Should I Use a Parcel Delivery Service or a Less Than Truckload Service?

You have a few different options if you need products to get from one location to another. You can hire a trucking company to ship a full truckload of goods (FTL shipping) or a partial truckload (LTL shipping), or you can work with a parcel service to deliver your products.

A company shipping a ton of goods is typically advised to go the FTL route. But when someone has fewer items to ship that don’t weigh as much, choosing between LTL trucking in Minnesota and parcel delivery can be tricky. Continue reading to learn a little bit more about your shipping options.

Parcel delivery

In addition to residential packages, parcel delivery companies are used in the commercial industry to transport goods that weigh less than 150 pounds or can be lifted without assistance. Because lost items are a concern for all customers, parcel delivery companies have many checkpoints set up along each route that gives the shipper status updates on their goods. Parcel delivery companies typically offer in-store pickup, which is great for businesses that don’t want to receive deliveries right to the door.

Less than truckload delivery

LTL trucking in Minnesota usually involves shipping heavier individual items or more goods than a parcel delivery truck could reasonably handle. Since, by their nature, LTL shipments don’t take up a full trailer, trucking companies will combine shipments from a few different customers to fill the truck. All of the goods are loaded onto individual pallets to ensure that the products from the different companies don’t get mixed up.

The key differences between the two

Both parcel and LTL delivery will get your products to their destination. However, as you can tell, there are some significant differences between the two shipping options. Here are the major differences:

• Overall cost: The cost of LTL shipping and parcel delivery can vary from shipment to shipment. Because LTL shipping costs are calculated by weight and size instead of per package, LTL can be a less expensive option. That’s not always the case, though, so we recommend getting quotes for both options before making a decision.
• Damage risk: As mentioned above, goods are stored on secure pallets during LTL shipping. They also aren’t handled as frequently (or at all) by the delivery drivers. These two factors mean your goods are often safer with LTL than with parcel delivery.
• Tracking: The biggest benefit of parcel delivery is knowing where your package is at all times, thanks to the numerous checkpoints. That said, reputable shipping companies will also provide you with real-time updates with your LTL shipments. Before working with a trucking company, ask about their policy on shipment updates and whether or not they’ll be able to provide them.

Choose K-Way Express, Inc. to handle your shipping needs

Whether you need FTL shipping or LTL trucking in Minnesota, hire the experts at K-Way Express, Inc. With more than 60 years of experience in the shipping industry, you can rest easy knowing your products are in good hands with our team.