Partial Truckload vs LTL: Save Time & Money With the Right Choice

One of the most important things in a successful operation is how goods are transported. In many cases, businesses find themselves with packages too big to be tendered as parcels and too small to fill up an entire twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU). For such midsized loads, the choice is usually between partial truckload vs LTL services. Both methods of shipping deal with cargo that does not occupy a whole trailer; however, their approaches are different, leading to dissimilarities in costs, time, and overall dependability of delivery. At HMD Trucking, we know that no shipment is exactly like another. That’s why our reliability lies in offering you direct shipping options tailored for your business’s needs. This guide will help you differentiate between PTL and LTL so that you choose the right one for your next shipment.

Contents:

1. Definition of Full Truckload (FTL) as a Starting Point
2. Partial Truckload vs LTL: Unpacking the Differences
3. LTL vs Partial: Choosing the Right Path for Your Freight Journey
4. Difference between LTL and Partial: A Summary
5. Conclusion

Definition of Full Truckload (FTL) as a Starting Point

Before we start talking about PTL and LTL, and specifically what is the difference between LTL and partial, let's understand what full truckload is. Think about an entire trailer full of goods to be shipped, which describes FTL shipping best. Yet what does that mean in terms of capacity in real life? The amount a truck can carry isn't just about weight; volume also plays a critical role in determining capacity. For example, a regular dry van can haul 42-45k pounds worth of freight. That being said, you should also remember how big or small your cargo is aside from the weight it carries.

When it comes to standard pallets, a 48’ dry van will typically contain around 24 pieces sized at 48x40 inches, while longer trailers like the one with 53 feet can accommodate up to 26 such pallets. What if the quantities are not so huge? If your requirements do not add up to a whole trailer, however, it is within this space that LTL and PTL occupy that offers the best alternatives for shipments.

Partial Truckload vs LTL: Unpacking the Differences

Choosing between partial truckload shipping and less than truckload is often decided by fine points, as each has its own positive and negative sides. Both of these modes are built with the basic idea of moving goods that do not take up a full trailer on their own. However, this is achieved differently in both cases, leading to drastically different shipping experiences. The subtleties of these options can make all the difference in selecting the right means for your transportation. Let’s look into key distinctions of partial truckload vs LTL:

• Shipment Size:
  • LTL (Less than truckload): LTL shipping is best suited for relatively small shipments weighing between 150 and 20,000 pounds, typically. It is customized for things that are often packed onto pallets, ranging from a few well-packaged boxes to around ten or twelve pallets constituted by shrink-wrapped items, for example. This is also one of the best options when one’s volumes are not enough to consume a whole truck.
  • PTL (Partial truckload): In contrast, PTL is intended for significantly larger shipments that reside in the grey area between LTL and FTL. These typically range from about 5,000 to 40,000 pounds and tend to encompass six to over 20 pallets. Such a quantity would likely overflow a typical LTL approach but not quite command the full load capabilities of a dedicated full truckload scenario.
• Handling and Transit:
  • LTL: With LTL shipping, expect a bit more of a complex journey. These shipments often get swept up alongside a mix of others and then transported to a centrally located hub. At this hub, the contents are removed, categorized, and then reloaded onto a range of other trucks, all going in a general direction. This creates a 'hub and spoke' type of distribution pattern with multiple contact points. This multi-stop approach, unfortunately, increases the likelihood of delays, minor damages, or the risk of items going missing during transition.
  • PTL: PTL shipments, however, follow a far more linear route. Once your cargo is secured, it usually goes onto a single trailer and gets transported directly from its point of origin right through to the final delivery address. There are considerably fewer occasions to touch or handle the freight at interim terminals. This approach reduces the overall time your cargo spends in transit, limits the exposure to potentially damaging handling, and increases the security of the entire shipping process.
• Pricing:
  • LTL: When it comes to calculating rates for LTL, things become more involved. The price is calculated based on numerous aspects, including, among others, the weight and dimensions of the shipment, the distance to its destination, its freight classification, whether any particular services are required for your delivery, as well as the current conditions of the market at any point in time. Prices can therefore fluctuate, so it's important to stay up-to-date with carrier quotes and to remain aware that prices for LTL are usually based upon published tariffs and specific accessorial fees.
  • PTL: In comparison, PTL pricing is subject to market forces and typically decided directly between you and the carrier through some form of mutual agreement. Factors at play in determining the final price may include weight, distance, and any tailored services or special needs that may be involved. The result can often be a better understanding of your overall transport cost, as PTL pricing is less determined by freight classifications than the often-intricate approach with LTL pricing schemes.
• Freight Classifications:
  • LTL: LTL shipments cannot avoid freight class designations, which are essentially a formalized structure of organizing cargo according to its specific traits, dimensions, and overall weight density. This process has the unfortunate byproduct of being a complicated but nonetheless mandatory step in determining the overall rate of shipping that your freight is going to incur.
  • PTL: Here lies a big difference, as PTL shipments do away with all of the fuss involved in classifying freight and do not use freight class systems. The primary difference is that partial truckloads are based exclusively on the weight and size of your shipment instead of the freight class or density. This approach results in a more direct approach that streamlines the entire shipping process, saving valuable time and reducing logistical overhead.

