Freight Shipping Transit Time

In freight shipping, transit time refers to how long it will take for a shipment to be delivered from the point of pickup to its final destination.

Depending on the the distance between the two points and the shipping method used, the amount of time can vary greatly. Therefor it’s a good idea to get an estimate from a preferred logistics company before booking a shipment.

Less-than-truckloa (LTL) shipping is an excellent option for shippers whose loads are less than a full truckload but too big for parcel post. But how long will it take for your shipment to arrive?

Shipping times you can expect by transit mode

• Full Truckload (TL or FTL) — With the exception of expedited shipments, full truckload is normally the fastest and most cost-effective way to ship by road. Without having to transfer the freight, the truck travels directly to the load’s destination.
• Less-than-truckload (LTL) — A common alternative and cost-effective method of moving smaller shipments. Because different shipments are aggregated into a single load, the freight must periodically stop for loading and unloading. This leads to increased freight transit times and can take slightly longer than FTL. To help determine what mode may work best for you, try this LTL transit time calculator to estimate shipping time for your freight.
• Intermodal Shipping, or rail shipments — As infrastructure improves, freight transit time by rail becomes more reliable. When averaged out, shipping times by rail is comparable to over-the-road shipping, plus it’s less prone to problems common to road-based delivery.

Delivery options for time-sensitive shipments

When standard transit time isn’t fast enough, or your freight needs to be delivered on a specific day or at a specific time, time-critical solutions can provide your best options. Keep in mind that faster freight delivery is usually associated with higher fees:

• Expedited Ground – the fastest ground shipping. With this option the freight never stops moving and is delivered as quickly as possible.
• Time Definite Service – ensures your freight is delivered by a certain day or time.
• Domestic Air – this solution offers the fastest shipping and includes multiple options to expedite your freight: next flight out, second day, deferred and charter. Most of these options are faster than ground, making air the ideal choice for critical shipments that need to reach their destination quickly.

LTL Shipping Times

Because of the nature of LTL shipping, times can vary widely depending on the carrier, the number of stops required and preferred routes. Here’s a more in-depth look at the major factors:

• Required Route: Logistically, shipments to less populated areas may take longer. With fewer trucks in remote areas, your shipment may have to wait for a full truckload before it continues on its route. As a rough example, freight being shipped from the coast to remote midwest points may take between 7 and 10 business days.
• Total Distance: When shipping freight over ground, the overall distance is the largest factor affecting shipping times. Drivers and trucks are limited in the number of miles they can travel each day. Speed limits, traffic laws and personal time behind the wheel all have bearing on the time a shipment will take. as well as regulations governing the time an individual driver can be behind the wheel each day. Typically, intrastate moves take 1-2 business days to arrive, regional shipments may take 2-4 business days, and cross-country shipments may take 4-6 business days.
• Operator Availability: As we’ve seen in the last few years, the number of operators has been less than what the industry could make use of. Due a shortage of qualified drivers and the recent conditions imposed by the pandemic, shipping times have risen sharply.
• Number of transfers: While full truckload (FTL) shipments generally take the shortest possible distance from point A to point B, LTL shipments may make several stops and transfers along the way. Your shipment is likely to first head to a regional terminal, where it will be taken off the first truck and sorted onto another truck headed towards its final destination. Depending on the carrier’s routes, this may happen more than once. Sometimes, shipments are even transferred between carriers, especially on cross-country trips. The more stops and transfers your load makes, the longer it will take to get to its destination.
• Weather and unexpected delays: Bad weather, poor road conditions, traffic and mechanical breakdowns can all cause unexpected delays in ground freight shipments. These delays can be difficult to make up, because drivers are still subject to the same traffic laws and regulations—chances are, they were already going as fast as possible for their route.

How to Reduce LTL Shipping Times

Because of the factors that influence freight shipping, LTL is usually best for shipments that don’t depend on hard delivery timelines. Still, there are ways to speed up your shipments and reduce your LTL shipping times:

• Choose the right carrier to begin with. As with any service-based business, different carriers can quote dramatically different delivery estimates. Quotes will depend on how much coverage they have for the given area, plus how many transfers will need to be made to get your shipment to its destination. You may find it’s possible to get a better quote from a regional carrier if you’re shipping intrastate or regionally. And they may provide better coverage for the same route. Of course, when freight shipping times are critical, it’s always best practice to shop around.
• Consider partnering with a 3PL company. Third-party logistics companies can be the perfect choice if you have ore complex LTL shipping needs. For example, a fully capable 3PL company will employ the latest software to help determine optimal delivery times and control costs. By using contacts throughout their preferred carriers network, they effectively coordinate shipments that can require transfers from one regional carrier to another.
• Ask about freight delivery guarantees. For an extra fee, some carriers will offer guaranteed or expedited delivery. If your freight delivery times are crucial, it might be worth it to find a carrier who offers this service.
• Help mitigate damage with proper packaging. Carefully organize and pack your shipment for transit before it gets on a truck, and make sure your shipments properly fit loadable and stackable pallets. Doing so will help ensure your products have a smooth journey to their destination.

