Whether we’re talking cases of red chili sauce, boxes of brake rotors, or a handcrafted statue of a whale (yes, we’ve moved that!), proper freight packaging can make all the difference when shipping Less-than-Truckload (LTL). Think of the packaging as a line of defense against the transportation elements: forklifts, shifting pallets, unloading a trailer, all the transitions that an LTL shipment goes through from start to finish. Correct and adequate packaging is something that should be a top priority for shippers and manufacturers that work within any freight space (not just LTL) to ensure freight ships and arrives just as it left their facility.

All freight is different; different values, different shapes and sizes, different ways of packaging. There are countless variations of freight packaging, but here are some general guidelines to follow:

Palletized/Crated/Boxed/Toted

• This allows carriers to easily move freight on and off their trailers
• It keeps the freight contained into larger shipping units, reducing the possibility of a misplaced piece

Shrink-wrapped and banded

• Adds rigidity and stability to palletized freight
• Shrink-wrap can prevent any unwanted moisture or dust contact
• Bands keep the freight from shifting or moving off a pallet

Marked with clear and accurate labels and packing slips

• Ensures freight gets to where it needs to go

Minimal freight overhang on the pallet (less than 3 inches on any side)

• Overhang can make it difficult to get forklifts and pallet jacks under the freight
• Excessive overhang can cause freight to tip over and/or raises the risk of damage

Besides providing a great level of physical protection, beefing up freight packaging can have immense benefits for your business.

Don’t let poor freight packaging “claim” you as a victim
Great packaging can protect a shipper’s freight from transportation damages, inherently cutting down on costly freight claims. Think of good robust packaging as a business investment. Putting the time, process, and money into proper freight packaging can really go a long way in preventing any damages caused while in transit. In the unfortunate event that freight damage does occur, claims that contain properly packaged freight have a much better chance of being won and paid. According to the Carmack Amendment, an act or default of a shipper, such as improper freight packaging, is one reason why freight damage claims get denied by carriers.

Packed like peas in a pod.
Having all the product densely packaged and contained onto shrink-wrapped pallets or enclosed crates can reduce the risk of having misplaced or missing freight. Think of a shipment of boxes as a Jenga puzzle: nice, neat, and well-stacked but without anything to support it, it can easily fall over, or a piece can be misplaced. Take that same Jenga puzzle and wrap it in shrink-wrap, throw some shipping bands around it, and slap it on top of a pallet. Now it’s nice, neat, well-stacked, and contained into one dense and stable shipping unit that can easily be transported.

Build better relationSHIPs.
Effective and excellent freight packaging can also produce positive business reception from consumers and consignees. Something as simple as how freight is packaged to ship can create a lasting impression on consumers and receivers. It conveys a sense of quality and care in the goods that a shipper manufactures and sells.

Packaging is often a shipper’s first line of defense against transportation mishaps. If you’re ready to learn more about how to effectively package LTL freight, contact us. Need a quote? Click here.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you don’t like the weather in (insert location here), wait five minutes and it will change”? The same could be said for the transportation and logistics industry; nothing stays the same for long. This especially holds true for rates and trends. Experts in the field have been saying that rates are on the rise, in excess of 5 percent or more. As with many cause and effect scenarios, there is no single culprit to increased rates. We’re here to talk about the contributing factors and what to expect.

Why the Increase?

Demand

So, what is one reason for the increased LTL rate season? Demand, demand, demand. We are experiencing a combination of pent-up demand, which is described as the general public’s strong return to consumerism following decreased spending, and increased e-commerce deliveries (the demand and convenience of door-to-door shipping – my personal favorite). In addition, the industry has seen new government regulations and is experiencing an increase in driver shortage.

Driver Shortage and LTL Shipments

“At the 2018 SMC3 Jumpstart Conference, we were consistently hearing that the spill over from the truckload sector is affecting the weight per shipment for LTL carriers,” said Stacey Howell, Vice President of LTL for Trinity Logistics. “We heard average weight increases of 10 to 14 percent.” This means, if the weights per shipment are increasing, there is less opportunity to include more orders on a single LTL truck.
Additionally, many shippers are breaking up full truckload shipments into smaller, LTL shipments to get their products from point A to point B at a better rate or more quickly since full truckload capacity is tight. However, this adds to the capacity issue on the LTL side due to the increased need for trucks and LTL drivers.

