are shipping a moderately large amount of product from your warehouses to different sellers around the country. However, you could send a shipment via an LTL freight company to a local dispensary to be delivered to customers’ doors. For shipping, LTL is most likely the best option for you.

When Would Your Own Rigs Be the Better Option?

If you want to start a shipping business, ship a lot of products frequently, or need to transport equipment from one site to another regularly, it could be worthwhile to own your own rig.

You will need to be certified to drive it, and you will need extra insurance to cover it, but owning your own rig can help cut down on costs when the volume is too high, or you often need to rent a rig of your own. Look for a good sale on a rig, and then you can reduce costs over time, thus improving your overall efficiency.

Unless you are a one-off seller trying to get rid of some old items you have left lying around, you will need to invest more in shipping than just using the mail system.

Investing in your own rig or fleet or using LTL services can reduce costs and increase production and sales. Ensure your chosen method is ideal for your budget to promote your company’s success.

Dropshipping

Another way is to set up an eCommerce store and use dropshipping services. We have a few articles on the service. See this search.