Trucking

Drayage is a necessary step to keep the delivery process moving smoothly. Drayage services transport containers over a short distance and in a comparatively short amount of time via ground freight. When a container ship arrives in port, drayage service drivers transport their assigned cargo to its next location. Those locations are usually within a specified radius, and may include warehouses, another port, or even the end destination.

There are several different perspectives as to what is considered LTL. Carriers can put two to six different shipper’s shipments on a trailer, and since each shipment is technically “less than a truckload,” they would categorize that as LTL. There are also freight companies who do not specialize in truck loads, but rather consolidate larger volume shipments from about 2 to 12 pallets (about 4000 to 24000 pounds) and consider themselves LTL Carriers. The most commonly referenced LTL carriers who handle freight above what would normally be shipped are carriers like FedEx or UPS.

FTL shipments are usually reserved for large volumes of freight. When deciding on the most appropriate type of shipment for your freight, always keep in mind the size of your shipment, your budget, how fragile the freight is, and how quickly you need your shipment to reach its destination. If you have a large shipment that is delicate in nature and needs to arrive quickly, FTL is your best bet. FTL shipments stay in the same truck from pickup to drop off, so compared to LTL, the transit time for FTL is much less. FTL services are also recommended if the shipper has more than 10-12 pallets to ship.