ELD Mandate

The majority of LTL carriers are already compliant with the new ELD mandate and have been for quite some time, however, industry sources predict that shippers can expect a 4 to 7 percent impact on truckload capacity. In addition, beginning April 1, non-compliant carriers will be placed Out-of-Service. This impact is likely adding the spill over in the LTL sector.

Current Rate Trends

If you’re a shipper, you already know rates and capacity are a big-time challenge. At this given time, expect rates to continue to increase. According to the most recent Logistics Management surveys from November, LTL rates increased 6.6 percent from the same month in 2016. When all the data is tallied for 2017, the LTL sector is expected to see an annual increase of up to 5.4 percent.

How we can help

Utilizing Relationships

Maintaining strong relationships with our carriers is something team members at Trinity Logistics pride themselves on, whether it’s through the Carrier Relations Department or as a Logistics Specialist. With a network of over 32,000 carriers, it seems impossible to have relationship carriers, right? If you were to walk through our operations floor, you would hear conversations between our Logistics Specialists and carriers and know that building relationships is an important part of what we do.

TMS Options

Did you know that with a transportation management system you can optimize routes by analyzing a batch of shipments based on a variety of parameters? This will help to determine the most cost-effective route plan. Trinity offers different TMS plans that fit a variety of needs and budgets. You can learn more about Trinity’s TMS options by downloading our free whitepaper.

For asset-based companies and brokers alike, capacity and the spot market can have major impacts on rates and rate predictions for freight. As we’re nearing the end of Q1, it only seems fitting to take a look at predictions for 2017 and how they’ve played out so far in terms of the market. There were quite a few expectations for change, including promises of increased demand from President Donald Trump’s plans to boost business in the states, but initial reports suggest shippers can back down slightly from their concerns about big price hikes for the time being.

While the price hikes aren’t immediate, there is still a noticeable boost in freight demand for the United States this quarter. Market predictions by industry analyst Stifel suggests truckload demand will continue to rebound while supply will stay down between two to three percent; in part from efforts to protect utilization and driver compensation, but also due to some of the looming federal regulations  (e.g. FSMA, ELD Mandate). With supply decreasing and demand continuing to rise, Stifel believes the “prospect for positive pricing momentum is building” in the truckload sector.

Capacity Challenges

There are many factors that could affect capacity, with different factors impacting different modes of transportation. According to Stifel, due to weak 2015 and 2016 demand, intermodal and truckload carriers are reducing capacity to boost returns on investment, while less-than-truckload (LTL) and air carriers are also staying on the conservative side, not adding much capacity ahead of upcoming safety-focused regulations. Probably the most notable upcoming regulations are the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), set to go into effect for non-exempt carriers on April 6, and the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate set to take effect in December. There are concerns that some carriers may choose to leave the business or remove some trucks from circulation due to the impacts from these requirements. Carriers are being encouraged to take the necessary compliance steps as it seems less likely that these rules will be set aside or postponed as they have already survived a number of legal hurdles.

How Trinity Combats Capacity Challenges

With tightening capacity challenges, we continue to rely on the relationships we build with our network of 32,000 carriers. We have an entire Carrier Relations team dedicated to helping carriers join Trinity’s network, answering questions, and studying the latest industry changes and regulations to educate carriers and Trinity’s team members. With our network of vetted carriers potentially growing every day, we can combat challenges with tightening capacity. We also work with a network of intermodal carriers, and can arrange the movement of freight that isn’t necessarily time-sensitive via rail.

Strengthening relationships with our carriers and encouraging those who are non-exempt to become compliant with these regulations is something that we plan to continue through the implementation of upcoming regulations and industry challenges.

Other Potential Impacts

There’s a lot of talk now about some e-commerce and ride-sharing companies venturing into the world of last-mile delivery and order fulfillment, and autonomous trucks are hitting more headlines as companies test out beer runs and other highway convoy trips. Stifel predicts that the so-called “uberization” of truck brokerage will not happen anytime in the near future as there are still some hurdles, and it may be a few years still until autonomous trucks are technically ready to operate.

As a full logistics solutions provider, we are committed to helping our customers and potential customers understand the impacts of these industry changes. Look for an update on the Food Safety Modernization Act ahead of its implementation on April 6.

Our rates are directly impacted by any changes in these regulations and the market. We will continue to stay competitive and work with on our carrier relationships to get you the best rate for your freight, and to get it delivered safely and on time.

Saying goodbye to less-than-truckload rates based on freight class is no longer an “if,” but rather a “when.” While the debate continues over dimensional pricing for LTL shipments, it is clear now that it is the future, whether shippers are entirely on board or not.

