FTL vs LTL — choosing the right mode for your freight

The FTL-or-LTL question comes down to three variables: how much you’re moving, how fast it needs to arrive, and how fragile it is.

Full Truckload (FTL)

You book the whole trailer. Nobody else’s freight rides along, so there are fewer handoffs, faster transit, and less handling risk.

Choose FTL when:

• You have 10+ pallets or roughly 15,000+ lbs.
• The freight is fragile, high-value, or temperature-sensitive.
• The deadline is tight and you can’t absorb extra stops.

Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)

Your freight shares a trailer with other shippers. You pay for the space you use, which is cheaper for smaller loads — at the cost of more handling and a slightly longer transit.

Choose LTL when:

• You’re moving 1–6 pallets.
• Cost matters more than a day of transit time.
• The freight is sturdy and palletized.

The gray zone

Between 6 and 10 pallets, run the numbers both ways. Sometimes a volume LTL rate or a partial truckload beats both. A good broker prices all three and tells you which wins — that’s the whole point of having one.