Simplify LTL Shipping: 5 Pain Points Solved by Third-Party Logistics

Shipping freight in small batches via LTL (less-than-truckload) is a cost-effective strategy for businesses that can’t fill a whole truck. Whether you run a small e-commerce ltl shippers sending out retail products or manage logistics for an enterprise moving industrial equipment, LTL freight can save money by sharing trailer space with other loads. However, less-than-truckload shipping comes with unique challenges. Perishable goods can spoil if delayed, invoices often surprise you with extra fees, and tracking a ltl shipment across multiple hubs can feel like a guessing game. In this post, we’ll cover five common hurdles in LTL freight shipments – from freight delays to hidden costs – and show how partnering with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can turn these challenges into smoother, smarter operations.

1. Freight Delays and Unreliable Transit Times

It’s no secret that LTL freight is generally slower than a full truckload. Unlike an FTL shipment (full truckload)  that goes directly from point A to B, LTL carriers operate hub-and-spoke networks with multiple stops and transfers. Every time your pallet is unloaded and reloaded at a terminal, there’s a chance of freight delays. Delivery dates in LTL are typically “estimated” – not guaranteed – because a traffic jam or a missed connection can push delivery to the next day or beyond. For businesses shipping perishable goods (like an LTL reefer load of produce), a delay could mean spoiled inventory. Retail shippers risk empty shelves or missed promotions, and a manufacturer waiting on a critical part may face costly downtime.

How 3PLs Can Help: A capable 3PL can significantly mitigate LTL delays. LTL moving companies (carriers) vary in reliability, and 3PLs use experience and data to choose the best carrier for each lane. They can leverage their network to request guaranteed services or find capacity on shorter routes when time is critical. If one carrier falls through or a pickup is missed, a 3PL quickly pivots to an alternative solution using their broad carrier relationships. In short, the right 3PL keeps your truck load shipping schedule on track by planning around LTL’s unpredictability, expediting shipments when needed and coordinating timing to prevent small delays from snowballing.

2. Damage or Loss of Goods in Transit

Another common gripe with less-than-truckload freight is the higher risk of damage or loss. In an LTL trailer, your goods share space with other shippers’ freight and get handled multiple times en route. Compared to a full truckload where cargo is loaded once and unloaded once, LTL shipments see many touchpoints, increasing the chance of mishaps. In fact, about 1–2% of LTL shipments incur damage or loss on average, which is notably higher than in TL freight. Fragile retail products might get crushed if stacked poorly, and sensitive industrial equipment can be knocked around during  cross-docking. For food and pharmaceuticals, even minor damage or a broken cold chain can spoil an entire pallet.

How 3PLs Can Help: Third-party logistics providers work proactively to protect your freight. They often guide shippers on best practices for packaging and palletizing – for example, using proper crating, wrapping, and labeling for fragile or refrigerated items. Fewer handoffs means less risk, and a 3PL can sometimes consolidate your loads or use regional carriers to minimize transfers. (Olimp, for instance, specializes in freight consolidation, which minimizes handling and significantly reduces the likelihood of damage.) If something does go wrong, a 3PL assists with the claims process – helping file paperwork, mediating with the carrier, and even expediting reimbursement so your cash flow isn’t hit. With a 3PL watching your freight, you gain an extra layer of insurance that your goods (from fresh produce to machine parts) arrive intact.

3. Complex Pricing and Hidden Fees

Pricing an LTL shipment can feel like solving a puzzle. Rates depend on weight, dimensions, distance, freight class, and more. On top of the base rate, carriers often tack on accessorial charges for any special services – need a liftgate at pickup, delivery to a limited-access location, or an appointment delivery? All those will cost extra. Many shippers are caught off guard when the invoice arrives higher than the initial quote. (For instance, if the actual weight was more than stated or a pallet overhung the pallet edges, ltl freight service providers will re-class your freight and adjust the price.) Surprise charges for fuel, redelivery, or inside delivery are so common that an estimated 15–65% of freight invoices contain inaccuracies. This complexity makes budgeting tough and can strain small businesses who suddenly owe more than expected.

How 3PLs Can Help: One big advantage of partnering with a 3PL is pricing expertise and transparency. A good 3PL will help you get LTL freight quotes right the first time – verifying your freight class, measurements, and service needs to avoid surprise adjustments. They’ll also shop around among multiple LTL carriers to find a competitive rate for your specific shipment, sparing you the legwork. Because 3PLs aggregate volume from many clients, they can secure volume discounts and lower ltl freight shipping rates that an individual shipper wouldn’t get on their own. Moreover, your 3PL will review carrier invoices for accuracy, catching any errors or unwarranted fees before you pay. By shipped LTL through a 3PL, you essentially have an advocate to simplify the convoluted pricing structure, ensuring you understand the true cost upfront and protecting you from hidden fees. The result is fewer billing headaches and better control over your shipping budget.