Why the wait?

There’s been quite the debate about whether LTL dimensional pricing makes the most sense for both shippers and carriers. Currently, LTL carriers price their shipments based on freight class, which is determined by density, value, ease of handling, and stowability of the product. Every so often, these freight classes will change based on suggestions and votes from the shipping community. With dimensional pricing, items will be priced entirely off of, as it sounds, the dimensions of the LTL shipment.

Many shippers argued this, for various reasons, one being that shippers don’t necessarily have the equipment on hand to measure dimensions. Shippers also believe that dimensional pricing will be more costly than the traditional freight class pricing. Even though this upsets some, many LTL carriers agree at the end of the day, what they sell is space and not weight, so the dimensional pricing makes more sense.

Why the change?

Across the board, carriers agree there has historically been inaccuracy in freight classification because of changes on packaging, shipment/pallet stacking, manufacturing processes, and materials, which has oftentimes led to incorrect bill of lading descriptions. Overall, these changes throughout the process or the shipper not always being fully aware of the freight class of their product, can lead to a logistics headache.

With dimensional scanners, products would be scanned and priced entirely on the information gathered by the machine, therefore essentially limiting that murky, gray area when it comes to freight class pricing.

What Still Needs to Happen?

It appears carriers are trying to ease into this shift to dimensional pricing, rather than just diving in head-first. Many carriers are currently investing in dimensional scanners and are using them to check freight classification at the break-bulk terminals to change or update charges as needed.  Although this practice is limited, it is giving foundational data to LTL carriers to expand the use of dimensional pricing.

We asked a few of our carriers, and they told us they are choosing to watch how the first round of dimensional pricing goes so they can learn from others’ successes and failures before a true transition.

Have a question about what these changes could mean for your LTL shipments? Ask it here. If you would like a freight quote on your LTL shipments, fill out our quote request.

If you’re unfamiliar with third-party logistics companies, or 3PLs, you may be left with a lot of questions about what exactly they are, what to expect from 3PLs, or the benefits of working with one.

Whether you’re currently working with an asset-based company, you’re starting to shop around for the best rates for the lanes you need, or you’re working out of your basement in the business brainstorming stages, there’s no time like the present to check out why a 3PL could be best for your particular needs.

Here at Trinity, we’re all about teamwork (it’s one of our guiding values). So when you think of a “third-party” in terms of a 3PL like Trinity Logistics, it means we are more of an honorary extension of your team rather than just a silent partner.  In this blog we’ll go over what to expect and benefits of working with a 3PL by using a few scenarios.

Scenario One:

Since these are hypothetical scenarios, we’ll make up names for our fictional business owners and associates. Let’s say Bob owns a small packaging company with about $45 million in annual revenue. His business has been family-owned from the start, and he has a good-sized staff that has done their best to manage his supply chain over the years, but their network of carriers is small.

Business is growing and Bob’s staff would either have to devote more time and resources to coordinating the increased freight, or hire additional staff.  After meeting with leadership, Bob and his team decided they simply couldn’t afford to tie up any more resources in managing their supply chain.

Bob reached out to a 3PL and learned how he could leverage their experienced staff as an honorary extension of his own team. No longer would valuable time and resources be spent shopping for the best rates and finding carriers to cover their loads.

Working with a 3PL opened up many doors for Bob’s company. He developed a relationship with the manager of his account, who was able to give him a review of areas that could be improved to maximize efficiency. His 3PL was even able to find warehousing for his product, opening up even more opportunities for Bob’s business. Smart thinking, Bob.

Scenario two:

Stacy is an entrepreneur who started her own organic snacks business. She gained her business fame through social media marketing and exhibiting at various trade shows. Now the demand for her product is expanding and she doesn’t know the first thing about coordinating shipping.

Stacy has worked so hard to get her business to this point, so the last thing she wants to do is trust her product in the hand of strangers. In her research, Stacy stumbled across the term 3PL.

After contacting one, she quickly found out that it would be a perfect fit for her company. A 3PL would become an honorary extension of her own team: validating carrier’s insurance, managing her pricing requests, and coordinating the shipment of her products, whether it was less-than-truckload (LTL) or a full truckload, tracking them from start to finish.

Working with a 3PL helps Stacy focus on securing more customers and servicing her current ones better, with peace of mind that her products are arriving where they need to go, right on time.

Scenario three:

Of course, there are many scenarios where 3PLs would be beneficial to a company, but we’ll go through one more. Say Frank is the CEO of a company that makes and distributes private label cleaning supplies that stores purchase to sell as their generic brand.