Understanding LTL shipping times will help you make the right choice for your ground shipment. A little research can help you reduce LTL shipping times and get your load where it needs to go on time.

Sea Freight Transit Times

When it comes to shipping by sea, there’s a wide range in shipping times due to the sheer number of ways to ship, plus the endless combinations of destinations.

Overall, there are about 107,000 various UN Codes for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) spread across 249 listed countries and territories.

Therefor the time it takes to ship freight from port to port by sea will be greatly affected by the geographic distance between ports.

Let Brimich Help You Get the Best Freight Delivery Times

Brimich Logistics is a team of professionals always available to learn the specifics of your business, and help you choose the best shipping method for your freight. Contact Brimich today to get end-to-end visibility for every step of your freight’s journey along the way.

Have you looked at your shipping processes in order to save money and control overhead? As a small business owner, there’s a chance you may be spending too much and not getting nearly enough in return.

Smart shipping management requires a basic understanding of industry terminology. The small investment in the time it takes to familiarize yourself with industry-specific jargon will pay dividends by reducing miscommunication.

If your company doesn’t have its own shipping department, you should be aware of shipping terms and conditions, especially before conducting direct imports. No one expects you to learn all the intricacies, but knowing the basics will keep you out of the dark, and out of trouble.

Therefor, here’s a quick reference sheet you can refer to to acquaint yourself with what may be some unfamiliar shipping terminology.

Shipping, Freight, and Logistics Terms

1. Accessorial Charge

   Additional fees charged for add-on services or equipment required for the delivery of your cargo.

2. Backhaul

   When a driver transports cargo during the return trip of a commercial vehicle, is known as a backhaul. This helps the cargo vehicle maximize their trips.

3. Bill of Lading

   A document issued by a carrier to a shipper, signed by the captain, agent, or owner of a vessel. Furnishing written evidence of receipt of the goods (cargo), the conditions on which transportation is made (contract of carriage), and the engagement to deliver goods at the prescribed port of destination to the lawful holder of the bill of lading.

4. Customs Broker

   An individual or firm licensed by, in this case by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, to act for importers in handling the sequence of custom formalities and other details essential to the legal and speedy exporting and importing of goods.

5. Carrier

   A legal entity or entitled individual in the business of transporting passengers or goods for hire. Shipping lines, airlines, trucking companies, and railroad companies are all carriers.

6. Container

   A single rigid, sealed, reusable metal box in which merchandise is shipped by vessel, truck or rail. Ocean shipping containers are generally 20, 40, 45 feet long. Ocean freight container types include: standard, high cube, hardtop, open top, flat, platform, insulated, refrigerated, etc.

7. Detention

   The process of holding a carrier’s driver and/or truck trailer beyond a certain stated period of “free time”, often resulting in the assessment of detention charges. The delay in clearing goods through customs resulting in storage and other charges. The prevention, by government authority, of a vessel and/or cargo leaving port.

8. Cartage and Drayage

   Cartage is the movement of goods for short distances, usually by truck. It is also referred to the charge to pick up, move and deliver good short distances.
   Drayage is the charge made for hauling freight or carts, drays or trucks.

9. Freight Forwarder

   A person engaged in the business of assembling, collection, consolidating, shipping and distributing less-than-carload or less-than-truckload freight. Additionally, a person acting as agent in the trans-shipping of freight to or from foreign countries and the clearing of freight through customs. Often including full preparation of documents, arranging for shipping, warehousing, delivery and export clearance.

10. Hazmat

    Short for “hazardous materials”, which essentially is any material that could cause potential harm to anything or anyone it comes into contact with. Special endorsements are needed from all parties involved to legally transport hazardous materials.

11. Incoterms

    Short for International Commercial Terms, which are a series of pre-defined commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Incoterm define basic shipping terms.

12. Intermodal

    Cargo that is shipped using multiple forms of transportation, such as rail transport and cargo trucks.

13. Lane

    A regular route of transportation taken most often by commercial transporters.

14. LTL (Less Than Truckload)

    A shipment weighing less than the weight required for the application of the truckload rate. These smaller shipments are often combined to create full truckloads.

15. Lift gate

    A mechanism on the back of cargo trucks that allows the driver to load and unload goods more easily. A lift gate is usually required for shipments picked up or delivered to a destination with no shipping dock.

16. Parcel Service Failure

    When you order an item from a retailer, you’re effectively creating a contract between the two of you, even if it’s not written down. If your parcel is late you may opt to contact the courier first, even though it’s the retailer you will need to deal with in order to get compensation. Alternatively, there is a parcel failure refund service, which identifies late or lost deliveries and guarantees your shipment will arrive or be refunded to you no matter what happens.

17. Reefer

    A temperature controlled container that keeps cargo such as food at the proper temperature throughout the transportation process.

