As the old saying goes, “time marches on,” and soon LTL shipping will not be an option. Recently, parcel shipping has become a more popular choice since they are equal in price to LTL freight that is less than 60 kilograms. It may be difficult to choose which one best suits your needs since they are similar.

The main difference between parcel shipping and LTL shipping is size. Parcels are usually small in size-they can easily be lifted without assistance, are easier to ship, and also more likely to be shipped in bulk quantities. Whereas LTL packages are large; they’re packed onto pallets which cause fewer inspection points – something that’s not a problem when it comes to parcels.

Historically, packages that weigh less than 60 KGs and can be lifted without assistance have been shipped with parcel shipping. This means that the package size is usually smaller than an LTL handle which in turn presents both benefits and obstacles.

– Shipping a parcel usually has a higher risk because of the size. For this reason, there are more checkpoints and transfers involved.

– Package delivery is a cheap, fast way to ship small and lighter items. More checkpoints are also good for parcel companies because consumers can track their goods more closely.

– There are many advantages to using parcel shipping. One of them is that you can arrange a pickup so the driver doesn’t have to come all the way until your location. If, for whatever reason, you don’t want trucks at your location or they’re not supported in that area, then delivery may be an option too!

LTL Shipping

Large, irregularly-shaped items are typically handled by LTL. This means that sometimes large packages can go through the process of being shipped in this way.

– LTL cargo is the perfect solution for your business when you don’t need a whole container. Because of its size, it can pass through fewer checkpoints, which means less hassles for certain shippers.

– The number of checkpoints has decreased, meaning there are also fewer people handling packages. This reduces the chance that a package will be lost or damaged.

– If a shipper has more cargo than the parcel service can handle, they will eventually opt for LTL transportation. Even if the box is small and light, LTL transport allows you to move many items to one place while saving on package shipping costs.

LTL Shipping VS Parcel Shipping

There are some important differences between LTL shipping and parcel shipping. They’re obvious, but here are a few other things to note –

1. Risk and loss of shipment – With parcel shipping, the chance of a package being lost or damaged is greater than that in less-than-truckload goods. Larger packages can be carried out since there are fewer to move around at once, but this also increases the risk of loss and damage for each part.

2. Tracking and checkpoint – LTL shipping, or less-than-truckload shipping, is a little different than parcel shipping in that it provides more security. This means packages will have fewer checkpoints and transshipments to cross through before they reach their destination. Fewer checks are always better for the safety of goods!

3. Better Cost Advantage –  Shipping parcel provides a cost advantage because of it’s higher capacity. LTL cargo are more expensive, so they take up more space, but that can also result in some advantages depending on the circumstances. The main additional fees to be aware of when shipping parcels are changing delivery days and not having a loading dock near your home address.

ProConnect Integrated Logistics for LTL Shipments

It is important to understand the basic differences between LTL and parcel shipping, to determine which option would be better for your freight. ProConnect Integrated Logistics can help you understand which of the two modes could be better for you. Our previous article shares key information about FTL and LTL, in case you are looking for more in-depth information on LTL shipments.

If you have a shipment query, contact us today.