The companies
providing LTL services come in all sizes and shapes. From the
specialized local carriers offering 2 hour, or 4 hour same day
service, to the companies who consolidate several shipments for
distribution throughout the country utilizing a network of
company terminals, and inter-lining with service partners.
One common method for transporting freight across the country is
referred to as “Hub & Spoke,” that gets its name by comparison
to a wheel. Think of the central point, the “Hub” as a freight
terminal or dock. Shipments are picked up in outer areas
represented by the “Spoke” brought back to the terminal where
they are cross-docked and transferred to a different truck for
delivery. That is typical of a carrier offering local, next day
delivery. Now imagine a series of these “Hub & Spokes”
overlapping, but stretching across the country. That means your
freight could be re-handled 4 or 5 times before it is delivered.
Each time it is re-handled, or goes through a “Hub,” it is
subject to loss, damage, or delay.
The preferred method, and the one TLC specializes in, is to
handle the freight as little as possible. The best way to insure
your shipment will arrive intact, damage free, and promptly is
to move it exclusively and deliver it from the same trailer it
was loaded on.
Obviously, you don’t want to pay for the exclusive use of a
truck for each shipment. The next best thing is to move your
shipments with “truckload type service” but only pay for the
portion you use. TLC provides this service, which we call “Load
To Go.”
Our Load To Go is typically limited to 2-4 stops and therefore,
not suited for all shipments. However, we attempt to duplicate
this service on your LTL shipments by keeping handling to the
minimum.
For your convenience on LTL shipments, we schedule pick-ups to
meet your needs. The main difference between this preferred
service, and the “Hub & Spoke” method is that we move the loaded
trailers to the farthest point, so that freight is only handled
once before delivery. This reduces the chance for loss and
damage, while typically improving transit times.
Given the opportunity to learn more about your business, TLC can
present you with a rate and service package based on your needs
that we hope you will find worthy of serious consideration. |
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For more information call
(800) 882-4TLC (4852)
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