LTL freight transportation has become an essential part of doing business in today’s logistics-savvy world. Businesses are increasingly relying on this streamlined shipping method to get their products from point A to point B, but there are still some ways that you can save money on your LTL freight shipping costs. If you’re looking for ways to lower your expenses without sacrificing the high-quality service that you expect from your existing LTL carrier, here are a few tips:
- Compare the carriers.
- Compare prices, services and quality of service.
- Compare delivery times and insurance options.
- Check weight limits and fuel surcharges.
Use or Create a Preferred Shipper List
A preferred shipper list is a list of companies that offer discounted rates on freight shipping. These lists are available from carriers and freight brokers, who keep track of which carriers give them better deals. If you’re using a broker, they’ll often be able to connect you with the best rates available.
If your company is small enough and doesn’t have its own trucking department (or even if it does), consider creating your own preferred shipper list by finding out which carriers offer the lowest rates for each area in which they operate. This will allow you to negotiate directly with those companies without having to go through an intermediary like a freight broker.*
Use a Freight Rate Calculator
The first step to saving money on LTL freight shipping costs is to use a freight rate calculator. These handy tools are available online and allow you to enter the details of your shipment, including its weight, length, width and height. The calculator then takes this information and gives you an accurate quote from different carriers so that you can compare rates before booking with one company or another.
Freight rate calculators aren’t always 100% accurate, though; it’s important to check with the carrier directly before making any bookings as well!
Choose the Right Size Trailer for Your Load
The size of your trailer should be based on the weight of your load. The weight of your load should be based on the size of your trailer. And that’s because the number of pallets determines how many can fit onto a certain-sized trailer, which then determines how much materials cost and how many drivers are needed to haul them.
So if we go back to our example above with three pallets per 40′ boxcar (or “boxcar”), then this means that each car can hold about 120 tons—or 3600 pounds per square foot! So if we know there are 12 feet in a foot (or 1/12), then we can calculate that one full car holds exactly 3200 pounds!
Pick the Right Trailer Type
When you’re choosing a trailer type, consider the weight and volume of your load. If it’s too heavy or bulky to fit onto a standard flatbed, you may need an open-top container (OTC) or enclosed cargo box.
If you have a small but heavy load that needs protection from weather elements like rain or snow, consider getting an enclosed trailer with side panels instead of one that has open sides all around.
If your shipment is large enough that it won’t fit into most OTCs on their own—for example, if it’s longer than 10 feet—then consider adding another smaller container onto yours, so both shipments can travel together in one larger vehicle than would otherwise be needed.
For all your logistics and LTL Freight Shipping requirements, get in touch with our team at 1-800-790-3387.