Frank’s company has an annual revenue of around $140 million dollars. Right now they have inbound and outbound products moving multiple times a day from warehouses across the United States. As part of the company’s vision plan, they wanted to gain better control and visibility over their supply chain.

Frank reached out to a third party logistics company (3PL), and found out a 3PL could help his business save time and money by coordinating their freight. They also offered transportation management software to help Frank and his team see the inner-workings of their business.

Frank’s 3PL was able to offer him business reporting and personnel who would meet with his business to analyze how they could continue to improve their supply chain.

Here’s the moral of these scenarios: don’t go through all of the hassles and headaches of supply chain management alone! There are numerous reasons why partnering with a 3PL would be beneficial. Be like Bob, Stacy, and Frank, and see what a 3PL can do for your business.

Trinity Logistics has more than 35 years experience in the business. Our 3PL team coordinates freight, offers logistics consulting, supply chain technology, and logistics outsourcing services like warehousing, supply chain optimization, on-site freight management, and more. You can also trust that we are on top of the latest trends in shipping and logistics so we can stay ahead of how it would affect your freight.

Have a question? Ask here! If you would like to request a freight quote, click here.

If you ship less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, you’re probably aware that there are often fees tacked on, known as accessorial charges. These charges aren’t “one-size-fits-all.” Oftentimes they differ from shipper to shipper, depending upon what you ship, where you ship, and other details of your business.

If you’re trying to get a better handle on the accessorial charges that could apply to your LTL shipments, we’ve created a free downloadable guide just for you.

Here are some of the questions we answer in this guide:

1. What is an accessorial fee?
2. Why are accessorial fees charged?
3. What are the most common accessorial fees?
4. How can I avoid surprise accessorial fees?
5. Why are accessorial fees different between LTL carriers?
6. How can I get an accurate quote for the cost of shipping my LTL freight?

This guide is particularly helpful for those who are just getting started shipping LTL freight, but we encourage even the most veteran shippers to use this guide as a reminder of the accessorials that can apply to your freight.

To download this free Guide to LTL Accessorial Charges, click here.
To get a quote on your LTL shipments, click here.

The well-known saying “you get what you pay for” definitely rings true when it comes to shipping less-than-truckload (LTL) freight. There are three distinctly different types of LTL carriers, and you should know when it’s better to make the upgrade versus settling for the lowest level of service.

The service levels when shipping LTL can be broken down into premium, standard, and economy carriers. The differences between these service levels relate to on-time delivery percentage, possibility of a claim, communication, and billing or correction processes.

Premium LTL Carriers

This is the top tier, crème de la crème of LTL shipping.  Despite the extra cost, this level of service could be ideal or even necessary for some shipping situations. Premium carriers offer high on-time delivery rates, clear shipment visibility in transit, and a low claims ratio. They also offer the quickest transit time, often within one or two days.

In cases where you are completely dependent upon the shipment arriving at a certain time – like special parts for a machine that’s down, or product that you’re low on – your best bet is to ship premium.  You’ll know exactly where it’s headed and when, and most importantly, you’ll have it in your hands the day you need it.

Standard LTL Carriers

Standard LTL carriers provide just that; run-of-the-mill LTL shipping. This is the most commonly used level of service. It offers a bit slower transit time than premium shipping, but can still be expected within about two or three days, depending on the distance your shipment is traveling, of course.

If you’re moving moderately valuable freight, like displays or pallet racking, this could still be a good choice, as the standard carriers offer a relatively low claims ratio and decent tracking options. The main difference is that transit time is usually a bit lengthier than with the premium carriers. So, if you don’t need those displays right this second, this cheaper option may be a good fit.

Economy LTL Carriers

The lowest level of LTL shipping is with economy carriers. As you might imagine, this is the cheapest option. However, as the title of this blog suggests, the cheapest often doesn’t mean the best. This option offers the slowest transit time, lowest visibility for tracking, and a higher claims ratio.

We only suggest using this type of carrier if you’re shipping low-value and dense freight, such as bricks, paper products, or animal feed. If you order these products well enough in advance to not have an immediate need, this could definitely be the least expensive method of moving them.

How To Choose

Trinity has contracted rates with LTL carriers in the premium, standard, and economy categories to service your LTL needs. Each of these service levels have their pros and cons, and it truly comes down to your priorities. You should consider the timeframe you need the freight moved within, the level of visibility you prefer, as well as your concern about claims. We are happy to consult with you about which type of carrier is the best fit for your business and your freight. Just remember: shipping cost has a strong correlation with levels of service.

