Freight shipping is the process of transporting different types of goods, supplies, and cargo in various modes of land, sea, or air. With the advancements in technology and improved supply chain, there are several types of freight shipping options that fulfill the diverse business needs across the globe. As a business owner, it is key to select one or a blend of freight options to make your shipments reach the actual destination on the correct note. By having some knowledge of various freight shipping options and associating with the right logistic players, you can take the advantage of these options.
About freight shipping:
Moving the freight from one place to another is freight shipping. The important factor to consider before selecting the best option is to know which is the right option to suit your needs. Some of the key aspects to be noted are width, length, and height along with the weight, fragility, storage needs, and delivery necessities of the freight shipment. As the factors are identified cautiously, you can determine which is the best shipping option for your load to be shipped to the destination. Below, is the classification of major freight shipping options, together with a description that contains the uses of every mode to the business owners who need to employ freight shipping.
Freight Shipping Options:
There are multiple modes of freight shipping which calls for careful consideration from the business owners to choose the right ones for their needs.
Less than truckload
Shortly called LTL, less than truckload is only used for shipments that are nigger than parcel but not big enough to cover the complete area of a Full truckload space. This is a highly used mode of freight transportation and is usually done by truck both from starting point and destination. LTL is generally used for shipments between 150 and 15,000 pounds. LTL freight shipping is the most valuable, timely, and trusted mode of freight shipping as the shipment will shares the same truck with similar less than truckload freights.
Full truckload
Full truckload consists of shipping huge or pallet loads that are big enough to cover the space of a complete semi-trailer, generally larger than 15,000 pounds. This type of freight shipping is best suited for goods that are not packaged or will require climate control, refrigeration, flatbeds, or any such specific arrangement. Full truckload will be valuable and decrease the chances of freight damage with, minimal handling requirement than LTL. Some may look at it as expensive, but this mode is much quicker than the LTL shipping since it does not need frequent truck transfers.
Partial truckload
This is unique from Less than Truckload, as it consists of a specific truck that transports lesser loads at a time but has a variety of goods. It could be climate-controlled, refrigerated, harmful materials, or oversized and overweight commodities. A partial truckload offers the chance to share the transportation charges with other shippers especially for businesses with diverse storage needs. It is usually employed for medium-sized freights that are classified by their volume. A partial truckload is a better option if the shipment is more than 5,000 pounds/6 pallets.
Air Ride Truckload
If the shipment contains goods that must be handled with care having a high risk of damage, then an exclusive truck with an air-ride suspension option is the advanced and highly chosen option for transportation. This option includes both partial and full modes while offering a smooth ride than other types of trucks employed in general LTL, Partial or Full truck modes. Since this type of service is used occasionally, it can be costly than the regular type of part of the full truckload option.
Intermodal
Intermodal shipping involves shipping with a blend of truck and rail but could also involve the combination of trucks, rails, and ships to optimize the process. With the involvement of rail mode in freight shipping, it can decrease the use of fuel, reduce costs and provide a trusted method of shipping. It is proven to be an impacting, valuable and eco-friendly mode of shipping amongst all the options. This type of shipping is highly used to ship risky, dangerous, or huge items to save finances and time compared to other modes.
Expedited
Expedited mode is key for time-based shipments which involve freights that need to be transported faster. It involves the use of air and truck modes or a combination of both. This mode of shipment is highly reliable since it lets various types of freight be transported at a faster pace. Even though it is not as quick as the exclusive guaranteed delivery, it has a faster time of delivery than all other modes.
Air Freight
Airfreight shipping is the quickest mode of shipping amongst all the options. This mode of shipments prefers smaller packages as the air freights will have higher numbers. It implies that they do not fulfill the requirements to be sitting on a regular cargo plane but they meet the wight norms to be termed a freight. If the freight has more than 100 pounds weight and is packed securely, air freight shipping will be more valuable than even LTL freight shipping options.
Conclusion:
Regardless of the type of business, choosing the right freight shipping options is important for reaching the goods to a destination safely, on time, and cost-effectively. You may not possess optimal time or knowledge to find the right carriers, discuss the quotes and get the ideal rates for their freight. You may also have a freight, that has to reach the customers in a closer delivery timeline. With the diverse types of freight shipping services, you can choose the right option that is ideal for your requirements. Hence, it is crucial to partner with experienced and reasonable logistics companies like Corlett express for secured and optimal delivery service. We have the proven ability to provide swift, safe and reliable service to even the extremely remote areas of Utah.
