FTL or LTL: which to choose for your cargo
Two basic ways to move cargo by truck — a whole vehicle (FTL) or as part of a groupage load (LTL). The difference is in price, timing and risk.
Choosing correctly between FTL and LTL directly affects delivery cost and speed. Let's unpack what these abbreviations mean and when each is more advantageous.
What FTL is
FTL (Full Truck Load) is a whole truck dedicated to your cargo. The truck runs directly from sender to consignee with no transhipment or extra stops. It is faster, safer for the cargo and justified when the cargo fills most of the body or needs a specific temperature mode.
What LTL is
LTL (Less than Truck Load) is groupage: one truck carries consignments from several senders, and the cost is split in proportion to the volume or weight used. This is cost-effective for small consignments — from a single pallet — when paying for a whole truck makes no sense.
How to choose
Go by volume and urgency. If the cargo takes more than half the body, is sensitive to transhipment or needs a precise deadline — choose FTL. If the consignment is small and timing is flexible — LTL saves money. In borderline cases we calculate both and propose the optimal one.
Not sure what fits your cargo? Describe the route and volume — we'll calculate FTL and LTL and advise the better option.