Truckload Freight 101: How 3PL Freight Brokers Support FTL Shippers

Planning product shipments is no easy task. If you’re a logistics manager saddled with that responsibility, you know how much juggling it takes to handle a multitude of challenges, maintain business objectives, and meet customer expectations. Day to day, there’s barely time to take a breath, let alone second-guess how your product goes from point A to point B.

What matters in truckload freight goes beyond filling a trailer—it’s about getting the right capacity, with the right carrier, at the right time.

Every piece involved in truckload freight is important: the truck itself and how well it functions, its capacity, and the driver’s skillset to manage the route, navigate disruptions, and deliver. But without managing or owning the operations, how would you know if full truckload freight (FTL) is right for you?

What is Full Truckload (FTL) Freight

FTL means your shipment is the only one on the trailer and designated for a single destination. For specialty goods, sensitive materials, or time-critical deliveries, FTL shipments can check all the boxes, though there are guidelines to consider.

Volume thresholds will differ depending on the type of trailer used: van, flatbed, or temperature-controlled reefer. For example, a 53-foot trailer could hold 26 standard pallets (48″ x 40″ each) or double stack them for a total of 52 pallets if the stacking height and cargo weight fall within the recommended limits.

In the U.S., the standard allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) per FTL is 80,000 pounds, including truck and trailer. That means, if you need to ship 45,000 pounds of electronic components, you could deploy a 53-foot dry van as long as the weight of the truck, trailer, and fuel does not exceed 35,000 pounds.

As you well know, customers and their orders are seldom the same. There will be times when FTL freight is your best option. But for shipments that can withstand longer transit times, require cost savings, or favor eco-friendly carbon footprints, there are intermodal and less-than-truckload (LTL) choices to explore.

Benefits of FTL Shipping

Economic volatility across global markets affects accessibility and reliability of products, impacting lead times. For manufacturers working with raw materials or industrial parts, tightening shipping processes and timelines could be the key differentiator to winning new business and keeping what business you have.

Integrating FTL freight into your logistics planning can match business intention with customer priorities, leading to referral-worthy results.

With FTL, shipping facilitators and their customers experience:

• Faster transit times
• Nonstop service from load to delivery
• Lower risk of product damage or loss
• Preferred scheduling and product control

What Does a Freight Broker Do for FTL Shippers?

Unless your company has an in-house transportation fleet with the operational infrastructure to successfully manage self-directed logistics, there’s more to consider in shipping than coordinating cargo to truck.

It could be time to work with a freight broker or a 3PL provider. Choosing the services of one 3PL provider versus others rests on their ability to balance costs and efficiency while providing effective risk management, and having the technology, documentation, and metrics to prove it.

Advantages of Working with a Freight Broker or 3PL

Procurement officers and logistics managers are problem solvers. The more resources you have at your disposal, the faster you can meet goals and bring cost savings and greater efficiency to your supply chains.

When surveying the shipping landscape and examining the options, the more relationships available at your fingertips, the better—one of many benefits a freight broker or 3PL provider can bring to the table.

Other advantages are:

• Connecting to a network of vetted carriers
• Scheduling, tracking, claims, and paperwork assistance
• Greater adaptability during seasonal surges or disruptions through flexible options 
• Single source solution for transportation, warehousing, and transloading, if needed.

Once you work in tandem with a freight broker, it’s hard to ignore the absence of worry on your shoulders, something you’ll really appreciate when things don’t go according to plan.  

Advanced technologies and GPS tracking systems provide real-time status to shipments in route to avert delays, avoid disruptions, and reconfigure schedules with minimal downtime. And when there’s volatility affecting fuel pricing, freight brokers can make adjustments.

Freight brokers and 3PL companies also know the value of continuous improvements, supported by investing in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and machine learning to plan for predictive maintenance and circumvent unnecessary costs.

The Difference Between Asset and Non-Asset Based Freight Brokers

Not all freight solutions are the same, and because of changes to economic conditions, demand has shifted away from asset-based companies to non-asset-based operators. Here’s why.

Asset-based freight companies own and operate trucks, trailers, and other equipment, whereas non-asset-based companies rely on their third-party carrier relationships to forge the right transit solutions.

The flexibility non-asset-based providers offer generates comprehensive responsiveness from load to delivery, allowing supply chains more latitude in route planning, scheduling, and shipping. In addition, their wider carrier network boosts negotiation power to fine-tune rates, create new ideas, and give each shipment the attention it deserves.

More Partners to Your Partner

Non-asset-based freight brokers and third-party logistics providers expand their worth by focusing on the service offerings manufacturers, suppliers, and shippers need. By consolidating the freight transit options, tailored to the shipment, the right plan for your business happens.

With greater connectivity between logistic partners, moving and managing product inbounds and outbounds brings greater peace of mind. You’ll get answers from experts, knowledgeable in their specific area of transportation, so you get the best guidance whether shipping mobile phones or custom-cut beams for FTLs or oversized loads.

When Should You Use a Freight Broker for FTL?

Assessing your shipping needs takes knowing where your business has been, where you’d like it to go, and what challenges are in front of you.

If you’re thinking about contacting a freight broker or 3PL company for FTL shipping, ask yourself what it would be like if your logistics solutions included:

• Rate consistency
• Less surprises
• Increasing or unpredictable freight volume
• Quicker response and recovery amid delays
• Internal carrier relationships

If your business deals in large-volume shipments, you know how easily runaway costs can show up due to mismanaged planning, antiquated systems, and unmotivated workers—the impact is real across the supply chain.