Skip to content

LTL: transporting smaller consignments via truck

LTL (less-than-truck load) works best for reduced shipment volumes. Our trucks pick up your goods and transport them to various locations. With intelligent route planning, we maximize the use of available capacity to deliver economical and cost-effective transportation even when your shipment occupies only a portion of the truck.

Customized LTL transport for smaller shipments

A wide range of goods can be shipped via LTL trucking independent of their weight, size or specific needs. You are charged solely for the space your shipment uses. In LTL shipping, combined consignments are transported straight to the recipients without temporary handling at a Rhenus hub.

Aerial view of a forest road

Your benefits with less-than-truck loads shipments

Freight consolidation provides more favorable shipping rates and reduces expenses by combining partial consignments into a single truck for direct delivery to the destination.

Take advantage of shorter delivery times because you do not fully load the truck capacity by your own.

LTL offers you a strong degree of adaptability for your specific requirements and enables you to react swiftly to your customers’ demands.

Using shared truck capacity reduces your environmental footprint across the supply chain.

Why choose Rhenus as your partner for LTL service

  • With our international partner network and scheduled daily truck routes, we make sure your shipments reach their destination promptly and dependably.
  • Benefit from our one-stop services that include everything from consulting to reduce both time and costs.
  • With years of experience in handling goods with special requirements such as temperature-controlled goods or time-sensitive shipments, we manage these operations reliably and attentively.
  • Our customer service and online delivery tracking provide you with continuous updates on your shipment at every stage and at any time.

Your additional services for LTL transport

Customs officer

Customs clearance

Wherever your shipment is headed, we support you in navigating each country’s regulations. With the backing of the global Rhenus network and our well-established connections with local authorities, we ensure your shipment complies with all customs requirements and is processed without delays. Our services cover customs and fiscal assistance, bonded warehousing, foreign trade consulting and AEO certification.

Discover more

Tons with dangerous goods

Dangerous goods

At our locations, our specialized dangerous goods officers educate employees in the safe handling of hazardous materials, supervise transport processes and ensure adherence to all national and international safety regulations. We apply the Safety & Quality Assessment System (SQAS) to uphold the safety and quality standards of our services. Our offerings include dangerous goods (ADR) handling, limited quantities (LQ), excepted quantities (EQ) and temperature-controlled transport.

Discover more

Temperature control system

Temperature-controlled transport

We focus on the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paints and lacquers, adhesives and foils. Rhenus uses thermal vehicles equipped with air-conditioned swap bodies, with cooling and heating systems powered by diesel or electricity along with continuous temperature monitoring to maintain stable conditions throughout transit.

Business people negotating

Transport insurance

Freight forwarders carry only limited liability for international shipments, meaning reimbursement for damage or loss often falls below the actual value of the goods. To cover potential financial risks, we advise obtaining additional insurance protection. Options like “all risks” insurance, tailor-made transport insurance solutions and ongoing shipping insurance coverage offer reassurance and financial security.

Rhenus Truck getting filled at a warehouse

Express shipment

Our express services offer customized solutions tailored to your shipping requirements. No matter the weight or size, we make sure your shipment reaches your selected destination on schedule. Our offerings cover courier services, direct deliveries and specialized options for both full and partial loads.

Close-up of two person talking about a graphic on a tablet

Digital services

Benefit from online tools to access your shipment data anytime. With our Track & race feature, you can monitor each stage of your shipment’s progress, including truck, shipment and package details. Our easy-to-use Rhenus WebOrder tool allows you to schedule shipments at any time and access a wide range of additional services.

Person in a call at the office

Reduce your expenses for transporting your goods today.

Our LTL transport experts are only one click away. Together, we will identify the best solution for you.

Frequently asked questions

Groupage refers to the consolidation of multiple LTL shipments from various companies into a single truck, while LTL is used when the goods of one company do not occupy the full truck capacity and are combined to achieve more favorable shipping rates and lower costs.

LTL stands for less-than-truck load. It’s the best choice if you do not have enough goods to fill a full truck but want to use shared capacity for greater efficiency and shorter waiting times. LTL shipping allows you to reduce costs while keeping a high level of flexibility.

With FTL, you cover the cost of the whole truck, which is reserved exclusively for your goods. This option is most suitable when your shipment volume is sufficient to occupy the full capacity. LTL, on the other hand, offers increased flexibility aligned to your needs, allowing time-sensitive shipments to be transported without delays caused by waiting to fully load truck.

Transit times for LTL shipments can be extended compared to FTL, as trucks often stop at several locations along their route. LTL loads may also be handled several times during transit.

The cost of LTL trucking is primarily influenced by the route and the volume of shipment. Additional factors, such as express shipping, may also impact the price.

The Rhenus partner portal for freight forwarders

Partnership rhe-loaded

An RHE-X partnership provides multiple collaboration options. You decide what suits your requirements best. As a permanent RHE-X partner, you have the security to plan your fleet utilization accurately.

Visit rhe-x.com