18. Shipper’s Agent

    A shipper’s agent is not a carrier, freight forwarder or broker. Shipper’s agents generally arrange for truckload or container load shipment transportation. Shipper’s agents commonly provide services related to warehousing or loading and unloading.

19. Tariff

    A Tariff is a document setting forth applicable rules, rates and charges (often in the form of additional taxation) to move goods. A tariff sets forth a contract for the shipper, the consignee, and the carrier

20. Tender

    A fixed price offered to move cargo.

21. Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

    A term used when distribution services are outsourced through a third-party. Brimich Logistics may be considered a third-party global logistics company.

22. Transportation Management System

    Often abbreviated to TMS, this is specific software that allows freight forwarders to easily analyze and automate transportation operations. It’s especially beneficial for companies handling large amounts of commercial cargo.

23. Truckload (TL)

    Large-volume shipment from a single customer that weighs more than 10,000 pounds or takes up a complete trailer space so no other shipment can be loaded.

The Benefits of Working With a Freight Broker

For a small business, a freight broker can eliminate a lot of the anxiety surrounding freight shipping.  Therefor it’s helpful to have a good handle on basic terminology.

Speaking the same language will ensure clear communication and hopefully as mentioned, prevent misunderstandings.

If you’re a small business producing goods of any size, “Less Than Truckload” (LTL) and “Full Truckload” (TL or FTL) are shipping terms you should become very familiar with.

The benefits of Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Less than truckload, or LTL, is ideal for companies who have smaller shipping needs. Generally, LTL loads will end up being between 100 pounds or 45 kilos (the limit for most parcel carriers) and 10,000 pounds or 4,500 kilos per load – when a full truckload is more appropriate.

For efficiency, the shipping company will combine or consolidate shipments from various businesses to fill a single trailer. In practice several LTL shipments are often combined into one truck to fill it as close to capacity as possible.

As the space is allotted, this means you only pay your fraction of the cost of the truckload. As a simple example, if your shipment fills one-quarter of the truck by volume, then that’s all you pay for. This of course ignores weight considerations.

There’s also the added flexibility small and midsize companies can benefit from with LTL shipping.

Depending need, daily, weekly or monthly orders can be scaled up or down. Regardless of frequency, goods should be well-packaged and consolidated as they will likely be handled more than once along their LTL transportation journey.

The Benefits of Full Truckload (FTL or TL)

Truckload shipping, or full truckload, is best for businesses that have high volume shipping needs, or require expedited delivery. This method is faster and more direct with no need for multiple stops.

TL means that all of your products are delivered together so you have the advantage in knowing that there is little chance of delay or damage. LTL freight transport by comparison requires more destination stops and pick-up locations.

When a large amount of goods are being shipped, TL shipping is definitely the more economic method.

Regardless of the method, a good reliable logistics partner will be familiar with the intricacies of moving, and being accountable for your goods.

Making the Most of Your Options: LTL vs FTL

One standard measure of footprint is by pallet. If you’re shipping more than 12 pallets at a time, then the full truckload option would be best for you.

Or if your product is fragile and it’s imperative you avoid excessive loading and unloading, the full truckload option is again the best for you as these products are the only items within that truck.

If you have hard deadlines or time-sensitive delivery dates, you absolutely want the full truckload option.

With anything less than 12 pallets you’ll experience better cost savings using the LTL method. These smaller load sizes and / or broader delivery times are also a good fit for LTL.

Once again, as a manufacturer your products must be packaged in such a way as to deal with the rigours of shipping and handling in general.

How to Work with a 3PL for LTL and TL Freight Shipments

Knowing the subtleties of freight management that fits your business best is what a good 3PL company is all about.

They’ll take the edge off of the complications of LTL and LT transport for you. They’ll understand time-sensitive needs, special requirements, and provide competitive rates.

Because the transportation is very competitive, it is possible to find all of the above combined with top-notch service – which is definitely to your advantage.

LTL and TL Expertise

Freight shipping is often a core competency of 3PL providers, including both LTL and FTL. Their experience helps them evaluate your shipping needs, choose the most efficient option, and anticipate potential risks or higher costs.

Cost Savings

A smaller transport company may only ship a few pallets a month to a smaller region, whereas a 3PL will regularly ship significantly higher volumes across the whole country or internationally.

This gives a 3PL company leverage when negotiating cost-effective rates with freight carriers which in turn, can be passed on to you.

Visibility and Transparency

Knowing what’s happening with your freight at any given point in time is crucial for any business.

A good 3PL provider will have a team of professionals providing the highest level of service, including detailed updates from your shipment’s inception to when it  reaches its endpoint.

Contact Brimich For All Your LTL and FTL Needs

Both LTL and FTL shipping methods can be used in a variety of situations. These include local and regional shipping, or product transportation between plants and warehouses.

Working with a trusted logistics partner like Brimich offers the advantage of multi-mode transportation services using an extensive network of affiliated asset-based providers.

Contact Brimich for a quote, availability and further information.