Deciding between FTL (Full Truck Load) and LTL (Less than Truck Load) is one of the most important choices in freight planning. Each option serves a distinct purpose, and the right call depends on consignment size, transit-time requirements and budget.
What is FTL?
With a full truck load, an entire vehicle is reserved exclusively for your consignment. The goods travel directly from collection to delivery point, with no cross-docking, interim storage or consolidation with other freight.
FTL works best for:
- Consignments of roughly 10 pallets or more, or above 5,000 kg
- Time-critical production supply where every hour counts
- Fragile or sensitive goods that must avoid additional handling
- Direct point-to-point moves with fixed delivery windows
What is LTL?
With groupage or part-load services (LTL), your shipment shares vehicle space with other freight. This lowers the cost per consignment because you only pay for the loading metres you actually use.
LTL works best for:
- Shipments of between 1 and 10 pallets
- Regular part-load deliveries on recurring routes
- Trade goods and distribution logistics
- Cost-conscious transport where transit time is flexible
Making the decision: FTL or LTL?
Three factors determine the answer: consignment size (FTL typically becomes economical from around 10 pallets), transit-time requirements (FTL is faster because it runs direct, without cross-docking) and budget (LTL is more cost-effective per pallet for smaller volumes).
At Spedition WND GmbH we are happy to advise you on the best transport solution. Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right option.