To get an LTL quote, or to speak with a sales rep about your shipping needs, click here.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) has recently announced that it has updated the policy regarding filing concealed damage claims for LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments. This will have a significant impact on the shipping and logistics industry, as well as your business, if you ship LTL freight.

What is the big change?

The time to report concealed damages claims to an LTL carrier has been reduced from 15 days to only five. This means that consignees now have five days from delivery to notify the carrier if damages are found after the driver has left the receiver.

What are concealed damages?

Concealed damages are those that are unnoticeable at first glance by the consignee and found after the freight has been signed for. Examples of this could be a shipment of barbeque sauce with a leaking box in the middle of the pallet, or a box that was accepted, but later found to have a damaged interior product.

Concealed damages tend to be more common in LTL shipments. With less freight on the trailer, as is common with LTL, pallets have more room to shift and slide.

When will the change be effective?

The five day reporting time for concealed damage claims went into effect on April 18, 2015.

What are the pros and cons?

Like any major amendments to policies, there are both positive and negative effects of the concealed damage claims policy change.

As for positives, it’s important to note that days of letting potential claims linger are largely eliminated. With over two weeks of time passing from delivery with the old policy, receivers had quite a bit of time to let damages go unnoticed, and finding out about damaged product last minute is bad news for any supply chain. This could also be alarming for carriers who were unaware of the damages until a claim was made 15 days after the fact. Having only a few days to file a claim means receivers will be more on top of their incoming freight, which should catch any possible damages early and reduce the number of concealed damages claims.

On the other hand, this new change could leave receivers scrambling to sort cargo in a short amount of time. This could put stress on warehouses and docks, as more manpower may be needed to unload and check the loads for damages. This also may cause problems for smaller receivers who may not have the resources to file paperwork and contact carriers, as well as unload shipments, within the five day period.

How will this impact my business?

If your business receives LTL freight with concealed damages, and you do not report it to the carrier within five days, the process of filing a freight claim becomes much more complicated for the consignee.

However, just as the old policy left room for exceptions, so does the new five day policy. In the case of a claim being filed after five days, legitimate proof and documentation will be needed to file these claims and these will be left to the discretion of the LTL carrier.

What can I do to minimize potential impacts of the policy change?

The number one thing you can do to prepare for the change in policy is to ensure that all consignees and receivers are educated on the change. Those receiving shipments need to be even quicker and particularly diligent about inspecting deliveries and reporting to the carriers in order to have the best chance of a positive outcome if damages are found.

Also, taking the proper actions when concealed damage is found can minimize your chances of losing money. When you discover concealed damage, avoid moving the shipment from its original delivery location, take digital photos of the damage, and reach out to your third party logistics company or carrier representative immediately.

Keep in touch with your Trinity sales representative for all of the newest updates on logistics policies and industry news. To get in touch with a Trinity rep, please click here.

One of the most complex transportation modes in the logistics industry is refrigerated less-than-truckload (LTL), due to its complexity and limitations. While many shipping providers are not able to accommodate these shipments, those that can will be better able to service your requests if you are aware of the intricacies of this mode of transportation. Despite its complexities, Trinity Logistics is actively working to expand our service offerings for refrigerated LTL.

What is it?

In technical terms, refrigerated (or reefer) LTL is the process of shipping refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight that does not require the space of an entire trailer (full truckload). A refrigerated trailer maintains the freight at a specified temperature range to prevent the product from deteriorating or becoming damaged. For example, frozen fish would move under a temperature range of 0 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit, while chilled beverages would move under a range of 36 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerated LTL ships at a temperature range, not at a specific degree – we’ll provide more information on that later.

What makes it different than other modes of transportation?

Refrigerated LTL is a little different than regular dry LTL, and other modes of transportation, because reefer LTL carriers do not operate within the same pickup time parameters.

To put things into perspective, an LTL carrier may be able to pick up just about every day, Monday through Friday. However, a refrigerated LTL carrier has set days that they pick up, depending on the region. For example, if a refrigerated LTL carrier picks up in Los Angeles on Thursdays and Fridays only, then the shipper would not be able to ship anything with them Monday through Wednesday.

The same can be said for refrigerated LTL carriers’ delivery schedules, which also run on a weekly parameter. Meaning that, if a carrier only delivers to Boston on Tuesdays, then freight picked up the week before will only be able to be delivered on the following Tuesday.

