LTL Freight Meaning - What Does LTL Mean in Trucking

Posted On 7th February 2019

Have you always been confused about what LTL Freight Means in shipping? Read on because this comprehensive guide explains to you what the LTL acronym stands for, what it is in practice, how to classify an LTL shipment, how LTL shipping saves you money, the advantages and disadvantages of the LTL system, and so much more!

What does LTL freight shipping mean in the trucking industry

What does LTL freight shipping mean in the trucking industry

In a nutshell, it means a shipment that does not require a full 48- or 53-foot trailer. But let’s look at what this looks like in detail.

LTL freight acronym definition

To find out what LTL stands for in trucking, or what LTL stands for in the transportation industry, we need to break down the LTL acronym.

So, what is LTL freight - it’s Less (than a) Truck Load of freight. This is in comparison to FTL freight shipping, which is a Full Truck Load, equivalent to a 48- or 53-foot trailer.

Advantages of LTL shipping

LTL carrier moves freight for several different customers using one truck. This works out cheaper for each customer because more deliveries can be carried out by the hauler.

When shipping via LTL, you gain access to a variety of services such as special handling, liftgates, refrigeration, and regular updates about the goods in transit.

You can also request delivery to limited access areas such as construction sites, rural sites, and camping grounds. These services are usually not available with other shipping methods and when they are, they cost more.

LTL freight shipping offers the economical option of sharing the cost of hiring the entire truck with other customers. By minimizing the trucks on the roads, LTL shipping also minimizes the percentage of emissions made into the ecosystem which makes it eco-friendly.

Disadvantages of LTL shipping

With LTL, multiple shipments from several customers have to be combined for the goods to finally get on the road. Long-distance deliveries might also have to be moved from one truck to another via a transfer terminal. These aspects of LTL could lead to delays.

The multiple handling of goods that come with this shipment method means that it might not be ideal for transporting fragile goods. Multiple handling increases the chances of damage to the goods in transit.

Factors that affect calculating LTL shipping rates

Factors that affect calculating LTL shipping rates

There are a few factors that affect LTL shipping rates. These are:

Weight and Volume

The shipping dock must invest in a proper scale so that the freight’s final weight can be recorded on the BOL and a weight receipt printed for each skid or piece of a shipment in case of a Shipment Inspection.

If a carrier corrects a weight because you or someone made a mistake on the paperwork, honest mistake or not, you can be disproportionately penalized.

If you are a distributor buying from a manufacturer, insist that your vendor or supplier have a scale and weigh your freight and memorialize that process with pictures of the scale with a skid on it with the reading visible. This is the ONLY way to counter the current trend of LTL carriers to add dramatic upcharges to shipments based on Bills of Lading that have false weights on them.

How much space that weight takes up on the truck matters also (i.e. volume). A carrier will have to charge more for a load of feathers, class 500, on a per-pound basis, than a load of lead at class 50.

Usually, the higher classes 150 to 500 are less dense, taking up more space on the truck, and thus subject to a higher class and higher dollar per pound rate.

Density

Density is the total weight divided by cubic feet. If the shipment has been packed into a pallet, its dimensions and weight are all considered in the calculation of its density.

Most NMFC – that is National Motor Freight Classification system product codes – are density-based. A dense material such as lead will be charged a lower rate expressed in dollars per pound than a material like pillow foam.

Freight Class

The freight class is usually determined by certain characteristics of freight primary among them as mentioned, density, and then liability around that product, and then how easy the shipper has made it to handle and transfer the product from truck to truck.

The classes have codes assigned to them (which must be entered in the freight bill or Bill of Lading of the carrier that you want to use. For definitions of Bill of Lading (BOL) and other shipping terms check our shipping dictionary.

There is a total of 18 classes. Lower classes comprise of very dense freight and the higher classes represent the lighter freight. It will cost more to transport freight from the higher classes because lighter freight occupies more space and is usually more difficult to handle.

Minimum charges

This is basically the charge below which the freight carrier won’t go to regardless of other factors such as the weight of the shipment and how the discounts have been negotiated.

The minimum charge ensures that the carrier can meet the minimum cost of each and every shipment.

Distance

A longer distance usually translates into a larger freight cost. The explanation behind this is simple; a freight truck will consume more fuel when traveling for a long distance and utilize more of its terminals.

Local carriers might also have to subcontract other regional carrier companies when the distance involved exceeds their coverage area.

The subcontracted companies might have higher rates and it might not be possible to negotiate with the subcontracted companies for large discounts

Accessorial fees

These are extra charges for the special services that might be needed by a shipment. These include charges for liftgate, palletizing, inside delivery, transport to limited access areas, weekend deliveries, etc.

It is important that you be explicit about these when filling out your bill of lading so that your carrier can then charge you more for that. If you leave them out, they will be brought up later in the backend and cost you more.

Booking your preferred carrier via FreightRun, enables you to select the different accessorial arrangements ahead of time, using a user-friendly LTL freight quote form. Give us a shot!

LTL shipping: How it can save you money

Now that you know the factors that determine the total freight cost payable, let’s have a look at some of the ways you can save money through LTL:

  • Maximize the density of your freight - the more trailer space you take up, the more you are going to pay. It’s because LTL companies make their money by shipping as much as they can in one truck.
  • Consolidation of shipments - Shipping one consolidated shipment is usually cheaper than shipping many small shipments individually.
  • Take note of the transit times - time is usually a very important aspect when it comes to saving you money. Although shipping timelines with LTL common carriers are never guaranteed due to factors such as weather and other unexpected events, looking at the timelines of the carrier you have in mind could be very helpful. Typically, deliveries beyond regional borders take 4-6 business days to reach their destination while those that are within the same region do not take 2-3 1-2 business days.

Frequently asked questions about LTL shipping

How does LTL shipping work?

LTL shipping operates using central hubs and local terminals. Local freight from various shippers is gathered at the terminals and combined into outbound trailers.

The goods then head to the central hub to be sorted and delivered or consolidated for further transportation.

What is the meaning of interlining?

Interlining is a common term in LTL shipping. So, what does it mean?

LTL freight shipping companies may sometimes have to partner with another carrier for shipments that extend their coverage area. This is what we call interlining.

Why is it not possible to lower my freight class?

As much as you want a lower class for a lower freight cost, it might not be possible at times.

This can be due to many factors such as the fact that your goods are bulky, incompressible, or the fact that the goods have a higher risk of damage while in transit.

What happens if I wrongly estimate the freight class of my shipment?

If you had estimated the class wrongly and had been undercharged as a result, the carrier will correct the errors, issue an Inspection Certificate, and charge you a lot of money. Best to avoid this.

When do I need to request an inside delivery?

An inside delivery is needed when the driver of the truck needs to go beyond the Loading or unloading dock when either picking up or offloading your shipment.