Where Freight Fits in an E-commerce Operation
Parcel carriers handle the last mile, but the freight that feeds your business moves long before a customer clicks buy. Inbound inventory from suppliers, transfers to fulfilment centres, and bulk deliveries to retail partners all move as pallets, not parcels. Choosing the right freight mode for each of those moves has a direct effect on your margins.
Most online retailers use a mix of LTL and full truckload, and the right split changes with volume, season, and how fast you need stock in position.
When LTL Makes Sense
LTL is the right fit when you are moving a few pallets at a time and do not need a whole trailer. You pay for the space and weight your freight uses, and your pallets share a truck with other shippers. That keeps costs sensible for smaller replenishment orders and for sellers who ship frequently in modest quantities.
The trade-off is more handling and slightly longer, less predictable transit. Freight passes through terminals, so labelling and packaging matter, and damaged or lost pallets are more likely than on a dedicated truck.
When Full Truckload Wins
Once you are moving around six to ten pallets or more, or when freight is heavy or bulky, a dedicated truck often costs less per pallet than LTL and delivers with fewer touches. FTL also gives you control over pickup and delivery times, which matters when you have a receiving appointment at a fulfilment centre.
During peak season, booking FTL for your largest replenishment moves can protect you from LTL terminal congestion and delays at the exact moment you can least afford them.
Protecting Your Margins
Freight cost per unit is a real line in your profit and loss. Consolidating several small LTL shipments into one truckload, shipping on predictable weekly schedules, and getting accurate weights and dimensions right the first time all reduce the surprise charges that eat into margin. Reweigh and reclass fees are common when the information on the shipment does not match what the carrier measures.
Accurate freight class, pallet dimensions, and weight at booking time keep quotes honest and invoices matching.
Fulfilment Centre Requirements
Amazon and other large fulfilment networks have strict inbound rules about labelling, pallet height, and appointment windows. Freight that arrives late or non-compliant can be refused or charged back. Your carrier needs to know those requirements before pickup, not after.
We make sure the appointment, labelling, and delivery window details are part of the booking, so the driver arrives ready instead of discovering a problem at the dock.
Working With Shipmate
We ship from the GTA across Canada and into the US, with same-day pickup available in the Greater Toronto Area and live market pricing on every lane. Tell us your volumes and destinations and we will show you where LTL saves money and where moving to full truckload makes more sense.
Packaging and Palletizing for Freight, Not Parcel
Freight needs to be packed differently from parcel orders. Use sturdy pallets in good condition, stack cartons in a stable pattern, and stay within the pallet footprint so nothing overhangs. Stretch wrap the whole load firmly, add corner boards where needed, and keep heavier cartons at the bottom.
Label every pallet clearly on more than one side, and record the weight and dimensions accurately. Poor palletizing is a leading cause of damage claims and reweigh fees, and it is entirely within the shipper's control.
Sending Inventory Straight to Fulfilment Centres
Many online sellers send inventory directly from the supplier or factory to fulfilment centres instead of routing it through their own warehouse first. That can save a handling step and shorten the time to market, but it also means the freight must meet each fulfilment network's rules from the start.
Consolidating inbound shipments into full or near-full truckloads before they reach the fulfilment centre often lowers cost per unit. We can help you work out whether consolidation, direct delivery, or a mix suits your volumes.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets before FTL is cheaper than LTL?
There is no fixed number, but many shippers find that around six to ten pallets, or heavy or bulky freight, makes a dedicated truck competitive. It depends on the lane.
Can I ship to Amazon fulfilment centres by LTL?
Often yes, but you need to follow their labelling, appointment, and pallet rules. Tell us before booking so the driver has the right details.
Why do I get reweigh or reclass charges?
Carriers measure freight at terminals. If the declared weight, dimensions, or class do not match, you can be charged the difference.
Is FTL faster than LTL?
Usually yes. A dedicated truck goes directly from pickup to delivery without terminal stops.
Do you offer same-day pickup in the GTA?
Yes, subject to availability. Book before mid-morning for the best chance of a same-day pickup.