Fulfillment Wiki

Full Truckload

Full truckload (FTL) is a shipment that uses an entire trailer, usually a 53-foot dry van in the US, moving directly from origin to destination.

Why it matters for ecommerce brands

Full truckload gives a shipment a whole trailer, so it moves faster and with less handling than LTL, often for less per unit once the load is big enough. It is the usual choice for large inbound shipments from a port or factory and for big retail orders. Rates depend mostly on lane, distance, and market conditions, not freight class. For example, a 53-foot dry van holds about 26 standard pallets on the floor. A 14-pallet load may already cost less as FTL than as LTL, so get both quotes.

Origin

Full truckload carriage expanded after 1956, when the Federal-Aid Highway Act signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower funded the Interstate system, and again after the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 freed rates.

Common questions

How many pallets do I need before full truckload beats LTL?
There is no fixed cutoff, but truckload often becomes competitive somewhere around 10 to 12 or more pallets, or when weight approaches LTL volume limits. Get both quotes, since lane, season, and freight density change the break-even point.
What is the difference between full truckload and partial truckload?
A partial truckload, or volume LTL, shares a trailer but usually stays on it from pickup to delivery, without terminal transfers. It fits loads too big for standard LTL that do not fill a truck.
How are full truckload rates priced?
Usually as a rate per mile or a flat rate per load, plus a fuel surcharge. Contract rates are set for a lane over months, while spot rates change with the market.

Laws and regulations