4. Limited Tracking and Visibility

When your shipment is moving with an LTL carrier, it’s not always easy to know exactly where it is or when it will arrive. Unlike dedicated truckload runs, LTL freight changes trucks and facilities, and not all carriers provide granular real-time updates. Shipment tracking in LTL is often “terminal to terminal” – you might see when it left one city and arrived at a regional hub, but have gaps in between. This limited visibility can be frustrating for shippers and their customers. If you’re shipping retail products, lack of tracking makes it harder to update your sales team or buyers awaiting stock. For perishable shipments, not knowing a delay occurred could mean you aren’t prepared to adjust for temperature control on arrival. Industrial supply chains likewise suffer when a critical component’s whereabouts are unknown, causing downstream scheduling issues.

How 3PLs Can Help: Third-party logistics providers invest in technology and relationships to give you better tracking visibility. Many 3PLs offer transportation management systems (TMS) or online dashboards where you can see status updates from all your carriers in one place. They often integrate directly with carrier systems or use GPS-enabled solutions to provide real-time tracking info. Even beyond software, a 3PL’s operations team actively monitors your shipments; if a delay or exception occurs, they’ll notify you and work on a solution. This means you get end-to-end visibility rather than waiting in the dark. Improved tracking through a 3PL not only eases your peace of mind, it lets you keep your customers informed. When your logistics partner can tell you exactly where that LTL pallet is and provide a dynamic ETA, you can plan around delays or coordinate last-mile arrangements confidently. In short, a 3PL makes LTL shipping almost as transparent as truck load shipping with a dedicated carrier.

5. Accessorial Charges and Missed Pickups

Two frequent pain points for LTL shippers are the extra charges that pop up and the occasional missed pickup. Accessorial charges, as noted above, include things like fuel surcharges, weekend delivery fees, residential or school delivery fees, liftgate fees – basically any service beyond dock-to-dock transport. If you didn’t account for a required service when booking, the carrier will bill you later. These add-ons can inflate your costs dramatically. Meanwhile, a missed pickup occurs when the LTL carrier fails to collect your freight on the scheduled day. This can happen due to capacity shortages, driver delays, or routing issues, especially in peak seasons or bad weather. Missed pickups are more than an inconvenience: they can throw off delivery timelines by a day or more. For time-sensitive shipments (e.g. a retailer waiting for a new product launch or a factory needing a part), a missed pickup can be costly. It might also incur fees if you have to re-book or if warehouse staff waited overtime.

How 3PLs Can Help: A 3PL adds value by preemptively managing both these issues. For accessorial fees, your 3PL will ask the right questions upfront: Is there a forklift or will a liftgate be needed? What are the pickup and delivery hours? Any special handling needed? By capturing these details, they ensure the LTL rate you get includes the necessary services, so you’re not blindsided by extra charges later. Additionally, 3PLs leverage experience to negotiate or minimize certain fees – for example, combining shipments to avoid multiple minimum charges, or using carriers that bundle some services into their base rate. When it comes to missed pickups, a responsive 3PL is your safety net. They confirm pickup appointments with carriers and keep tabs on carrier performance. If a truck can’t make it, the 3PL will proactively coordinate a solution, such as dispatching an alternate carrier from their network to grab your freight. Because 3PLs maintain relationships with many ltl freight carriers (and even FTL shipments providers), they can often find backup options quickly in a crunch. Their communication also keeps you informed, so you’re not discovering a missed pickup hours after the fact. In essence, partnering with a 3PL means fewer unpleasant surprises – both in your invoice and in your daily shipping schedule.

Simplifying LTL Shipping with OLIMP’s 3PL and Warehousing Solutions

LTL shipping may seem complicated, but with the right logistics partner, it doesn’t have to be. At Olimp Warehousing Solutions, we help businesses unlock the benefits of less-than-truckload freight while avoiding the common pitfalls that come with it. From securing competitive rates through our trusted carrier network to providing real-time tracking and full shipment visibility, we make LTL freight easier to manage.

What sets OLIMP apart is the combination of strategic warehousing and 3PL expertise. We offer flexible storage options across the U.S. to support your LTL need, whether you’re staging freight before shipping, consolidating small loads, or needing space between transfers. Our facilities are equipped to handle everything from perishable goods and retail inventory to heavy industrial equipment.

Beyond storage, OLIMP handles the logistics details that often cause headaches, like coordinating special services, auditing freight bills for accuracy, and troubleshooting missed pickups or delays. We tailor solutions to fit your operation, ensuring your shipments move on time, stay protected, and remain cost-efficient.

Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise shipper, partnering with OLIMP means getting a smarter, more reliable approach to LTL freight and warehousing, so you can stay focused on what matters most: running your business.