FTL vs. LTL Trucking: What Type of Shipping is Right for You?

FTL vs. LTL Trucking:

What Type of Shipping is Right for You?

What Type of Shipping is Right for You?

If you’re in the market for shipping services, you may have come across the terms “FTL” and “LTL.” But what do they mean? And which one is right for your business?

First, let’s define the two terms. FTL stands for “full truckload,” while LTL stands for “less than truckload.” As you may have guessed, FTL shipping is when a full truckload of goods is transported from one location to another. Conversely, LTL shipping involves transporting smaller quantities of goods, which are packed into a shared trailer or container with other items.

So what are the benefits of each?


FTL refers to full truckload freight. FTL shipping is commonly used for large shipments that require taking up the entire truck, or at least close to it. With FTL, your freight is the only freight moving on an individual truck so you have exclusivity to the entire truck and theoretically are filling the truckload. You can reserve the truck with its full capacity even if you don’t require filling up the entire available space. Doing so would ensure that you won’t have to worry about your goods changing hands at any time or your goods being stuck with other products. Because the entire truck is dedicated to your shipment, you can be sure that your items will arrive on time and in perfect condition. 

If you are shipping more than six pallets at a time, then the full truckload option is going to be best for you. If your product is fragile and you need to avoid excessive loading and unloading by multiple carriers, the full truckload option is going to be best for you because you know that your fragile products are the only items within that truck. 

LTL shipping is a great option for businesses that need to ship smaller quantities of goods typically 6 pallets or less, although that is not hard and fast rule. Because the cost of shipping is spread out among all of the items being transported, it can be more affordable than FTL shipping. LTL rates often vary more significantly, even if the mixed commodities move in the same lane with the same number of pallets. All LTL carriers use the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s freight classification system to categorize commodities by attempting to account for their density, value, handling characteristics, and stowability.

Timing of pickup and delivery will vary with FTL and LTL. You usually will get a firm pick up time since the entire truck is your load. Whereas with LTL, the schedule can often vary since they are pickup up multiple loads. This can cause delays in your pick up window and ultimate final delivery. Flexibility is key when considering LTL.

So which type of trucking is right for you? That depends on the size and scope of your business. The key factors to keep in mind can be cost variations and pickup and delivery variations. If you’re looking to move large quantities of goods quickly and efficiently, then FTL is probably the best option. If you’re looking for more flexibility and affordability, then LTL is a better choice.

If you have questions about moving your freight, reach out to us as we’re a full service transportation company and can provide both FTL and LTL options and we’ll help you pick the option that is best for you and your cargo!