Comparing LTL vs. FTL: Which is Best?

Large, whole-truck-only shipments are now, for the most part, a thing of the past. With the prevalence of eCommerce and direct-to-consumer deliveries, shipping methods have adapted to accommodate smaller, custom-sized loads.

Because of this, a new type of shipping method was introduced in the 1980's: LTL. This is an alternative to FTL. But what do LTL and FTL stand for?

Freight Shipping Calculator: How to Estimate Freight Rates

Having goods delivered to a location is essential to running a business, but choosing the right method for calculating freight rates isn't always easy.

Many companies offer a freight shipping calculator to try and estimate how much a shipment will cost. But it's still important to understand what factors influence the cost and how prices are calculated.

Let's go over some of the essential aspects behind a standard freight calculator below so that you know how shipping freight rates are determined.

Standard Pallet Size & Dimensions

If you ship large quantities of goods, or ship large or heavy goods that need to be protected during transfer and safely delivered then chances are you will use pallets at some point in the supply chain to do this.  Using pallets makes shipping more secure and, more importantly, is the most cost effective way at maximizing space in truck trailers.

How to Calculate Freight Class

Shipping pallets of goods along the U.S. highway is usually done through LTL freight (less-than-truckload) or TL (full-load) carriers. For this, most common carriers use a freight class calculator to help set a precedent for what they may need to spend. Because space in a freight truck is limited, a freight class calculator is used to determine the value and difficulty of sending different types of products.

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