Transporting a large shipment often means a large price tag as well. However, less than truckload, or LTL, shipping is a great way to decrease the cost of shipping in Australia. This article explains LTL shipping and how you can ship LTL to Australia.
How Does LTL Shipping Work?
LTL shipping in Australia will be applicable if you are shipping from one region in Australia to another as it involves land transport. It is available to individuals or companies with insufficient cargo to fill an entire truck. Thus, if you want to ship cargo to Australia, LTL will allow you to pay for only the space your shipment occupies. The courier will then consolidate the shipment with other cargo. The only downside is that delivery times may be longer as the truck will have to make multiple deliveries.
How Much Does LTL Shipping Cost?
The price of LTL shipping will vary depending on your shipment size, weight, and delivery destination. You can use an online shipping calculator available on most postal sites to estimate costs.
Deciding Between Air, Land, and Sea/Ocean Freight
If you ship freight to Australia from the UK, from the USA, or from Canada, you have the option of air or sea freight. Your choice is dependent on your budget and the required delivery times. This is because sea freight is the cheapest option, but it is slow. Air freight is much quicker, but the price is much higher. Thus, your decision will depend on which factor takes preference. In addition, similar to LTL shipping, you can also ship less than a container (LTC) to Australia.
It is worth noting that sea freight is the better option if you need to ship a container to Australia. This is because it is difficult to send a container via air. In most instances, the courier will offload the container, re-pack the cargo into an aircraft, and then transport it to its destination. This additional handling can be considered an additional risk when shipping any cargo.
Conclusion
LTL shipping to Australia offers a much better rate than conventional bulk shipping. Ultimately, your chosen shipping method comes down to the type of cargo, budget, and schedules.