What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship Freight in 2025? 5 Proven Options from Freight Experts

If you're wondering what's the cheapest way to ship freight in 2025, you're not alone. At Advanced International Freight, we help eCommerce brands, manufacturers, and importers reduce freight costs without compromising delivery speed or reliability. After managing thousands of shipments across the U.S. and globally, here are the top 5 most cost-effective freight shipping methods you should consider in today’s economy.

Is LTL Shipping the Cheapest Option for Small to Mid-Size Freight?

Yes, when Used Strategically. One of the easiest ways to cut shipping costs is to move away from paying for unused space. LTL shipping is ideal for businesses that regularly ship between 150 lbs and 15,000 lbs—too much for parcel, too little for a full truckload.

Rather than booking an entire trailer, you share truck space with other shipments going in the same direction. Your cost is calculated based on factors such as weight, freight class, distance, and dimensions.

Why LTL saves money:

• You only pay for the space you use.

• LTL is ideal for 150–15,000 lb shipments.

• No need to book a full truck for partial freight.

Advanced International Freight consolidates LTL shipments for clients and negotiates volume-based discounts through our carrier relationships. If you ship regularly, bundling LTL into a managed program can save 15–30% annually over ad-hoc bookings.

Can You Save Money by Avoiding Expedited Freight?

One of the most expensive mistakes we see businesses make is relying too often on rush or expedited shipping. Too often, businesses pay a premium for air freight or same-day service simply because they didn’t plan in advance. While fast delivery has its place, relying on expedited shipping as a safety net is a major cost driver.

How to avoid high-speed freight costs:

• Build a rolling forecast to anticipate high-volume windows.

• Reposition inventory closer to customer zones.

• Give yourself margin for error with longer lead times.

Advanced International Freight helps eCommerce and wholesale clients develop delivery calendars and predictive models that reduce the need for costly last-minute shipments.

Is Intermodal Freight a Cheaper Alternative to Long-Haul Trucking?

For many, yes! Intermodal shipping combines rail and truck transport, making it a smart choice for long-distance freight that isn’t time-sensitive.

When intermodal makes sense:

• For heavy or high-volume shipments traveling over 750+ miles.

• When reducing emissions is also a business priority.

• When slower delivery is acceptable for a lower cost.

Rail moves the load most of the way, with trucks handling the pickup and delivery. In our experience, clients have saved up to 30% per shipment by switching to intermodal on key cross-country lanes.

Can Cross-Docking and Transloading Reduce Warehouse and Delivery Costs?

Many businesses pay unnecessary storage fees or suffer delays due to inefficient warehouse handling. Cross-docking and transloading eliminate or reduce those costs by moving freight directly from one mode of transportation to the next.

How we implement this:

• Inbound ocean containers or truckloads are unloaded and sorted.

• Goods are immediately reloaded for outbound final delivery—no storage.

• Transloading also enables product consolidation for better delivery efficiency.

At Advanced International Freight, we operate transload and cross dock hubs near all major U.S. ports, helping clients cut warehouse overhead, speed up deliveries, and avoid detention fees.

How Can a Freight Forwarder Save You the Most Money?

Through volume discounts, fewer errors, and smarter routing. Freight mistakes like using the wrong class, booking the wrong service level, or failing to document shipments properly can be costly. And without negotiation leverage, small businesses often pay published rates that are 20–40% higher than what’s achievable through an experienced 3PL.

Working with an experienced freight partner like Advanced International Freight gives your business access to:

• Negotiated carrier rates (often 20–40% below retail pricing).

• Accurate freight classification, preventing costly reweighs and re-bills.

• Route optimization across air, ocean, truckload, LTL, and rail.

• Customs clearance and compliance support for international freight.

We’ve seen clients lose thousands annually due to simple freight errors. With our managed freight services, they gain not only cost savings but also greater shipping reliability and peace of mind.

Final Takeaway

The cheapest way to ship freight in 2025 isn’t one-size-fits-all. It's about matching your shipment size, urgency, and route with the most cost-effective solution—and ensuring your operations are aligned to support it. From LTL and intermodal to proactive planning and logistics strategy, there are real savings to be found at every stage of the supply chain.

Looking to cut costs without compromising performance? Let Advanced International Freight build a custom freight solution for your business today.