Another thing to keep in mind is that shipping LTL means that other customers’ freight will be on the same truck as yours. With reefer LTL, freight that needs to be maintained at a similar range in temperature will be put on the same truck. Shipping multiple customers’ freight on the same trailer is only made possible by this consolidation based on temperature range.

Why is it harder to arrange?

Reefer LTL can be difficult to arrange because it revolves around a very limited and specific time schedule. The schedule that the carrier can offer for pickups and deliveries might not coincide with the shipper’s needs.

Aside from managing shipments within the timeframe offered by the carrier, reefer LTL can be slightly more difficult due to the freight that is hauled. Maintaining proper temperature while in transit can add another layer of complexity to each shipment.

On top of the reasons above, there are a limited number of refrigerated LTL providers in the U.S.

Is it expensive?

Unfortunately, due to the equipment needed, as well as the nature of the commodities being hauled, reefer LTL is almost always more expensive than dry LTL. Carriers need to take into consideration the perishability of the shipment, as well as the costs incurred from maintaining the temperature in the trailer when figuring their prices.

How can I get the best rate?

Working with a third-party logistics company (3PL), like Trinity Logistics, can help you get the best rate possible when shipping via refrigerated LTL. 3PL’s can secure the best pricing through contracts with reefer LTL carriers, as they have high volumes of freight to move.

As an added benefit, working with Trinity can take a lot of hassle out of arranging reefer LTL shipments. Trinity’s LTL representatives can take care of quoting, building, and dispatching your pickups. They can also negotiate rates on your behalf, as well as track your shipments from start to finish. Although this mode is complex and difficult, we are actively working to expand our refrigerated LTL service offerings and invite you to learn more. To get a reefer LTL quote, click here.

New changes are coming in the LTL shipping world. Over the next year, you may need to prepare to say goodbye to LTL rates based on freight class. Dimensional pricing is the future, for better or worse, and we’ve got all the details you need to know.

What is dimensional pricing?

Historically, LTL carriers have priced their shipments based on freight class. The freight class of your shipment is determined by characteristics like density, value, ease of handling, and stowability. These freight classes have allowed for standardized, predictable pricing across LTL carriers.  

This new form of pricing, however, means the cost of your LTL shipment is strictly based on its dimensions. To put it simply, pricing will be based entirely off the freight’s height, length and width only.

Why the change?

LTL carriers have realized that switching to dimensional pricing would generally allow for more shipments to be moved at a time, which would boost their profit.

According to carriers, some customers are taking up a lot of valuable space on their trailers with relatively light and bulky shipments, essentially “cubing them out”. The trailers aren’t anywhere near their weight limit, but there’s no more room in the trailer to haul other shipments.

Some LTL carriers feel that it’s easy for customers to work the system by “misrepresenting” their freight class in order to get a lower rate. Switching to dimensional pricing leaves little room for misrepresentation, as the dimensions of the freight are clearly measurable by the carrier.  They also feel that dimensional pricing is fairer to the customer, as it will be more closely related to actual shipping costs for the carrier.

Is this guaranteed to happen?

There has been a significant amount of talk among LTL carriers about testing out the dimensional pricing method and looking into the scanning technology needed to easily calculate freight dimensions. This has been sparked by a switch to dimensional pricing in the parcel world. At the end of December 2014, UPS switched to dimensional for its ground services. FedEx Ground shifted to dimensional on packages three cubic feet or more in January 2015.

Since such major parcel carriers have already made the switch, experts are agreeing it’s a good indication that the LTL industry is soon to follow suit. In fact, UPS Freight, the LTL branch of UPS, has begun offering dimensional pricing as an alternate to class rates.  

What changes can I expect for my LTL shipping rates?

After the switch to dimensional pricing, you’ll notice cheaper shipping costs for more dense freight, whereas those shipments that are light and take up more room could be more expensive than you’re used to. For example, a large pallet containing boxes of ping pong balls would be much closer to shipping the same size pallet of bricks, while pricing based on freight class would mean two very different rates for those shipments.

Just keep in mind that LTL carriers are looking to ship as much freight as possible in one trailer to meet their profit margin. If your freight takes up most of their space, the new pricing will reflect that.  

The change may not have happened in the LTL industry yet, but it’s definitely on the way. With that being said, Trinity will be here to update you on any progress in the matter. Keep an eye out for future blogs on pricing updates and ways to save money with dimensional pricing.