LTL vs. FTL Shipping: Which Is Best for Your Freight Needs?

Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) and Full-Truckload (FTL) are popular shipping options in the Philippines. LTL allows businesses to share truck space, paying only for the capacity they need—perfect for smaller loads like inventory for big-box stores, local groceries, and the food and beverage industry. It’s a cost-effective way to streamline logistics without renting an entire truck.

FTL, in contrast, is ideal for larger shipments where the entire truck is utilized, accommodating loads over 20,000 pounds, such as major inventory restocks or relocations. Both LTL and FTL offer flexible solutions for businesses operating in Metro Manila, GMA, and beyond.

Managing inventory replenishment across multiple destinations can be challenging, especially when choosing between traditional Full Truckload (FTL) and Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipping. While FTL offers dedicated shipping, it often comes with higher costs for smaller loads. Meanwhile, conventional LTL shipping, though cost-effective, can lack optimization, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and higher operational burdens for businesses.

Ninja Restock takes LTL to the next level—an improved and modernized solution designed for today’s logistics demands. By co-loading items per destination route, Ninja Restock streamlines sorting and optimizes loads, eliminating the need for multiple LTL or FTL shipments.

LTL vs. FTL Overview

Choosing between LTL and FTL shipping varies on factors like shipment size, urgency, and budget. LTL is suitable for shipments that don't fill an entire truck, allowing you to share trailer space with other shippers and reduce costs. With LTL, multiple shipments are consolidated, making it more affordable but often slower due to numerous stops and more handling.

FTL, however, caters to large shipments that fill an entire truck. This option provides faster, direct delivery with less handling, making it ideal for entrepreneurs who need speed and minimal stops. FTL tends to be more expensive and works best for businesses that ship enough volume to justify the truckload.

To sum it up, LTL and FTL differ in cost, speed, and handling. Knowing the volume and delivery timeline of your shipments helps determine the best option. The table below highlights key differences so you can make the best choice for your logistics needs.

LTL, FTL or Ninja Restock? 

Tips for Optimizing Logistics with LTL and FTL

To maximize the benefits of LTL and FTL shipping, efficient logistics are essential. Here are some tips to streamline your inventory transport and reduce costs:

Optimize Space Utilization Through Shipment Consolidation

Consolidating multiple shipments into a single load is one of the most effective ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency for Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipping. For example, weekly retail orders can be combined into a single shipment rather than sent separately.

However, instead of manually coordinating with other businesses to share freight space, partnering with a logistics provider that manages this process for you can save time and effort. By handling the sorting, routing, and space optimization on your behalf, businesses can simply book their shipments and let advanced systems ensure cost-effective, seamless delivery to shared destinations.

Tailored Logistics Solutions: Combining FTL and LTL Based on Your Needs

Balancing Full Truckload (FTL) and Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipping is key to optimizing costs and maintaining efficiency. However, not all businesses have the same logistics requirements, and a one-size-fits-all solution simply won’t work.

For businesses servicing locations like island stores in Cebu or Davao, a specialized strategy can make all the difference. Regular, smaller LTL shipments ensure consistent inventory flow without the need for costly distribution centers, while FTL can be reserved for large or urgent loads, such as peak seasonal deliveries.

By partnering with a logistics provider that understands your unique needs, you gain access to customized solutions that streamline operations, optimize delivery schedules, and reduce costs—ensuring flexibility and reliability tailored specifically to your business goals.

Achieve cost efficiency with freight contracts

Save on shipping expenses with Ninja Restock’s cost-effective LTL and co-loading solutions. By sharing truck space and optimizing routes, we help businesses with regular shipments reduce costs without the need for long-term freight contracts. Enjoy flexible, efficient logistics tailored to your needs while keeping expenses in check.

Challenges of LTL and FTL

Both LTL and FTL shipping provide valuable logistics solutions, but each comes with unique challenges:

Common Challenges with Traditional Trucking (FTL)

• High Costs for Small Loads: Renting an entire truck for partial loads drives up expenses, making it less cost-efficient for businesses with smaller shipments.
• Underutilized Space: FTL often leaves unused truck capacity, wasting valuable resources.
• Limited Flexibility: Fixed routes and schedules can restrict businesses from adapting to dynamic delivery demands.
• Complex Logistics Management: Coordinating multiple deliveries can be tedious and time-consuming without optimized systems.

