Different Kinds of Freight Transport Review

Shipments are typically categorized as household goods, express, parcel, and freight shipments.

Furniture, art, or similar items are usually classified as “household goods” (HHG).

Very small business or personal items like envelopes are considered “overnight express” or “express letter” shipments. These shipments are rarely over a few pounds, and almost always travel in the carrier’s own packaging. Service levels are variable, depending on the shipper’s choice. Express shipments almost always travel some distance by air. An envelope may go USA coast to USA coast overnight or it may take several days, depending on the service options and prices chosen.

Larger items like small boxes are considered “parcel” or “ground” shipments. These shipments are rarely over 100 pounds, with no single piece of the shipment weighing more than about 70 pounds. Parcel shipments are always boxed, sometimes in the shipper’s packaging and sometimes in carrier-provided packaging. Service levels are again variable; but most “ground” shipments will move about 500-700 miles per day, going coast to coast in about four days depending on origin. Parcel shipments rarely travel by air, and typically move via road and rail. Parcels represent the majority of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments.

Beyond HHG, express, and parcel shipments, movements are termed “freight shipments.”

Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight

The first category of freight shipment is “less than truckload” (LTL), which represents the majority of “freight” shipments and the majority of business-to-business (B2B) shipments. LTL shipments are also often referred to as “motor freight.” LTL shipments range from 100 pounds to about 15,000 pounds, and are always less than 100" wide or 28’ long because LTL carriers’ trailers are typically 28' long. Long freight and/or large freight are subject to "extreme length" and "cubic capacity" surcharges. The shipments are usually palletized, shrink-wrapped and packaged for a mixed-freight environment. Unlike express or parcel, LTL shippers must provide their own packaging, as LTL carriers do not provide any packaging supplies or assistance. However, crating or other substantial packaging is required for LTL shipments due to the mixed freight environment.

“Air cargo” or “air freight” shipments are very similar to LTL shipments in terms of size and packaging requirements. However, air freight shipments typically need to move at much faster speeds than 500 miles per day. Air shipments may be booked directly with the carriers or through brokers or online marketplace services. While shipments move faster than standard LTL, “air” shipments don’t always actually move by air.

Truckload (TL) freight

In the United States of America, shipments larger than about 15,000 pounds are typically classified as “truckload” (TL), given that it is more efficient and economical for a large shipment to have exclusive use of one larger trailer rather than share space on a smaller LTL trailer. The total weight of a loaded truck (tractor and trailer, 5-axle rig) cannot exceed 80,000 pounds in the U.S. In ordinary circumstances, long-haul equipment will weigh about 35,000 pounds; leaving about 45,000 pounds of freight capacity. Similarly a load is limited to the space available in the trailer; normally 48 or 53 feet long and about 100 inches wide and 106 inches high. While express, parcel, and LTL shipments are always intermingled with other shipments on a single piece of equipment and are typically reloaded across multiple pieces of equipment during their transport, TL shipments usually travel as the only shipment on a trailer and TL shipments usually deliver on exactly the same trailer as they are picked up on.

Westhaven Worldwide logistics services are always tailored to the needs of each individual customer. As a result we do not publish tariff rates for our services, as each customer has unique problems and needs. We endeavour to offer the best possible service.

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