Trunk Haulage Vs. Long-haul Haulage: Hitting Transportation Pain Points

Faced with a wide range of logistics terms and complex transportation modes, many business owners and e-commerce sellers are often confused: What is trunk haulage? How is it different from long-haul haulage, LTL haulage, first mile, etc.? Logistics transportation methods are not only about cost control, but also directly affect the timeliness of cargo delivery and customer satisfaction.

Trunk haulage and long-haul haulage play a vital role in ensuring that goods arrive at their destination on time and safely. However, many companies are confused between the two terms, unsure of the difference between them and how to choose the most appropriate mode of transportation based on their needs.

What is trunk haulage?

Trunk haulage refers to large-scale, long-distance cargo transportation on major transportation corridors. Line-haulage constitutes the "aorta" in the logistics network, carrying the efficient flow of large quantities of cargo. This type of transportation usually connects key logistics nodes, such as production sites, warehouses, and distribution centers. Trunk haulage is usually carried out by professional carriers and can involve a variety of transportation modes, including trucks, trains, and airplanes, but is usually most closely associated with truck transportation. Its advantage is that it can achieve the rapid transfer of goods from the starting point to the main distribution center, reducing the intermediate links, thereby improving the overall transportation efficiency.

Trunk transport services require clear departure and arrival times. The more calculable the transport quotation is for the demander, the more attractive the scheduled transport business is. Although the route is fixed, the volume and weight of the transported goods may vary, from small documents to heavy pallets.

Advantages of trunk transport

High efficiency

Trunk transport usually adopts efficient transportation methods such as highways, railways or aviation, which can quickly transport goods from one major node to another.

Cost-effectiveness

Due to the use of large-scale transportation methods, line haul can effectively reduce the transportation cost per unit of goods and improve overall transportation efficiency.

Wide network coverage

Trunk transport has a wide coverage range, can adapt to the cargo transportation needs of different regions, connect the national and even global logistics networks, and ensure that goods can reach major markets quickly.

High reliability

Professional trunk transport service providers have rich experience and strong resource scheduling capabilities to reduce the risk of transportation delays and cargo losses.

Operational process of trunk transport

The operational process of trunk transport usually includes order reception and confirmation, cargo tracking, transportation plan formulation, vehicle arrangement and final cargo delivery. The key to this process is to achieve efficient flow and real-time monitoring of goods to ensure that the goods can arrive at the destination on time.

Order reception and planning: Receive cargo information and plan the optimal transportation route and time.

Loading and departure: Complete cargo loading at the designated time and place and start transportation.

Cargo tracking: Use GPS and other technologies to monitor the location of the goods in real time to ensure safety.

Arrival at destination: The goods are delivered to the designated distribution center or the customer's designated location.

Handover and feedback: Complete the handover of goods, collect feedback information, and optimize subsequent services.

The difference between trunk transport and long-distance transport

Although both line haul and long-distance transport involve long-distance transportation, they differ in their operating modes. Long-distance transportation may involve multiple stops, similar to a trip across multiple destinations, while trunk transport focuses more on direct transportation between two points, usually with no or few intermediate stops.

The difference between trunk transport and LTL transport

The main difference between line haul and LTL transport lies in the scale and mode of transport of goods. LTL transport usually refers to the transport of less than one truckload of goods, which is a way to collect small amounts of goods from multiple shippers and transport them in a carpool. LTL transport is more flexible and suitable for small-volume and multi-variety goods.

Trunk transport involves long-distance transport of large quantities of goods. LTL transport is more suitable for small-scale or scattered goods transportation needs.

The difference between line haul and the first mile

The first mile usually refers to the transportation process from the shipping point to the nearest transportation node, which is the starting point of the logistics chain, while trunk transport is a long-distance transportation from the main transportation node to another node, transporting goods from the distribution point to a farther destination. The first mile transportation is often a prelude to line haul, ensuring that the goods can enter the trunk transport network smoothly.

What is overnight trunk transport?

Overnight trunk transport refers to line haul services completed within 24 hours. It can provide customers with fast cargo delivery options and is particularly suitable for urgent cargo transportation. Through efficient logistics organization and scheduling, ensure that goods are transported from the starting point to the destination within one day and delivered the next day. This mode of transportation is particularly important for time-sensitive goods, such as fresh food, electronic products, etc., which can significantly improve customer satisfaction and market competitiveness.

Choose the right transportation solution for your business

Choosing the right transportation method depends on many factors, including the nature of the goods, transportation distance, transportation volume and budget. Here's how to determine the option that best suits your needs:

Evaluate your supply chain needs

Understand the quantity, frequency and urgency of your goods. For bulk goods between hubs, trunk transportation is ideal. For goods with longer distances and varying quantities, consider long-distance transportation.

Consider cost and efficiency

Trunk transportation is cost-effective for large quantities of goods, while long-distance transportation can accommodate the transportation of goods of different sizes and distances.

Understand your delivery schedule

If speed is critical, consider overnight line transportation or long-distance express services.

Work with a reliable logistics provider

Working with a trusted partner such as ChinaDivision can help you make these choices and provide customized solutions that fit your business model.

Choose Chinadivision to make international logistics more worry-free

By choosing the right mode of transportation, companies can optimize supply chain management and improve logistics efficiency. In the face of a complex logistics and transportation environment, it is crucial to choose a professional and reliable logistics service provider. With its rich industry experience, perfect logistics network and efficient service team, Chinadivision can provide you with customized trunk transportation solutions. Whether it is a B2B enterprise or an e-commerce seller, you can find the most suitable logistics solution here. If you have any questions or needs about logistics and transportation, please feel free to contact us. Let us work together to create a smoother and more efficient logistics future!