Full truckload solutions provide the most flexibility. If your cargo is large enough to fill a truck, road freight experts will devise a time- and cost-effective solution.
Full truckload shipping is ideal for companies that need to ship enough product to fill an entire truck. If you are unsure about the benefits of full truckload shipping and whether it is the best option for your business needs, continue reading to learn more about what it is and the advantages it will provide for your company.
FTL Features
Full truckload, or FTL, is a shipping mode in which one truck transports a single shipment from one location to another. In an FTL shipment, the truck travels from point A to point B, shortening transit times but increasing costs. Some of the FTL features are as follows:
Booking-Dispatch-Delivery:
- Users can browse through various truck types available in real-time using the truck fleet management software.
- To create a new booking, simply enter the pickup, drop, and type of load details, as well as the shipment schedule.
- A separate section is provided for the user to review previous booking details.
Truck Tracking:
- A real-time tracking option is provided to keep track of the truck’s location.
- A GPS-enabled software interface displays truck/driver/load information on a single screen.
- You can view the truck’s location, unloading details, and driver service hours.
Truck Management:
- Shippers/carriers who handle various types of trucks for FTL and PTL must keep an eye on their health at all times.
- The software keeps track of all required services and alerts, truck managers.
- It also monitors truck usage to ensure optimal utilisation
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FTL Benefits
Faster Delivery Times
If you need to restock your store quickly, FTL shipping will be your best friend. Full truckload shipments typically have shorter total transit times than comparable LTL distances and times.
If you have a large shipment at the port or in a local warehouse, an FTL service will load and deliver cargo without making any stops in between. Rapid delivery times are essential for time-sensitive cargo and merchandise.
FTL is also faster than LTL because initial loading is less of a hassle. If you combine truckload and transload services, for example, the warehouse only needs to take the goods out of one container and load them directly into the trailer which will make the final delivery.
Since pallets and crates must be weighed and classified to determine shipping costs, the same transload service for an LTL shipment is slower.
Exclusive Trailer Use
The exclusive use of a trailer for the duration of the transport process is a big draw for high-value or fragile shipping needs. Whether you use the entire trailer or not, paying for exclusive use has several advantages.
- Enhanced shipment security: The fewer times a trailer must be opened and closed, the less likely something will go missing.
- Reduced risk of damage in transit: When shipping fragile items that must be carefully packed, such as glassware, being the only package in the trailer reduces the possibility of another package in the trailer shifting and causing damage.
- Available Dedicated Services: Some carriers include a full truckload service in their daily or weekly service. For that amount of time, a driver and truck are dedicated to you and your shipment. This service may be useful if you know it will take longer to load a truck or if you are in the process of consolidating multiple shipments.
Exclusive use is also associated with faster delivery times. There is no need for you to wait for additional merchandise to be loaded. Your driver will be able to move your items once they are on or in the caravan.
This also benefits drivers, particularly owner-operators who work independently. No driver wants to waste time waiting for shipments to be loaded when they could be driving and delivering.
Fewer touchpoints
Any point in the shipment and delivery process where cargo is moved, adjusted, or otherwise handled is considered a touchpoint. The fewer touchpoints your shipment has, the less likely it is to be damaged or misplaced as it moves from container to truck to warehouse to more trucks.
Full truckload services can have as few as two touchpoints, depending on what you consider the shipment’s starting point.
- At the point of origin, merchandise is loaded into the trailer or onto a flatbed.
- At the delivery location, the merchandise is unloaded.
FTL carriers provide a quick and safe high-quality service by reducing touchpoints and improving delivery times.
Space Available During Peak Season
Every business has a peak season. It could be holidays like Christmas or Halloween for retail stores. It could be harvest season for farmers’ crops. Whatever the case, finding available truck space during peak seasons when everyone else is doing the same can be frustrating and costly.
When it comes to using full truckload services to benefit during these times, it all depends on what you’re shipping and how much profit you expect to make. Perhaps you own and operate a grocery chain and are aware that the holiday season is approaching. Alcohol is one of the most important commodities to keep on hand. Since these are items you restock on a regular basis, you may receive them via LTL shipments.
Your regularly scheduled shipments, on the other hand, aren’t arriving on time because the truck carrying them was caught in a storm. You notice that the most popular beer is almost gone, and you need to rush in a shipment of beer from somewhere else. Using an FTL carrier for a one-time delivery can help you save your Christmas sales.
Be aware that one-time shipments are typically more expensive. Consider it an emergency service for when you’re in a pinch, and make sure the profit is worth the cost. Similarly, if you know you’ll need extra shipments, you can contact an FTL service provider ahead of time to handle your peak season overflow needs and possibly get a better rate.