LTL vs FTL Road Freight: Which Suits You? •
International road freight comes down to two basic options: part load (LTL, also called groupage) and full truck load (FTL). The right choice depends on the size, urgency and sensitivity of your cargo.
What is FTL?
FTL (Full Truck Load) means you reserve the whole truck for your cargo alone. Once loaded, the truck usually goes directly to the destination. A standard 13.6-metre trailer takes approximately 33 standard Euro pallets and carries roughly 24 tonnes; these figures vary with the vehicle type and country.
What is LTL?
With LTL (Less than Truck Load), or part load, your cargo travels on the same truck as other shippers’ cargo. It may be collected at a hub and transferred to other vehicles. Pricing is usually based on the number of pallets, loading metres (LDM) or weight. A loading metre is one metre of the trailer’s loading length. Forwarders may convert loading metres to weight with their own factors, so ask how the price is calculated.
Comparison
| Topic | FTL | LTL |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Flat rate per truck | Per pallet, LDM or weight |
| Cost for small shipments | High | Usually lower |
| Cost for large shipments | Unit cost falls | Unit cost rises; beyond a point FTL can be cheaper |
| Transit time | Usually shorter and direct | Usually longer and more variable |
| Handling | Little | May involve transfers and reloading |
| Risk of damage | Lower | Higher |
| Flexibility | Loading time is easier to plan | Tied to collection and distribution schedules |
| Cargo limits | Vehicle capacity | Pallet size and weight limits |
Which should you choose?
- If your cargo is close to the truck’s capacity, FTL is usually both faster and more economical.
- If you ship a few pallets, LTL is usually cheaper.
- For urgent, valuable or fragile cargo, FTL means less handling.
- For mid-sized shipments, ask for both FTL and LTL quotes; the total cost can switch from one to the other.
When you request a quote
State the number of pallets, their dimensions, weight and whether they can be stacked: cargo that cannot be stacked takes more space and affects the price. If you need a special vehicle (refrigerated, open-sided, ADR), say so. On the Turkey–Europe lane, road transit documents and permit systems can affect price and availability; see Road freight from Turkey to Europe. For the overall process, read How to get a freight quote when exporting from Turkey. For a similar choice at sea, see FCL vs LCL.
Describe your shipment now: tell us about your cargo and compare forwarder quotations in your dashboard.
This article is general information and does not replace customs or legal advice.