Partial Load Shipping: Can You Really Save Money?

Partial Load Shipping: Can You Really Save Money?

Shipping with partial loads, where transport companies take additional goods along the route, benefits both shippers and carriers. This shipping method offers several advantages but also has some specific features. Let's explore them in detail.

How Partial Loads Differ from Consolidated Loads

When shipping small items, it’s often not practical or cost-effective to rent an entire truck. In such cases, transport companies offer consolidated shipping services.

Here’s how consolidated shipping works:

1. Collection at a Terminal: Goods from different shippers are brought to the logistics terminal.
2. Arrangement and Transportation: The company organizes the cargo in the vehicle and transports it.
3. Distribution Upon Arrival: Goods are divided into smaller lots for final delivery to recipients.

Disadvantages of Consolidated Loads:

• Delays: Companies often wait to fully load the vehicle before dispatching, which can take time.
• Improper Placement: To maximize space, proper cargo arrangement (e.g., heavy items on the bottom, light ones on top) is not always followed.
• Inflexibility: This method may not suit perishable goods that require fast delivery or special handling.

Partial Load Shipping:
With partial load shipping, the transport company sends a truck directly to the sender (often the same or next day) and allocates a specific space. This approach ensures faster and safer transportation.

Benefits of Partial Load Shipping

Advantages for Shippers:

• The transport company manages all stages independently.
• No need to wait for a truck to be fully loaded.
• Lower delivery costs.

In simple terms, it’s fast and economical. However, there are nuances to consider.

 

Key Considerations for Partial Load Shipping

1. Route Popularity: Quick and affordable partial load shipping is typically available on well-traveled routes, such as Moscow–St. Petersburg.
2. Weight Limits: Shipping companies may have weight restrictions. Use a load planner to check if partial load shipping is feasible for your goods.
3. Cargo Compatibility: Confirm with the carrier what other items are being transported. Certain goods, like food and fuel, cannot be shipped together.
4. Transit Time: Since the truck collects additional cargo along the way, the total delivery time may be longer than direct city-to-city shipping.

When Is Partial Load Shipping Beneficial?

Partial load shipping is ideal when you need to transport a small batch of non-fragile goods that:

• Do not require special handling.
• Need to be shipped without delay, avoiding the wait for consolidated delivery.

Is Partial Load Shipping Cost-Effective?

Yes, this approach benefits both parties:

• Transport Companies: Earn more by taking additional cargo.
• Shippers: Send goods quickly and conveniently at a lower cost.

Optimize Partial Load Shipping with CargoTetris

To accurately calculate the volume of goods that can be shipped as a partial load, we recommend using the CargoTetris load planning tool. This service provides 3D visualization to optimize the placement of goods in containers, trucks, pallets, and other vehicles.

Why Use CargoTetris?

• User-Friendly: Easy for both shippers and transport companies.
• Space Optimization: Quickly plan for additional cargo by calculating available space and axle load limits.
• Efficiency: Hybrid algorithms and AI increase vehicle load density, prevent overloads, and reduce downtime.
• Step-by-Step Loading Plans: The system generates detailed loading schemes to ensure smooth operations.

How to Use CargoTetris

1. Create a project and input cargo details.
2. Add goods manually or via an Excel file.
3. Define available space, choosing from preconfigured options or customizing dimensions.
4. Specify loading parameters such as stackability and rotation.
5. Generate 3D visualizations of the optimized loading plan.
6. Save reports in PDF or Excel format and start loading.

 

Conclusion

Partial load shipping is a cost-effective and flexible solution for transporting smaller shipments quickly. With tools like CargoTetris, shippers and carriers can further optimize their logistics, save time, and reduce costs.

Learn more about the CargoTetris platform and watch a video tutorial on optimizing load planning.
Try it for free at cargotetris.com.