When it comes to shipping freight, there are many factors that can affect delivery time. This is especially true for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, which combines smaller shipments from multiple shippers onto one truck.
The distance between the origin and destination of LTL shipments is the primary factor that determines delivery time. The farther the distance, the longer it will take for the shipment to arrive. When shipping via LTL, shipments generally need to be transferred between trucks or warehouses, which can add time to the delivery process.
Weather is another factor that can impact LTL freight shipping times. Extreme weather conditions such as snowstorms, hurricanes, and floods can delay shipments by causing road closures or unsafe driving conditions. Even minor weather events like rain or fog can slow down shipments by reducing visibility and making it more difficult for drivers to navigate.
Construction projects can also affect LTL freight shipping times. Road closures, detours, and traffic congestion can all cause delays and add time to the delivery process. In some cases, carriers may need to reroute shipments to avoid construction areas, which can even further disrupt delivery time estimates.
Finally, hours of service regulations can affect how long LTL freight shipping takes. These regulations limit the number of hours that a driver can work in a day or week, which can impact delivery times. Carriers must ensure that their drivers comply with these regulations to avoid fines and penalties, which can also cause delays.
LTL carriers do offer estimated transit times to shippers, but it’s important to know what these transit times refer to and, of course, that they are estimates. For shippers, this means being careful to manage expectations for recipients.
Transit times for LTL carriers only refer to the long-haul part of a shipment. That is, once the freight has been taken to a facility, loaded onto a truck with other cargo, and sent to a facility near the destination. It does not include the day that the shipment is picked up and brought to the facility or the day that it is delivered.
Because LTL freight generally doesn’t travel on weekends, these are also not included in the estimated transit times provided by carriers. A shipment picked up on a Thursday with an estimated travel time of three days, then, may actually be delivered to its final destination on Wednesday the following week.
Keeping track of your next LTL shipment is easy with Koho, a tech-enabled 3PL that allows shippers to monitor their freight from pickup to delivery with notifications all along the way. Visit gokoho.com to get the best rates from top carriers today.
When it comes to shipping freight, there are many factors that can affect delivery time. This is especially true for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, which combines smaller shipments from multiple shippers onto one truck.
The distance between the origin and destination of LTL shipments is the primary factor that determines delivery time. The farther the distance, the longer it will take for the shipment to arrive. When shipping via LTL, shipments generally need to be transferred between trucks or warehouses, which can add time to the delivery process.
Weather is another factor that can impact LTL freight shipping times. Extreme weather conditions such as snowstorms, hurricanes, and floods can delay shipments by causing road closures or unsafe driving conditions. Even minor weather events like rain or fog can slow down shipments by reducing visibility and making it more difficult for drivers to navigate.
Construction projects can also affect LTL freight shipping times. Road closures, detours, and traffic congestion can all cause delays and add time to the delivery process. In some cases, carriers may need to reroute shipments to avoid construction areas, which can even further disrupt delivery time estimates.
Finally, hours of service regulations can affect how long LTL freight shipping takes. These regulations limit the number of hours that a driver can work in a day or week, which can impact delivery times. Carriers must ensure that their drivers comply with these regulations to avoid fines and penalties, which can also cause delays.
LTL carriers do offer estimated transit times to shippers, but it’s important to know what these transit times refer to and, of course, that they are estimates. For shippers, this means being careful to manage expectations for recipients.
Transit times for LTL carriers only refer to the long-haul part of a shipment. That is, once the freight has been taken to a facility, loaded onto a truck with other cargo, and sent to a facility near the destination. It does not include the day that the shipment is picked up and brought to the facility or the day that it is delivered.
Because LTL freight generally doesn’t travel on weekends, these are also not included in the estimated transit times provided by carriers. A shipment picked up on a Thursday with an estimated travel time of three days, then, may actually be delivered to its final destination on Wednesday the following week.
Keeping track of your next LTL shipment is easy with Koho, a tech-enabled 3PL that allows shippers to monitor their freight from pickup to delivery with notifications all along the way. Visit gokoho.com to get the best rates from top carriers today.
