Shipping and logistics can be confusing and complicated, even for someone with experience and education in business. It can be hard to know what type of shipping your business may need. Working with a professional shipping company is recommended, especially regarding LTL Shipping in Canada.
What is LTL Shipping Canada, and who is it for?
LTL Shipping stands for less than truckload shipping for freight. It’s the common choice for small businesses that need to move freight. Usually, LTL Shipping in Canada is for loads between 150lbs and 15,000lbs. We know that’s a substantial difference, but the amount of space is also considered.
To make a simple comparison, imagine you and your friend want to send something to another friend. You could send a separate box or ship your items in a package together and split the cost. LTL Shipping works a lot like that.
Your business takes up a portion of a trailer, and other shippers fill the rest.
Reasons to choose LTL Shipping in Canada
LTL Shipping has many advantages. The most common and popular is that it saves your business money.
You only pay for the part of the trailer that you use. For example, your items may only take up one or two spaces, but freight shipping is the only way to transport them. This type of shipping is designed just for that situation.
Your items will also be more secure. As they load LTL trailers, they package things onto pallets, allowing them to quickly move them on and off the truck. Still, it also helps ensure that no damage happens during the shipping process. Unlike UPS or FedEx, there won’t be loose packages bouncing around as they travel.
Almost all LTL Shipping in Canada is trackable. This is for both you as a sender and the company. It keeps everyone in the loop. That way, you know if there will be unexpected delays, and you can plan accordingly.
LTL shipping is more environmentally friendly. Consumers are increasingly aware of a business’s carbon footprint and green profile. LTL freight shipments have a similar effect as carpooling. Without this program, you would have to ship without a full load to get still your products moved, costing exponentially more.
Calculating the cost of LTL Shipping in Canada
Multiple factors determine how LTL shipping costs are calculated. Weight, in any form of freight movement, is one of the major factors. Trucks can only load so much weight, even if that weight doesn’t fill a space.
The size and dimensions are also taken into consideration. If the freight takes up more space, it’s likely to cost more. Large lightweight items can mean the truck can’t fit as many other shipments even if they aren’t at the maximum weight.
Another factor that goes into the calculations is the distance of your shipment. The farther your goods or freight travels, the higher the cost. For example, it would be significantly more expensive to go from the farthest reaches of northern Canada to Mexico than from, say, Toronto to NYC.
Does LTL Shipping work well?
This isn’t an unusual question when talking about LTL shipping in Canada.
For many companies, LTL shipping is the only way to go. Small businesses are especially susceptible to problems due to shipping costs. With the LTL shipping option, these small businesses can have the same great freight carriers they would be working with if they were bigger businesses.
LTL works because it is part of a network of hubs and warehouses in which loads can be stored later. This allows the freight companies to shuffle loads around and give each business or shipper the best rates.
When to choose LTL Shipping in Canada?
Suppose your product or freight can be condensed into a pallet or a crate, but you don’t move enough product to fill a truck. In that case, you are the perfect candidate for LTL shipping in Canada.
Partial truckloads are picked up from the shipper and transported to a warehouse or terminal location, where they can be arranged and placed onto the right track for the most affordable rate.
Shipping cross-border with LTL Shipping in Canada
LTL shipments can still be cross-border shipments. It means that all the shipments in the load must have the proper paperwork. Working with a professional logistics and shipping company ensures this isn’t a problem. They help to prepare the paperwork and ensure there are no unnecessary delays at the border.
Those companies that ship LTL loads across the border from Canada to the US or Canada to Mexico have a wealth of experience to add to their value. Shipping across the border can be a confusing process. From the amount of paperwork involved to ensuring that it has no errors on it, every little thing matters.
Instead of stressing out, why not get back to running your business and let a professional LTL Shipping Company in Canada handle all the hard work for you. They have streamlined the entire process and built a network that allows them to get your freight or products across the board in the most secure manner while still accounting for speed.
Do what you do best
Return to running your business by working with a professional shipping company specializing in LTL shipping in Canada. It’s the best type of shipment style for freight in smaller firms. Most small businesses never have a whole truckload of products or cargo they need to transport. Working with a company that does less than a load shipment will save money for more important things like advertising or product development.
