LTL Benefits for Small Business Shipping
As a small business owner, you’ll rarely need to reserve an entire truck and trailer to haul your goods. Instead, you’ll likely find yourself relying on less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping services. There are numerous LTL benefits for small business shipping. Here are some standout examples:
Cost Savings
One of the biggest LTL benefits for small business shipping is cost savings. If you reserve an entire trailer that leaves a lot of dead space, you are essentially throwing money away.
Less-than-truckload shipping combines cargo from multiple businesses into one truck. This means that you and all of the other shippers will share the transportation costs. Your bill will vary based on your freight’s weight and cubic footage.
Since costs scale up or down with the size of your shipment, you can easily avoid overspending on shipping. As your order size and revenue grow, you can simply reserve more space on the truck.
Flexibility
Less-than-truckload shipping offers a significant amount of flexibility. If you’ve got to send out a single pallet to get extra products into the hands of a retailer, you can do so without incurring unnecessary logistics costs.
Many carriers also offer priority pickup and delivery options as part of their LTL services. If you need your pallets to be prioritized during route planning, they can accommodate you. While you will incur an extra fee, you still come out better than you would if your shipment had been delayed or if you’d disappointed your loyal customers.
Enhanced Efficiency
Less-than-truckload offers better efficiency and less waste, which is great for the environment. Freight can be consolidated to maximize fuel consumption and decrease the total number of trucks on the road.
If you are a green-minded business owner, LTL represents an environmentally friendly way to get goods into your clients’ hands. Contributing to a healthy planet is always rewarding, especially when you are saving money in the process.
Reliable Transit Times
LTL carriers have become quite skilled at estimating pickup and delivery windows. While they can’t account for every variable (like a truck breakdown), top providers do a great job of offering reliable transit times. You can use this information to keep customers in the loop about when their orders will arrive and ensure everyone’s needs are met.
Access to Advanced Tech
Top less-than-truckload carriers offer advanced tracking tools and logistics technology. These solutions will provide you with real-time updates and visibility into your orders. If a shipment gets delayed, you’ll know right away.
You can also pass this information on to your customers if the carrier hasn’t already done so. The technology lets you rest easy knowing that your cargo is in good hands.
Air Freight
If you need a shipment to get there fast, air freight is likely a good option. It is ideal for high-value, time-sensitive orders. However, the added cost makes it impractical for all of your shipping needs. Instead, you should be strategic about when and how often you use air freight.
Small Business Shipping Strategies for Using LTL
If you are going to use less-than-truckload shipping methods, make sure your packaging is optimized. Ensure your goods are securely packaged and labeled to reduce the risk of damage during transit. Efficient packaging can also help maximize space, reducing your costs even further.
Plan your shipments to take full advantage of LTL flexibility, consolidating orders when possible to save on shipping costs, and ensuring timely deliveries. Regularly review schedules to identify opportunities for optimization.
Most importantly, choose the right less-than-truckload carrier. Select a company with a good reputation for reliability and customer service. Look for carriers that offer the tech and support you need to manage your shipments effectively.
Building a strong relationship with a trusted team can alleviate your logistics headaches and enable you to better serve your customers. When you know your cargo is in good hands, you’ll have more time to focus on the other important aspects of running your business.
How to Unlock LTL Benefits for Small Business Shipping
The easiest way to reap the LTL benefits for small business shipping is by teaming up with an experienced third-party logistics (3PL) provider like R2 Logistics. We offer bespoke services to ensure our solutions align with your company’s unique needs and goals.
R2 Logistics relies on our expansive network of carrier partners to get your goods where they need to go at a price that makes sense for your growing business. Request a quote on less-than-truckload shipping today.
