Glossary Term
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
A shipping method used for transporting palletized goods that do not require the full space of a truck trailer. Multiple sellers share the same truck to reduce costs.
Cost-Effective Pallet Shipping
Once your shipment gets too big for 15-20 boxes, it’s usually cheaper to stack them on a pallet and ship via LTL. You only pay for the "fraction" of the truck you use. Amazon offers a "Partnered Carrier" program for LTL, which provides massive discounts for sellers shipping to fulfillment centers.
The Complexities of LTL Labeling
LTL is more complex than standard koli (parcel) shipping. You need an "FBA Pallet Label" on all four sides of each pallet, plus the individual box labels. If the labels fall off or are placed incorrectly, the driver might refuse to pick up the load, or Amazon will reject the pallet at the warehouse gate.
- Requires a Bill of Lading (BOL) for every shipment.
- Ideal for bulky or heavy items.
- Cheaper than SPD (Small Parcel) for high-volume inventory.
Box Content and 2D Barcodes
For LTL shipments, providing box content info via 2D barcodes is a life-saver. Instead of having a warehouse worker open each box on a pallet, they can scan the 2D code and receive the whole pallet in minutes.