SHIPPING LTL IN CALIFORNIA

SHIPPING LTL IN CALIFORNIA 

Less than truckload (LTL) shipping is a form of transportation of goods and products that don’t require a full truckload, due to the nature and size of the cargo being transported. Shipping of goods and products is done by arranging the goods into small pallets and can range anywhere from one hundred pounds to ten thousand pounds. LTL shipping is the type of shipping that combines several goods from a variety of shippers and puts them together in an efficient manner. Most shippers prefer to use LTL because it is cost-effective and flexible.

LTL shipping in California is quite reliable and offers a safe way of getting your goods to your desired destination without much of a hassle. Before we look into the benefits of shipping your goods with LTL, let’s look into how LTL shipping works.

How LTL Shipping Works

With LTL shipping, partial loads are combined to create full, multi-stop truckloads, which is very efficient. Clients pay for space used, the kind of goods in transit, and pickup and destination locations.

LTL freight can be shipped standard, expedited, or guaranteed. Also, LTL freight can be shipped with special services such as lift gate pickup/delivery, inside pickup/delivery, residential pickup/delivery, and reclassification. All of these additional services come with an extra fee called assessorial fees.

Benefits of LTL Shipping

Now that we all know what LTL shipping is and how it works, let’s talk about the benefits of using LTL shipping.

Cost

Each truckload is made of several smaller shipments which are combined into one truckload. Since your cargo does not occupy the whole space, you don’t have to pay for the entire space – you only pay for the space covered by your cargo. Therefore, your cost will only be a fraction of the whole truckload.

Environmental friendliness

The LTL shipping requires few trucks to carry full loads for several clients rather than more trucks carrying less capacity. Fewer trucks on the road mean fewer emissions which is great for the environment.

Works best for small businesses

Small businesses can benefit from LTL shipping since they ship fewer goods and hence can spend less money on freight as compared to larger businesses. LTL shipping gives small businesses the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits that larger companies get, without paying the high cost for space they are not using.

Benefits of Online Freight Quotes

How can an LTL Freight Quote help your supply chain capabilities?

With an overwhelmingly tight capacity market nowadays, there are lingering challenges with the supply chain. LTL shipping methods help to address some of these problems but can open you up to new challenges that come with booking LTL shipping methods. However, with an online LTL freight quote, you can skip the challenges and experience the full benefits of LTL shipping without picking up a phone. Here are some reasons why online LTL freight quotes are the way to go: 

• The quotation process is straightforward to manage because you are easily navigated throughout the entire process from start to finish.
• The streamlined process allows you to find the fastest, cheapest and the most appropriate freight service for your particular needs.
• Because of the technological process, competitive and full quotes are always readily available.
• Online LTL freight quotes are available for a range of shipping service from expedited to guaranteed-on-time shipping services, as well as other shipping options such as lift gates, non-commercial shipment modes and even inside pick-up/delivery.

With this new feature, booking your LTL shipping method is easier than ever. An LTL option makes freight managing simple, and an online quote opens up the opportunity for you to have the best, most streamlined experience. You have everything in your hands, and you are in full control that online LTL freight quotes give you a competitive edge. After all, it is your shipment; it should be working the way you want it to be.  

Benefits of Using FTL Options

Benefits of Using FTL Options

Faster shipments

While transporting a load, speed is of the essence, and this enables the goods to reach their destination promptly. Using a full truckload carrier means that the freight is bound to one destination. This is as opposed to a situation where the goods are delivered to some destinations. Fewer stops mean the freight gets to where it needs to go more quickly. Once loaded, the full truckload carrier will take a shorter time to get to its destination, saving not just time but also on monetary losses incurred or inconveniences brought by delays in the delivery of the cargo.

Less damage

Some goods can be delicate, and when handled by different stops, they could become damaged. However, with full truckload freight, packages are only processed at two points, the pickup or loading point, and the drop off point. This eliminates the unpacking and re-packing as goods are off-loaded at different locations.

Pricing

You will be charged per mile instead of per hundred weight pricing. Per mile pricing is less expensive, meaning that cost of freight shipping will be lower than when you opt for other modes. It’s important to keep the cost of freight as low as possible, and this means that if the goods are for resale, it’s possible to reduce the cost of operations and subsequently pass the savings on to the final customer.

