Every shipper eventually faces this question: should I book a full truckload or send my freight LTL? The answer depends on more than just how much freight you have. Transit time, damage risk, cost per pound, and even your warehouse operations all factor in. This guide walks through each mode in detail so you can make the right call for every shipment.
What Is Full Truckload (FTL) Shipping?
FTL means your freight is the only freight on the trailer. You are paying for the entire truck, whether you fill it completely or not. Standard FTL trailers are 53 feet long with roughly 2,500 cubic feet of space and a weight capacity of 44,000–45,000 pounds.
FTL shipments move directly from your dock to the consignee's dock. The trailer is sealed at pickup and (ideally) not opened until delivery. This point-to-point movement means faster transit times and dramatically lower handling, which translates to less damage risk.
What Is Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Shipping?
LTL combines freight from multiple shippers onto a single trailer. You pay only for the space your freight occupies, measured by weight, dimensions, and freight class. LTL is the standard mode when you are shipping between 150 pounds and roughly 10,000–12,000 pounds (though the practical upper limit depends on density and the carrier).
LTL freight moves through a hub-and-spoke network. Your freight is picked up, taken to a local terminal, consolidated with other freight, moved to a destination terminal (possibly through an intermediate terminal), deconsolidated, and delivered. Each touchpoint adds time and handling.
Cost Comparison
The per-pound cost of FTL is almost always lower than LTL. However, FTL has a higher minimum cost because you are paying for the whole truck. Here is how costs typically compare:
- FTL: $1.50 – $3.50 per mile (total cost for entire trailer). For a 40,000 lb load moving 800 miles at $2.00/mi, total cost is ~$1,600 — or $0.04 per pound.
- LTL: Pricing varies wildly by class, but a 2,000 lb, class 85 shipment moving 800 miles might cost $600 – $1,100. That is $0.30 – $0.55 per pound — roughly 8–14x the per-pound rate of FTL.
The breakeven point where FTL becomes cheaper than LTL typically falls around 8,000–12,000 pounds, depending on freight class and distance. If you are shipping more than 6 pallets or 10,000 pounds, always get both FTL and LTL quotes to compare.
Transit Time Differences
FTL transit is straightforward: a dry van covering 500 miles per day means a 1,500-mile shipment delivers in roughly 3 days (plus pickup and delivery scheduling). LTL transit is longer because of terminal handling. A shipment that would take 2 days FTL might take 4–7 days LTL, depending on the number of terminals it passes through and the carrier's service level.
For time-sensitive freight, FTL's speed advantage is often worth the higher total cost.
Damage Risk
Every time freight is touched, there is a chance for damage. FTL freight is loaded once and unloaded once. LTL freight may be loaded, unloaded, repositioned, and reloaded 4–6 times as it moves through terminals. The result: LTL damage claim rates are significantly higher than FTL.
If your freight is fragile, high-value, or difficult to repackage, FTL's reduced handling is a meaningful advantage even if it costs more on an absolute basis.
Partial Truckload (PTL): The Middle Ground
Partial truckload fills the gap between LTL and FTL. PTL typically covers shipments between 5,000 and 35,000 pounds that do not fill a full trailer. The carrier consolidates your partial load with one or two other partials going in the same direction.
PTL offers several advantages: fewer handling touchpoints than LTL (often loaded at origin and not touched until delivery), transit times closer to FTL, and pricing that can be 20% – 40% less than FTL for lighter loads. Not all carriers offer PTL, so ask your broker about this option.
Decision Framework: When to Use Each Mode
Use FTL when:
- Your shipment weighs more than 10,000 lbs or fills more than half a trailer
- Transit time is critical (production schedules, customer deadlines)
- Freight is fragile, high-value, or difficult to palletize for LTL handling
- You need temperature control (reefer FTL is more reliable than reefer LTL)
- You want to avoid terminal handling and reduce damage risk
Use LTL when:
- Your shipment weighs under 8,000 lbs and fits on a few pallets
- Transit time flexibility of 4–7 days is acceptable
- Freight is durable, well-packaged, and can handle terminal handling
- You ship small volumes frequently (LTL carriers pick up daily in most metro areas)
- Budget is the primary concern and damage risk is low
Not sure which mode fits your next shipment? Request a quote with your shipment details and we will recommend the best option.
How a Freight Broker Helps You Choose
A broker with access to both FTL carriers and LTL networks can quote both modes side by side for the same shipment, giving you an apples-to-apples comparison. They can also identify PTL opportunities and volume consolidation strategies that reduce costs. Learn about our services to see how we help shippers optimize mode selection across their entire freight program.