Where this applies
A planning framework across LTL, FTL, ocean, air and parcel. Rail and intermodal may also be relevant, but are outside the five detailed mode guides in this edition.
Gather first
- Packed weight, dimensions, quantity and cargo restrictions
- Ready date, receiving hours and latest usable arrival
- Equivalent door-to-door quotes, including exclusions and validity
A repeatable method
Filter infeasible options first
Check cargo acceptance, handling, geographic coverage and the delivery commitment. A parcel product has carrier-specific size and weight limits. A truck or container must satisfy actual loading constraints, not only a nominal volume.
Compare the whole journey
Write a timeline from cargo ready through pickup, terminals, main carriage, clearance, final delivery and receiving. Distinguish a scheduled departure from a guaranteed arrival. Identify who owns each handoff.
Price the service difference
Add the legs missing from each quote. Compare accessorials, time-related costs and inventory implications separately. Model delay scenarios without assuming every late shipment causes the same business loss.
Use the smallest justified expedite
When only some units are urgent, compare splitting the urgent quantity from the replenishment balance. Add the extra handling and administration before deciding. Confirm both shipments can still meet their separate commitments.
Split an urgent quantity instead of expediting everything
Assumptions: Illustrative planning quotes in USD: 1,000 units total; 200 needed urgently; slower service meets the remaining requirement. Costs below are assumed all-in transport and handling; no duties or taxes.
- Expedite all 1,000 units: $3,200.
- Split plan: urgent 200 units $900 + balance 800 units $1,400 + extra handling $150 = $2,450.
- Transport difference = $3,200 − $2,450 = $750.
What this means: The split plan is only feasible if the 200 units cover the urgent demand and the balance arrives in time. Extra stockout exposure above $750, or an unpriced minimum charge, can erase the modeled advantage.
Common mistakes
- Do not treat port-to-port, airport-to-airport and door-to-door quotes as equivalent.
- Do not infer a delivery promise from an average transit time.
Questions worth asking
Is there a universal pallet threshold for FTL?
No. Weight, usable floor space, stacking, handling, lane pricing and delivery requirements all matter. Request comparable quotes for the actual load.
Where do I start if the dimensions are unknown?
Measure the packed shipment first. A comparison based on product dimensions without packaging can be misleading.
Sources, dates and limits
The linked primary sources support the specific concepts described below. The examples and decision checklists are original illustrative analysis, not figures supplied or endorsed by these organizations. A check date is not a claim that a rule, price or contract will remain unchanged.
- IATA: Air Cargo Tariffs and Rules, What You Need to Know
Published 2021-07-27 · Checked 2026-11-05
Air-cargo chargeable weight and the scope of airport transport charges. Historical explanatory material, not a current quote or universal divisor.
- NMFTA: Calculating Density Best Practices
Updated 2026-10-21 · Checked 2026-11-05
Density depends on the shipment as tendered. This FAQ is not a substitute for the applicable NMFC item or carrier contract.
Use the current source, your actual shipment documents and qualified advice where needed. This guide does not book freight, settle a dispute or determine a legal obligation.