How to Uncover Savings as LTL Rates Remain High

Analyst Insight: Dry van full truckload (TL) rates have dropped almost 40% due to a decrease in demand and an increase in capacity in the market, yet less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are showing rises in the 6%-10% range for their annual general rate increases. A differentiated strategy for LTL is necessary to manage costs and maximize revenue. 

As truckload carriers become increasingly fragmented, with hundreds of thousands of carriers in the market, their rates will continue to deviate from LTL, which has fewer than two dozen key players. The top 12 carriers account for over 80% of all U.S. LTL revenue. Additionally, LTL carriers have more fixed overhead costs than truckload carriers, including tractors and trailers, terminals to cross-dock shipments, and more operational staff. Volume for truckload has come down considerably, while that for LTL has only dropped by a handful of percentage points. 

Conducting a request for proposals in 2023 will be key to realizing savings in LTL expenses. This might seem counterintuitive, but by setting a competitive environment, even when prices are increasing, carriers will provide updated rates, and holes in their network can be taken advantage of, pushing them to bid more competitively. 

For example, FedEx Freight might increase its rates by 7% from Georgia to Texas, but Southeastern Freight Lines might want more volume on this route, so could decrease its rate to accommodate that need and win the bid. This approach will also allow companies to standardize pricing structure.  

Implement or audit the following standardizations:  

• Utilize an industry-standard base rate and a seven-miles-per-gallon escalator fuel scale.
• Standardize all bids to the ZIP-to-ZIP level to allow for the most competitive detailed rates.
• Standardize and reduce pricing for top accessorial charges.
• Right-size freight-all-kinds (FAK) assignments to ensure that actual classes are grouped appropriately and fairly. 

Develop and implement a plan to optimize freight: 

• Mode-shift smaller items under 150 pounds to small parcel.
• Compare rates and, when possible, mode-shift shipments that are over 10,000 pounds to truckload.
• Consolidate shipments. Work with sales teams and customers to consolidate to weekly or bi-weekly shipments that can be one heavier LTL, or a full truckload shipment.
• Pick the right carrier. Shippers often use a more expensive carrier than the one with the best rate on a lane. Shop your carrier to ensure the best rates. Regional carriers are more competitive in their region than national carriers. 

Outlook: The deviation between TL and LTL in both rates and carriers is a trend that transportation and logistics teams will continue to monitor in 2023. Prior planning and carrier consideration are increasingly central to managing the impact of rate increases, and will remain a key aspect of the 2023 strategy.