Safety and security

The fact that your goods are handled only at the pick-up and drop-off points means that the safety and security of the cargo are guaranteed. Also, the fact that freight companies have professional drivers assures customers that high standards are maintained throughout the transportation process. Using a means of transportation that ensures you the safety and security of your cargo not only gives you peace of mind but also it’s assurance that they will get to the intended destination intact. Although freight companies do everything possible to ensure they maintain an excellent record, mistakes can still happen but are less likely when using full truckload options.

Overweight Container Drayage

Overweight Container Drayage 

By direct definition, drayage refers to the activity of transporting goods short distances. But in the context of the shipping industry, drayage refers to the intermodal transport of overweight cargo installed in heavy containers. Typical modes are port to port (also known as Port Drayage) or from port to rail yard on its way to further the transportation of goods. There are many things to consider and accomplish to successfully transact overweight container drayage. Supply chain service companies usually provide such features and services to ensure your goods get delivered on time and efficiently. This is efficiently performed in partnership with container trucking companies that offer professional drayage services. 

In hiring such companies for your container drayage needs, you will be able to experience the following benefits and solutions:

• Prompt delivery order confirmation and acknowledgment
• Real-time updates on status and availability
• Custom made reporting to suit your requirements
• Continuous work to expedite release of shipments
• Consistent help with transacting appropriate fees, customs concerns and other particular equipment challenges
• Prompt appointment and scheduling coordination
• On-time pickup and delivery of all containers/cargo
• Paperless invoicing
• Streamlined warehouse management system
• Long term / short term overflow storage options with flexible pricing options
• Retail routing compliance, barcoding and labeling for accurate traceability
• Storage rack and bulk options
• Prompt consolidation
• Streamlined sorting (i.e., SKU, lot management, FIFO system)
• Cross-docking

In addition to all of the above, hiring a drayage services provider not only brings streamlined overweight container transport and eventual delivery, but it also provides peace of mind because you are truly confident that your goods will get to where they need to be with ease. This will then provide a positive business approach due to continuous and consistent quality goods transport transactions. The next time you require prompt transport of your bulk goods, you must consider hiring a proven company that specializes in overweight container drayage services.

FULL TRUCKLOAD CARRIERS

FULL TRUCKLOAD CARRIERS

FTL or full truckload is the shipping of items that only an entire trailer can accommodate. This mode of shipping focuses on shipping one item or items that belong to one shipper or a shipping cooperation. FTL shipping involves transportation of large and bulky items. Unlike less than truckload shipping, full truckload shipping is more efficient for specific freight shipping needs such as heavy machinery. It is essential for a shipper to be accurate on their shipping requirements. Here are some fundamental differences between LTL AND FTL shipping that will guide you in choosing the appropriate transportation for your freight. 

•    Weight. Freight that weighs less than 15,000 pounds is most suitable to ship with less than truckload shipping while cargo that weighs more than 15,000 pounds would be ideal to be shipped with full truckload shipping.

•    Cost. Less than truckload shipping comprises of multiple items that are shipped together and does save shipping costs for shippers when they don't have to send a whole truck. However, this is only applicable if the goods are less than 15,000 pounds.

•    Urgency. Full truckload is time-saving and comes in handy when a shipment is time sensitive. In some instances, Full truckload does offer to ship from pick up point to delivery point using only one truck, and the delivery can be quicker than shipping with LTL which has to make stops at several carrier terminals.

•    Handling. When a shipper is shipping fragile cargo, a full truckload can help reduce the chances of damage to goods during transportation since there are fewer instances of loading and offloading cargo. 

These four differences should be enough to help a shipper choose the right shipping for their cargo. FTL freight carriers have benefits over other shipping methods and are some of the most convenient ways of shipping cargo. 

Full truckload is a viable shipping alternative for shippers who mostly ship heavy cargo and those who prefer their goods to arrive within a short amount of time. Full truckload carriers offer a reasonable time frame for when shippers should expect delivery of their cargo since the freight belongs to one shipper. Business owners and companies that deal with a lot of supply chain operations would do well to opt for full truckload shipping because of the time frame that these FTL freight carriers offer. A shipper can use a FTL freight company that can ship their goods within a given time frame and location and go on with their business without having to do frequent follow-ups.