The Crisis Converts Full Batches (FTL) Into Partial Batches (LTL)

 

In the first half of 2013, there was an increase of 2.59% compared to full-truckload (LTL) compared to full-load (Full Truckload FTL) in 2011, raising the percentage of lots To 40.34% at the European level. In summary, out of 10 LTL freights deposited, 4 are partial and 6 are complete. In the sector, there is a tendency to think that because of the crisis, customers are no longer buying full trailers of goods but smaller ones that do not fill a truck.

These are intermediate loads, larger than one or two pallets, sometimes half a truck, which cannot be sent by system pallets or parcel carriers, but which are not sufficient to fill an entire truck. The search for this type of pallet delivery service makes the work of the carrier more difficult since the timetable and the journey must also coincide with the number of meters available in the truck. It is also necessary to add the requirement of the customer to receive his goods with the same punctuality as with a complete truck.

Each month, 200,000 trucks registered for partial lots (LTL). The number of trucks registered and available for partial lots on European routes is around 200,000 per month. The percentage of trucks registered for part-loads in Spain is higher than in Europe. In Spain, 37% of trucks are available for the transport of partial lots, compared with 32.41% for European journeys, according to the statistics of May 2013.

LTL countries from Spain

During the first 5 months of 2013, the number of partial lots in Spain decreased by 0.85% but the percentage of exports increased. The LTL freight is mainly exported to France, which occupies the first place with 38% of the partial lots, followed by Portugal with 27%, Germany, and Italy each with 10%. It should be noted that partial lots were exported to Portugal, the country where they increased the most compared to 2012, as did Germany and Italy where they also increased, but to a lesser extent. On the other hand, the partial consignments to France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom decreased slightly.

Solution to the half-lot problem

The market for half-lots or partial lots is very important, not only for the volume that this represents (40% of the freight) but also for the degree of user satisfaction with the response obtained. Carrying a partial lot often makes the difference between making the trip worthwhile and losing money. Knowing that it is already difficult to find freight or a full truck for a particular journey and date, it is even more so when finding a carrier with the necessary space available in his truck.