All about FTL Shipments

FTL stands for full truckload, or a truckload – usually a dry van or reefer – with a specific shipment from one shipper to one destination. The alternative is LTL, or less than truckload, which is a truckload with multiple shipments from multiple shippers to multiple locations.

While there is no hard rule, you usually want to look at FTL shipments if you are transporting ten or more pallets or more than 7,000 kg. The choice between FTL shipping and LTL shipping is determined by four factors: speed, security, performance and cost.

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Transport types

Cargors supports standard, temperature controlled and ADR. Via Cargors it is very easy to request and manage FTL shipment. Get quotes directly from carriers with no markup from brokers.

ADR
VALIDATED CARRIERS
NO CONTRACTS
FTL SAVES TIME
FTL SAVES COSTS

When is FTL shipping a good fit?

FTL shipping is faster than LTL shipping

Full truckloads are the best choice for time-sensitive shipments, so much so that it is often the default choice in time-sensitive situations. With FTL transportation, your shipment travels only from point A to point B on the most efficient route. With LTL, your shipment may travel to points C, D and E to drop off other shipments before finally arriving at point B.

With FTL shipping you have less risk on damages

If security is an important factor, FTL shipping is a better fit for you than LTL shipping. With that route from point A to point B, only people directly involved with your shipment will touch your shipment. When using LTL shipping, your shipment may be driven on and off the truck several times, and sometimes moved between different trucks. In FTL shipping, fewer stops with fewer people means fewer hands on your shipment, resulting in less risk of damaged or missing items.

With FTL shipping you have a lower risk on delays

With fewer stops and less risk, there are also fewer chances for delays in FTL shipments. By eliminating the risk of unexpected delays, your on-time pickup (OTP) and on-time delivery (OTD) performance will naturally improve.

FTL shipping is more costs efficient for larger shipments

Finally, the larger the shipment (in terms of size or weight), the more cost-effective FTL carriers become. All other things being equal, an FTL shipment will be cheaper than the same shipment split into smaller LTL shipments. In short, if you have enough freight to form a full or nearly full truckload, it is probably more cost-effective to ship FTL.

When is FTL shipping not suitable?

For small shipments FTL shipping might not be the best solution

For smaller loads with less than 10 pallets or less than 7,000 kg of freight, you may find LTL to be the more economical option.

If your shipment falls within the range of dimensions and weight that can go either FTL or LTL, you should evaluate the shipment based on time sensitivity and the capacity of your carriers.

And if you have enough time for your shipment, you probably won’t experience the greater disadvantages of LTL shipments.

Inefficient FTL shipping leads to higher CO2 emissions

On average, about 50% of trucks drive empty. Inefficient FTL loading is one of the main reasons. Shippers often reserve the entire truckload when it is not needed and end up paying more than in the case of LTL shipments. Ultimately, this causes a lot of unnecessary CO2 emissions which can be easily prevented.

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Frequently asked questions

Getting started with Cargors is very easy. The whole process includes the following steps:

  1. Sign up on our mobile app or on the web panel
  2. After sign up Cargors will validate and activate your account
  3. After activation you can login and get started

If this is not clear then please contact us and we will be happy to guide you.

Validation is done by a Cargors employee to safeguard overall quality.

No, Cargors only supports shipments for companies, both B2B and B2C.

We support regional, national and international transport in Europe. See all shipping destinations.

Yes, Cargors is completely free to use. There are no registration or monthly subscription fees.

Standard (dry), temperature controlled and ADR.

Invoices can be paid with Credit Card, Ideal or Bancontact or SEPA (direct bank transfer). For a complete overview go to the invoices screen in your account and see which invoices are still open. All invoices have to be paid within 21 days.