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Less Than Truckload Shipping

Posted: 1/17/18

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A Cost-Effective Way of Shipping Freight

Do you feel there is a better way to ship your freight to another location more efficiently? By using Less than Load Shipping (LTL) you have the opportunity to transport without needing the full trailer. LTL shipping allows you and other shippers to share a trailer in order to fill up the full truck space together. 

What is LTL Shipping?

LTL shipping is a shipping method used when you do not have enough to fill a full-size trailer. This means that one trailer is used to transport smaller loads from multiple shippers at once. With the space being shared, this method is more cost effective for shippers who do not need a full-size trailer.

What Started LTL Shipping?

LTL shipping all started when a regulation called the Motor Carrier Act passed in 1935. With this regulation in action, it limited the number of hours each truck driver could be on the road. Thirteen years later, in 1948, congress authorized carriers to fix their prices and still be exempt from any anti-trust legislation. Throughout the 70’s there were multiple acts that deregulated the industry and helped reduced the price fixing. In addition to this, it brought down collective vendor pricing as well. In 1980 the final stage of deregulation was the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. With this new act in place, it drove prices down and created competition. Between 1980 and 1990, the number of carriers doubled.

Why LTL Shipping?

LTL shipping provides many benefits in comparison to standard full trailer trucking. When a shipper does not have enough product to fill up a trailer, the driver can pick up products from multiple places and haul it all at once. This is going to drop prices for the shippers because they are splitting the cost with all others who are also sharing space on the truck. Since there are multiple loads on a single truck, this is a more eco-friendly way to transport. By using one truck for multiple loads, the amount of trucks on the road is reduced, which cuts down the amount of carbon released into the air. LTL shipping also increases the security of the product on the truck. By decreasing the number of units within the truck and less handling, it is going to cause less damage and product loss. In addition to a more secure transport, LTL is going to offer a larger selection of service options and extra services. This may include, liftgates, non-commercial shipping, notification options, and inside pickup and delivery. With LTL shipping the shipments are usually tracked by: PO number, pick up date, and shipment reference number.

Is It Right For You?

If you are looking for a better alternative for your freight when you do not have the volume to fill a full trailer, and something that is a more eco-friendly, cost-effective and convenient way to ship, LTL shipping may be the right process for you. Heritage is able to offer less-than-truckload pickups based on a 50-route, nationwide network that runs every three to six weeks, assuring regulatory compliance for waste generators, no matter where you are. Heritage has streamlined these routes, combining road, rail, and receiving centers across the country to efficiently, reliably, and best of all, affordably arrange for waste pickup. Getting added to our already established route network is easy and can offer big cost savings. Contact us today to see how often we can pick up at your location and how much money we can save you.

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