Should I ship LTL multiple times or wait for a full load?

You have freight that doesn't fill a whole truck. Your customers in Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville need regular deliveries, but you're not sure if you should ship partial loads as they're ready or wait until you have enough for a full truckload. Alabama businesses face this choice daily.

LTL shipping means you pay only for the space your freight uses on a shared truck. Full truckload shipping costs less per pound but requires you to wait until you have 26,000+ pounds of freight. The choice depends on your cash flow, customer needs, and how long you can hold inventory.

LTL typically costs $1.50 to $3.00 per pound but ships within 1-3 days. Full truckload runs $1.00 to $2.00 per pound but you might wait weeks to accumulate enough freight. Storage costs, tied-up inventory, and customer satisfaction all factor into the real cost comparison.

Ship LTL if your customers need steady deliveries or you can't afford to hold inventory. Choose full truckload if you can batch shipments and time isn't critical. Gateway Logistics can run the numbers for your specific routes and help you decide which makes financial sense for each shipment.

The right choice keeps your customers happy while protecting your cash flow. You'll ship consistently, avoid storage headaches, and know exactly what each delivery costs before you commit.

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