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What is LTL?: The Basics

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LTL shipping is used for small freight or when the items don't require the use of an entire trailer. Your freight is combined with other shipments to fill an entire trailer. It is ideal for shipments under 15,000 pounds.
Full truckload is used when shippers have enough items to fill an entire truck or they want their shipment in a trailer all by itself.
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Breaking Down the Basics

Logistics and transportation can be complicated and having the basic facts on the various types of shipping (or lacking them) can make a big difference in how businesses handle shipping and how much they spend on it, too. Read on for a very simple explanation of LTL shipping, which is a great shipping option for many businesses.

What Does LTL Mean?
LTL stands for less-than-truckload, which refers to a shipping method where a shipment only accounts for part of truckload rather than the entire thing. It means that several companies can split the bill for shipping a small load of freight to its intended destination.

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Managed Logistics That Drives Performance

BlueGrace leverages decades of logistics experience to execute managed freight with precision. Our centralized systems provide real-time visibility, enforce disciplined cost controls, and give shippers accountable oversight at every step. Dedicated operations teams ensure global shipments are coordinated efficiently, reliably, and with complete transparency.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

Our clients consistently highlight the reliability, transparency, and cost-saving impact of partnering with BlueGrace. From small businesses to large enterprises, companies across the country trust our team to manage their LTL shipments efficiently, ensuring on-time delivery and reducing freight expenses. These testimonials reflect not just satisfaction with our services, but confidence in a logistics partner that understands their unique shipping challenges.

Sarah Thompson
Operations Manager, GreenLeaf Supplies

“BlueGrace has completely transformed the way we handle LTL shipments. Their team helped us reduce freight costs by 12% while improving delivery times, and the visibility into every shipment gives us peace of mind. They truly act as an extension of our operations team.”

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David Ramirez
CEO, Horizon Electronics

“We rely on BlueGrace for all of our nationwide LTL shipments. Their personalized support and intelligent routing solutions have made our supply chain much more efficient. The real-time tracking and proactive communication set them apart from any other provider we’ve worked with.”

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Emily Chen
Logistics Coordinator, Summit Retailers

“Partnering with BlueGrace has been a game-changer. Their team understands our business needs, provides cost-effective solutions, and ensures every shipment arrives on time. We finally have a freight partner we can trust, and it shows in our operational performance.”

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Technology That Supports Better Freight Decisions

International freight data is only useful if it informs action.BlueGrace leverages BlueShip®, our transportation management technology, to support:

  • Centralized shipment visibility
  • Performance tracking by carrier and lane
  • Cost analysis across ocean, air, and domestic modes
  • Integration with existing ERP and TMS environments

 

Rather than replacing your systems, BlueShip® complements them—giving log

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How Does it Work?

While this varies some from one LTL provider to the next, generally, LTL freight is collected at a central location from assorted shippers. The freight is sorted and packed, typically in palletized loads, then loaded onto trucks. Loads tend to be very carefully packed to reduce shipment damage.

LTL shipping providers typically use software systems to plan loads so that space is used efficiently, and routes are planned to effectively get each shipper’s freight to its destination.
Sometimes, LTL loads are taken to another central location closer to the end destination, then reloaded for delivery to its final destination.

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Proven Results

M+

Shipments

%

Cost Savings

%

On-Time Delivery

How is LTL Different From FTL?

FTL is an acronym that means full truck load, which is when a single shipment accounts for an entire load to be shipped. Shipping FTL means all shipping costs associated with getting freight from one place to the next fall on one company, whereas LTL shipping allows for shipment of smaller amounts of freight in a more cost-effective nature.

LTL is great for companies who have more freight than can be efficiently or cost-effectively shipper through more pedestrian shipping options like FedEx or the postal service, but who don’t generate enough fright to make FTL shipping a true option.

Benefits of LTL

  • Lower costs
  • Better load tracking
  • Less incidences of freight damage
  • More environmentally friendly option
  • Faster shipping

Wondering if LTL shipping is right for your company? Set up a consultation with one of our shipping specialists to get answers specific to your shipping needs and quotes.

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Take Control of Your International Freight Strategy

Freight will always involve risk. The difference is whether that risk is managed or absorbed.BlueGrace helps companies move freight with greater confidence, clearer visibility, and disciplined cost control.Request a Freight Assessment or speak with a Managed Logistics Expert to evaluate how your freight strategy can perform better under real-world conditions.

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Independent research shows that improved supply chain management can yield:

  • 25 – 50% reduction in total supply chain costs
  • 25 – 60% reduction in inventory holding
  • 25 – 80% increase in forecast accuracy
  • 30 – 50% improvement in order-fulfillment cycle time
  • 20% increase in after-tax free cash flows

LTL FAQs

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping moves smaller shipments—typically between 150 and 15,000 pounds—on shared trucks. BlueGrace consolidates your freight with other shippers, so you only pay for the space you use.

Choose LTL when your shipment doesn’t require a full trailer, your load is under 15,000 pounds, or you want to cut costs by sharing space. BlueGrace helps determine the most cost-effective mode for your freight profile.

LTL rates factor in freight class, weight, density, distance, and special services. BlueGrace’s quoting tool instantly compares multiple LTL carrier rates so you can lock in the best price.

Freight class (50–500) standardizes how carriers price LTL shipments based on density, stowability, handling, and liability. BlueGrace ensures your class is accurate—avoiding reclass charges and billing surprises.

LTL carriers offer liftgate service, inside delivery, residential pickup/delivery, and appointment scheduling. BlueGrace helps you add and negotiate these services to match your delivery requirements.

Typical LTL transit depends on origin/destination zones. BlueGrace’s routing expertise helps you anticipate transit windows and select the fastest lanes.

Enter your shipment details—origin, destination, weight, dimensions, and class—into BlueGrace’s online quote tool. You’ll see live LTL rates from multiple carriers in seconds.

Expedited LTL guarantees faster transit for time-critical shipments, at a premium rate. BlueGrace can help you evaluate when your delivery needs justify the expedited cost.

Schedule appointments, stage pallets at loading docks, and ensure proper labeling. BlueGrace’s dispatch team coordinates with carriers to streamline pickup and avoid driver wait times.

You’re here! Visit our LTL resource center on BlueGrace.com or contact one of our freight experts for a personalized consultation and detailed LTL optimization strategies.