It’s no doubt that there’s a whole myriad of benefits to shipping via FTL methods. While shippers don’t need to be made aware of the advantages to FTL shipping, they do need advice as to when they should go about the process (and how to do it without blowing the budget). So when is full truckload shipping right for you?
Problems of Avoiding Full Truckload Shipping
Circumstances are different for every business. A lower budget means cutting costs and losing a grip on your “ideal” shipping situation. Unfortunately, with the recent spike in consumer demand, its difficult to find any space on a shipping vessel. This capacity crunch is calling for shippers everywhere to resort to different shipping practices to secure their spot of vessels and get their freight to its destination without interruption.
While the phrase “Full Truckload Shipping” may connotate high expenses, this isn’t always the case. No transportation solution is immune to volatility in rates. Thus, shippers must learn how to use full truckload shipping to their advantage – to mitigate costs, reduce risk, and improve their efficiency.
When is Full Truckload Shipping Right for Me?
The primary issue when selecting between LCL or FCL shipping boils down to volume. Customers often ship in consolidate LTL containers because of the low per-project shipping costs associated with such shipments. However, companies who are moving shipments frequently may be doing themselves a disservice.
LTL freight rates are subject to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), whereas FTL freight rates are dependent on market variables. Regardless of the space left in LTL containers for further shipper consolidation, the NMFTA sets the rates. However, with full truckload shipping, the increased capacity has the net benefit of lowering overall FTL costs.
Keep in mind that small to mid size businesses have their challenges with FTL shipping as well.
Benefits of Selecting Full Truckload Shipping
If you find your business to be an ideal fit for full truckload shipping methods, start considering the benefits you may experience from switching.
Lowered Costs
As previously stated, full truckload shipping rates are determined independently of the NMFTA. This means that rates are dependent on market variables only – not based on the classification of your goods as defined by the NMFTA. Regardless of what you are shipping, if it is able to fill up to half of a full truckload, it is well-worth it to rent the whole thing and move your goods as a full truckload shipment.
Decreased Risk
Cargo damage is a real problem, and most of the time it is caused during LTL shipments. If there’s one way to ensure that your goods are in the crosshairs of damage, it’s by having them juggled by multiple parties, thrown into a trailer with everyone else’s goods, deconsolidated, placed onto trucks for final mile delivery, and dropped off. If that risk is a little bit too much for you to stomach, full truckload shipping may be right for you.
With full truckload shipping, your own freight goes on your own container. And that’s it. No more monkeying around with your goods. No more consolidating it into a trailer with other peoples’ shipments. This drastically reduces the chances of cargo damage, as your goods are handled significantly less that LTL shipping. It’s one of the primary benefits of FTL shipping.
Increased Visibility
Although LTL freight tracking and tracing has improved, nothing can quite beat the tools that are available with FTL shipping. Modern day full truckload shipping technology has, in some instances, enabled shippers and buyers GPS visibility into the exact whereabouts of their shipment; technology that simply hasn’t been made available in the LTL industry.
Deciding if Full Truckload Shipping is Right for You
Frequent shippers need stability, visibility, and hopefully (at such high shipment volumes), lower costs. While LTL shipments generally have a lower per-shipment face value, when push comes to shove, it’s almost guaranteed that you will see the greatest cost benefits from full truckload shipping if you ship reasonably large loads on a frequent basis.
If you want to learn more about full truckload shipping to see if it is right for your business, call one of our team members and we would be happy to help you make a smart decision!