LTL vs Partial: Choosing the Right Path for Your Freight Journey

Having laid out the core differences, you might now be wondering, "How do I choose which method makes the most sense for my specific requirements?". Choosing wisely comes down to taking into consideration the nature of the freight, the time sensitivity of your schedule, and your individual financial boundaries. Ultimately, understanding the key distinctions between LTL vs partial shipping will empower you to make the best decision.

When LTL is the Preferred Choice?

The versatility of LTL shipping shines brightest in scenarios where the specific conditions listed below are true:

• Your shipments are smaller: When the volume is below a certain threshold, specifically for freight under the 5,000-pound weight and consisting only of a few pallets, the cost savings that LTL shipping provides becomes especially valuable for smaller or emerging businesses.
• You handle an array of different goods: LTL's inherent classification scheme is very flexible in accommodating shipments of a wide diversity and varying compositions; LTL shipping easily adjusts to fit items with disparate shapes, forms, and packaging.
• Your scheduling is more lenient, and time is less of an obstacle. When it comes to timelines, LTL transits are a bit more of an unknown quantity due to the many layers and intermediary processes involved. However, if deadlines aren’t rigid and your shipment can absorb transit times being slightly stretched, LTL's economic advantages make it a viable alternative.
• You benefit from a range of value-added options: If your operation relies heavily on additional services such as on-demand inside pick-ups or drop-offs and/or liftgate assistance, not to mention specific requirements regarding cargo tracking, an LTL carrier's network will better provide the tools you need.
• Your shipping needs are geographically regional: For any type of transit that doesn't extend much past a shorter radius, a hub-and-spoke structured LTL operation is great and convenient in terms of logistics and should prove itself useful to anyone moving freight on a smaller, regional scale.

When Partial Truckload is the Better Fit

On the flip side, the PTL option presents itself when any or all of these situations apply to you:

• Your load is larger, yet still falls short of full capacity. PTL often finds itself chosen by those shipping between what is appropriate for a standard LTL situation and a more involved full truckload; it is for this unique gray area that the PTL option is specifically designed for.
• You must adhere to a tightly planned delivery: PTL transits are characteristically rapid because their emphasis is on a direct point-to-point approach, and, therefore, PTL delivers very prompt shipping that you can rely on when meeting strict scheduling needs.
• Reducing the number of transfers of goods is crucial. Items that are valuable or especially fragile will suffer greater odds of damage if they need to be transferred from multiple trucks and transit hubs. When keeping such sensitive cargo secure and undamaged, PTL services, with their reduction in unnecessary transfer activity, can play an invaluable role in mitigating risk.
• A singular, direct delivery process suits your needs: Instead of transferring cargo to intermediate transit depots, PTL trucks often take a very direct, door-to-door route that will reduce possible shipping timelines.
• The flexibility of the free market drives your decisions. Because PTL shipping costs are more often negotiated and discussed based upon free market rules, shippers and carriers can often benefit from a more transparent financial relationship.
• Using a single direct truck is more desirable. As stated previously, PTL services use one truck and bypass various transfer locations and truck terminals, helping shippers avoid damaged or lost goods due to frequent handling.
• Your objective is multiple shipments arriving at a single destination: Coordinating the delivery of different shipments can become infinitely more streamlined if using the PTL service that can move and deliver multiple different cargo contents at once with significantly less difficulty.

Difference between LTL and Partial: A Summary

The following quick reference chart neatly summarizes the key distinctions and helps illuminate the core difference between LTL and partial:

HMD Trucking: Your Partner in Reliable Shipping

At HMD Trucking, we go well beyond just moving cargo; we deliver a service and value for the business of our customers. Our expertise and deep understanding of the trucking industry have made us experts when dealing with a multitude of scenarios. Our ability to offer you a highly comprehensive selection of services, both in terms of dry van and flatbed, allows us to tackle every type of freight with efficiency, attention to detail, reliability, and care. It is not simply about transporting freight; it is about making the entire process feel smooth and well supported from our beginning with a transparent conversation about shipping options and needs through to delivery and follow-up. Choosing us comes down to a mutual commitment in our business ethics. We prioritize communication and professionalism throughout the entire customer service experience.

Conclusion

The decision between choosing either partial truckload shipping or less than truckload methods might at first seem intimidating, but it is our intention at HMD Trucking to bring ease and lucidity to these challenging problems in freight logistics. By simply coming to terms with all the fundamental differences that exist between these two separate shipping solutions, any company can start to realize much more successful operations via improved, targeted logistical planning and delivery times. By now understanding these crucial characteristics, anyone can make strategic decisions that fit their specific needs for speed, pricing, and logistical convenience.

Whether your operation needs a convenient option such as an LTL strategy or you are leaning towards the direct and very efficient approach of partial truckload logistics, rest easy with HMD Trucking as your trusted transportation partner that prioritizes clear transparency, professional customer service, and reliable freight solutions for our valued customers. We will always be your partner in getting your valued cargo delivered quickly and securely to its final destination. For additional information about HMD Trucking transportation services as well as free estimates related to your freight and load shipping costs, navigate to the “Transportation” section of the HMD Trucking website. We can handle any kind of transportation needed in dry vans as well as on flatbed trailers. Don't hesitate to contact us today to begin your seamless transportation experience and allow us to take your shipping needs and goals into a clear focus.