Frequently Asked Questions
Freight shipping costs are determined by a variety of factors. LTL rates change quickly and often based on capacity (known as a spot market). LTL rates are determined primarily by freight class. FTL costs are often determined by cost per mile traveled. FTL rate quotes are more reliable, but will be more expensive than LTL rates on average.
Due to the complex nature of LTL networks, LTL shipments will take longer than FTL shipments and do not have scheduled delivery time. FTL shipments take a direct route from their origin to destination. Their delivery times can be limited by weather, traffic, and the number of hours the driver is legally allowed to drive at a time.
Freight handlers do the heavy lifting of loading, unloading, packing, labeling, and consolidating freight along different steps of its journey. They are responsible for keeping records and ensuring the safety of goods as they travel through a freight network.
A freight dispatcher works on a freight carrier’s team to communicate with freight brokers and help drivers schedule their loads. They are essential for effectively managing shipments and ensuring on-time delivery.
Multimodal refers to different modes of transport along the same cargo route or within the same network. For example, a multimodal network may include ocean, air, rail, and over-the-road transportation.
Common in long-haul containerized transportation, transloading is the process of transferring a shipment from one mode of transportation, such as an airplane or ship, to another, like truck or rail, to reach its end destination. Learn more about transloading services and the essential role they play during supply chain disruptions.