LTL: transporting partial loads by truck

If you need to transport smaller quantities by road, LTL (Less than Truckload) shipping is the customized transport solution for you. With the help of efficient route planning, the loading area is used optimally. 

Rhenus truck on the road

LTL-Transport – in Germany and Europe

Fast transportation for small quantities: The consolidated shipments are transported directly to their respective recipients in LTL shipments without intermediate storage at the Rhenus hub. This not only allows you to remain flexible in terms of transport volumes. Almost all types of goods can be transported as part loads by truck – regardless of weight, dimensions or special requirements. Tens of thousands of kilometers of road networks in Germany and Europe alone, combined with efficient route planning, offer almost limitless possibilities in logistics.

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Your Benefits with less than truck load

You only pay for the cargo space you actually use, sharing not only the truck but also the transport costs.

Suitable options can be configured for every frequency and shipment volume.

Thanks to the high flexibility of LTL shipments, you can react quickly and specifically to increasing demand.

Since you are not solely responsible for capacity utilization, partial loads can be shipped efficiently and quickly.

LTL shipping is particularly environmentally friendly and resource-efficient for partial quantities, since the loading capacity can be fully utilized here.

Why choose Rhenus as your partner for LTL

  • Reliable and fast: Thanks to our national and international logistics network, we can guarantee fast and reliable deliveries. In addition, our trucks are on the road every day. 
  • Customized: From advice on customs clearance to transportation, we offer you customized solutions for your freight. This way, we provide you with space for your partial load and offer a high degree of flexibility for your individual  requirements. 
  • Digital information: With our tracking solutions, you can track your shipment every step of the way. Other online tools enable electronic invoicing and ensure transparency by facilitating communication between all parties   involved. 
  • Convenient ordering: You can order your transport with just a few clicks via our web portal. When you order online, you also benefit from automated address checking, practical templates and proof of delivery.
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Our solutions for smooth LTL transportation

We work with you to develop customized transportation solutions for your partial loads. Our experts are happy to advise you!

Further services for your part loads

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Customs services

From customs clearance to customs advice and customs-related services: Thanks to our many years of expertise in customs clearance, we can take care of your customs formalities quickly and reliably. You can find out more about our customs services in the FAQ section. 

A worker in a high-visibility vest inspecting blue barrels stacked on pallets inside a loading dock area, with industrial surroundings.

Hazardous goods

Thanks to our own hazardous goods officers at our German and international branches, we can guarantee a particularly high quality standard for the transportation of your hazardous goods. This has also been verified with the help of the SQAS (Safety & Quality Assessment for Sustainability) evaluation system. Our services include hazardous goods (ADR) and temperature-controlled transportation.

Control panels displaying -22°C temperature settings on a black corrugated wall

Temperature-controlled transport

The Rhenus Group's temperature-controlled vehicles have advantages such as interchangeable thermal containers with air conditioning, refrigeration and heating using a diesel engine or electricity and the technology to record and monitor temperatures to maintain constant temperatures. This means that we specialize in the transport of goods such as chemicals, pharmaceutical products, paints, varnishes, adhesives and foils.

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Transport insurance

To avoid incurring costs due to damage or loss, transport insurance is helpful. This insures you beyond the legally regulated liability of freight forwarders. Our insurance partner will create a customized insurance policy for you. We will be happy to put you in touch.

Rhenus Truck getting filled at a warehouse

Express delivery

If your freight is particularly time-critical, you can benefit from our extensive options for express delivery. Depending on the delivery location and route, you can choose between various delivery options.

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Digital services

From digital invoicing to web orders and transport cost calculators – a wide range of digital services reduces processing times and increases transparency.

Frequently asked questions

A less-than-truckload shipment is when a single load doesn't fill the full capacity of the truck bed. 

LTL shipping consolidates multiple less-than-truckload shipments, making it the best choice when you have smaller quantities to ship.

The price for LTL shipping is based largely on the distance traveled and the shipment quantity. Other factors, such as express delivery, also influence the price. 
What are the advantages of LTL shipping compared to full truckload (FTL) shipping? 
If the freight does not fill an entire truck bed, LTL transport is the most cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly choice. You save costs because you only pay for the space you use. Since the truck is still completely filled, the transport of partial loads is particularly environmentally friendly and conserves resources. Since the goods do not have to be stored temporarily, but rather the loading of the various shipments is taken into account one after the other when planning the route, the truck arrives at its destination particularly quickly. 

If the freight does not fill an entire truck bed, LTL transport is the most cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly choice. You save costs because you only pay for the space you use. Since the truck is still completely filled, the transport of partial loads is particularly environmentally friendly and conserves resources. Since the goods do not have to be stored temporarily, but rather the loading of the various shipments is taken into account one after the other when planning the route, the truck arrives at its destination particularly quickly.

If you are sending shipments abroad, our trained specialists are on hand to help and take care of the necessary formalities and preparations. For example, we offer customs clearance for import, export and transit goods. We also provide support for triangular transactions, inward processing, TIR carnets and ATA carnets. In terms of taxation, we offer fiscal representation, Intrastat and tax support. Your shipment is in good hands in our intermediate storage facilities, authorized bonded warehouses for export freight or public bonded warehouses. We also provide support throughout the entire AEO authorization process and advise you on exempted sales. AEO certification makes us an “Authorized Economic Operator.” This means we are considered particularly secure and reliable. For you, this means easier access to customs simplifications and fewer inspections of goods and documents. 

The Rhenus partner portal for freight forwarders

Partnership rhe-loaded

A RHE-X partnership offers various types of collaboration. You choose the ones that suit you best. Being a permanent RHE-X partner gives you the security to accurately plan the utilization of your fleet.

Visit rhe-x.com