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

You have freight sitting in your Massachusetts warehouse that doesn't fill a whole truck. Your customers are asking when their orders will ship. You're wondering if you should send partial loads now or wait until you have enough to fill a full truckload.

This comes down to cash flow and customer expectations. LTL shipping lets you move freight as it's ready, but costs more per pound. Full truckload shipping costs less per pound but requires you to hold inventory until you have 26,000+ pounds or enough pallets to fill the trailer.

LTL typically runs $1.50-$4.00 per pound depending on distance and freight class. Full truckload averages $2.50-$4.00 per mile, which usually works out cheaper per pound on heavy shipments. The break-even point depends on your freight density, how long you can wait, and what delayed shipments cost you in customer relationships.

If your customers need steady deliveries and you can't afford to hold inventory for weeks, ship LTL. If you can batch shipments and time isn't critical, wait for the full load. Gateway Logistics can run the numbers on both options and show you real pricing for your specific freight and routes.

Once you pick the right approach, your shipping becomes predictable. You'll know when freight moves, what it costs, and how to explain timing to your customers.

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