How Ninja Restock Solves These Challenges

Ninja Restock was developed to address the inefficiencies of traditional trucking and the limitations of standard LTL services. With over a decade of experience in e-commerce parcel delivery across Southeast Asia and the Philippines, Ninja Van offers advanced capabilities tailored to your needs:

• Optimized Co-Loading: Ninja Restock strategically groups shipments based on destination and product type, ensuring consumable goods are never stored near hazardous items. This guarantees safety and compliance while maximizing truck space.
• Cost-Efficiency: By sharing truck space, businesses pay only for the capacity they need, eliminating the waste of underutilized space common in FTL.
• Seamless Nationwide Reach: Leveraging Ninja Van’s extensive logistics network, we deliver efficiently to urban, rural, and island locations without sacrificing speed or reliability.
• Technology-Driven Logistics: Our system ensures real-time tracking, optimized routing, and reduced transit times, resolving common delays in traditional trucking.

Understanding Co-Loading: Myths vs. Reality

Myth: Co-loading means my consumable goods, like baked items, might be placed next to hazardous products.
Reality: Ninja Restock carefully categorizes and schedules deliveries to avoid cross-contamination, ensuring your goods are safe and properly handled.

Myth: Sharing truck space leads to longer transit times.
Reality: Ninja Restock uses advanced routing and scheduling to maintain timely deliveries, even with shared loads.

Ninja Restock combines the flexibility and affordability of LTL with the efficiency and safety of modern logistics, making it the smarter choice for your business.

How Ninja Restock Bridges the Gap

Recognizing the limitations of traditional shipping, Ninja Restock redefines logistics with advanced capabilities that go beyond standard LTL. While offering the affordability of LTL, Ninja Restock provides enhanced features like optimized co-loading, real-time tracking, and flexible routing—capabilities that traditional LTL providers simply can’t match due to limited scalability in the Philippines.

At the heart of Ninja Restock is its strategic co-loading capability, which maximizes efficiency and reduces costs. Businesses can work closely with Ninja Van to plan co-loading opportunities, allowing shipments to be grouped by destination, such as malls or supermarkets, to split transportation costs between shippers. This approach ensures significant savings while maintaining delivery speed and reliability.

Sensitive items are handled with care, as Ninja Restock categorizes shipments to ensure that products like bread and detergent are never mixed. This level of precision and safety is unmatched by traditional LTL providers.

With Ninja Restock, businesses benefit from:

• Optimized Co-Loading: Share truck space with other shippers while maintaining safety and delivery efficiency.
• Advanced Routing and Scheduling: Reduce transit times and adapt to seasonal or demand-driven changes with ease.
• Cost-Effective Flexibility: Pay only for the space you use without sacrificing speed or reliability.
• Real-Time Visibility: Access tracking and operational insights through our advanced dashboard for full control over your logistics.

Step into innovation with Skechers

Skechers, a global footwear and apparel company, faced issues with delayed deliveries and poor tracking updates from their former logistics provider in Malaysia, causing stock shortages and communication problems that disrupted their operations. 

Ninja Van stepped in to resolve these challenges by implementing clear communication channels, assigning a dedicated account manager, and prioritizing efficient stock replenishment. With Ninja Restock, Skechers can now restock 3-4 times weekly, ensuring shelves are filled and customers find what they need. 

Ninja Restock's reliable delivery and real-time tracking have enabled Skechers to maintain optimal stock levels, reduce overstocking, and support fast-moving inventory for better store management.

Explore the full Skechers case study here!

How Pickup Coffee brewed for success

After securing funding, Pickup Coffee, a startup coffee business, aimed to expand its brand to over 100 stores nationwide. However, managing deliveries with their own vehicle proved challenging. To overcome this, they partnered with Ninja Restock.

Ninja Restock enabled Pickup Coffee's nationwide expansion by ensuring daily deliveries of 4 to 5 CBM of restock across key locations like Bacolod and Cebu. This reliable stock transport solution allowed Pickup Coffee to replenish its outlets daily, fueling its growth while boosting profits.

Check out Pickup Coffee’s full brewing case study here!

LTL or FTL? Make Your Final Call

LTL and FTL shipping each present distinct advantages but come with logistical challenges. Ninja Restock overcomes these with flexible load management that enhances cost efficiency and delivery speed. With Ninja Restock, simplify your inventory transport and get your products delivered reliably. Ninja Van provides a seamless, all-in-one logistics solution tailored to your shipping needs. 

Discover how Ninja Restock can streamline your logistics and support your growth—visit the Ninja Restock service page to learn more. For additional insights and updates on efficient supply delivery, check out Ninja Van's logistics solutions page and follow us on social media.