The so-called less than load goods refer to goods that are not enough in weight or capacity to fit into a vehicle (i.e., not enough for full vehicle transportation) on a single freight waybill (batch). Zero refers to scattered objects, while in ancient times, it referred to a carrying pole. Here, it refers to a carriage, and less than one carrying pole means less than one carriage.

When the weight or volume of a batch of goods is less than that of a truck and can be shared with several or even hundreds of other batches of goods on the same truck for shipment, it is called less than full load transportation.

If the cargo owner needs to transport less than one vehicle, it will be delivered as sporadic goods. The transportation department will gather the goods of different cargo owners into one vehicle at the same destination before shipping. L/T transportation requires waiting for the entire vehicle to be assembled, resulting in slow speed. To overcome this disadvantage, L/T shuttle buses with fixed routes and times have been developed, and the flexibility of car transportation can also be utilized to develop door-to-door L/T delivery transportation.

According to the kilogram segment of goods, the market structure of China's LTL freight can be divided into packages (0-30 kilograms/ticket), small LTL (30-500 kilograms/ticket), large LTL (500 kilograms -3 tons/ticket), and complete vehicles (3-10 tons/ticket). Goods weighing less than 30 kilograms are the main battlefield of express delivery, while goods weighing between 30 and 500 kilograms are currently the business scope of network based less-than-truckload express transportation enterprises. Services above 500 kilograms are almost entirely provided by dedicated line enterprises.

Advantages and disadvantages of logistics LTL:

Advantages:

1. Flexible

The small batch and multi batch method of light load transportation meets the transportation needs of different levels of people, facilitating the production and circulation of goods for the general public.

2. Convenient and safe

The rapid, convenient, and fast transportation of less than a load of goods makes the transportation and transfer of goods by shippers very fast. Less-than-truckload buses generally have fixed carriages, which prevent the loaded goods from being exposed to sunlight and rain.

3. Fast capital turnover

The mobility and flexibility of less than truckload logistics can achieve door-to-door pickup, delivery to home, and simple procedures for competitive and seasonal cargo transportation, effectively shortening the delivery time of goods, accelerating capital turnover, and so on.

4. Diversified delivery methods

Low load goods can be transported using different methods such as dedicated low load buses and bus straps, making the organization more flexible and complex.

Disadvantages:

1. High cost

Compared to the point-to-point direct transportation of whole vehicle transportation, less-than-truckload transportation freight stations need to be equipped with certain warehouses, cargo sheds, platforms, as well as corresponding loading and unloading, handling, and stacking machinery and specialized box vehicles. There are many turnover links for less-than-truckload goods, which are more prone to cargo damage, cargo differences, and higher compensation costs, resulting in higher transportation costs for less-than-truckload goods.

2. The work is relatively complex

There are many types of goods involved, with an increasing number of freight links in less than truckload transportation. The operation process is relatively detailed, and the requirements for cargo loading and unloading are also relatively high.

3. Randomness

Due to the characteristics of less than truckload transportation, it is impossible to implement fixed logistics transportation methods and sign logistics contracts for this transportation operation, which can only be determined based on the situation at that time.

Unable to ship goods with less than half a load

1. Goods that require refrigeration, insulation, or heating for transportation;

2. Dangerous goods that are limited to whole vehicles according to regulations;

3. Dirty products that are prone to contaminating other goods (such as animal bones, wet fur, feces, carbon black, etc. that have not been disinfected or sealed without leakage packaging);

4. Sealing;

5. Goods that are difficult to calculate in pieces;

6. Live animals that have not been loaded into containers (except for those that can be transported as less than a load within the railway administration's regulations);

7. A cargo weighing more than 2 tons, with a volume exceeding 3 cubic meters or a length exceeding 9 meters (except for those confirmed by the departure station not to affect the loading and unloading operations at the transfer station and arrival station).