Your FTL Freight Guide for Fast, Efficient Freight Shipping

$432 billion: That’s the estimated 2024 market size for United States full truckload (FTL) services.

The sheer size of that number should give you a sense of the critical role FTL service plays in moving freight around the U.S. And when you compare it to the size of the less-than-truckload (LTL) market at $109 billion, the key role of FTL freight service becomes even clearer.

If you’re currently shipping freight FTL—or you’re considering it—we’ll show you everything you need to know for fast, efficient cargo movement. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of FTL and show you how it stacks up to LTL. We’ll also show you how working with a broker for your FTL freight needs can offer you significant advantages.

What Is FTL Freight Service?

FTL stands for full truckload freight service, in which a shipper hires an entire, dedicated truck to move their cargo. The shipment doesn’t necessarily have to take up all the room in the trailer. However, no shipments from other shippers will be loaded in the truck. Additionally, the only stops made will be for the shipper who reserved the truck.

In contrast, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight service offers multiple shippers the opportunity to “share” space in a trailer. When moving LTL freight, the driver makes multiple stops along the way to drop off and pick up other shipments.

Ultimately, both FTL and LTL come with pros and cons. We’ll go through those next so you can decide which one is right for your business.

What Are the Pros and Cons of FTL?

Building the right freight plan starts with understanding the advantages and disadvantages of FTL freight service. It also means understanding how LTL compares, which will help you choose between FTL and LTL service. 

Let’s take a look at what kinds of loads are well-suited for FTL and when you might want to look to the alternative—LTL. 

Pros of FTL Freight

• Cost Efficiencies: FTL offers economies of scale for large loads. This can reduce your landed cost—as long as you have a shipment big enough to make the math work in your favor.  

• Reliable, Faster Timelines: Since your shipment is the only one on the truck—and the only stops the truck makes will be for you—FTL timelines are more predictable. They can also move freight significantly faster. If you need to make a specific delivery window with a fulfillment partner—or you’re under a time crunch—FTL will be a better choice for your shipment. 

• Minimal Handling: FTL shipments are generally loaded once at the origin point and unloaded once at the final destination, with the load largely untouched in between. This reduces handling and risk of damage. It can also offer shippers an added sense of security. 

Cons of FTL Freight

• Absolute Cost: Although FTL shipments can create economies of scale, an FTL shipment will usually cost more than an LTL shipment on an absolute basis. This leads many businesses to choose LTL.   

• Lack of Flexibility: When you select FTL service, you’re stuck paying for the entire trailer, whether you fill it or not. LTL offers you a little more flexibility in this regard.  

• Sustainability: Some consider LTL freight a more sustainable solution since it essentially “carpools” with other freight. However, when you’re moving a trailer full of freight, FTL might be the more environmentally friendly solution. (More on this below!) 

Let’s take a closer look at these downsides so you can better understand them—and develop strategies to mitigate them, where possible.

Understanding & Approaching the Key Challenges of FTL Freight Shipping

FTL service comes with a few inherent challenges. If you’re new to FTL shipping—or you’re looking at ways to optimize your freight movement—we’ll explore those downsides below, along with some tips from our experts to help you overcome them effectively.

The Cost of FTL Service

For smaller loads, FTL service can be cost-prohibitive, especially on lower-margin cargo.

However, once you reach a certain level, FTL service becomes more cost-effective per unit or per pound shipped. If you’re shipping a significant volume of freight on a relatively consistent basis, FTL will be your best bet for lowering your freight costs and whittling down your landed cost to improve profits.

Additionally, don’t discount the difference in timing with FTL service. Choosing FTL can mean getting your freight in the hands of your customers faster, often by a few days, reducing your carrying costs.

Freight Tip from the Experts: If you’re shipping a load larger than six pallets or approaching 5,000 lbs., it pays to ask your freight broker or freight forwarder to run the numbers—and the timelines—for both FTL and LTL service. With both scenarios laid out, you’ll be able to make a confident choice.

Lack of Flexibility with FTL Shipping

If your shipping volume fluctuates frequently, FTL may not be the right choice for your business. After all, booking an FTL shipment means committing to paying for the entire truck, whether or not you need all the space.

Instead, LTL offers an easier way to scale up or scale down as needed. If you’re just getting started—or your needs change from week to week—LTL will likely be a better bet.

However, if you move a significant volume of freight on a regular basis, what FTL lacks in flexibility, it can more than make up for it in cost savings.

Freight Tip from the Experts: If you’re shipping a load larger than six pallets or approaching 5,000 lbs., it pays to ask your freight broker or freight forwarder to run the numbers—and the timelines—for both FTL and LTL service. With both scenarios laid out, you’ll be able to make a confident choice.

Questions About Sustainability

Sustainability has become a hot-button issue in the transportation and logistics sector. If lightening your environmental footprint is a priority within your organization, it makes sense to examine the impact of FTL.

As we mentioned earlier, LTL often gets kudos in this category since it’s similar to a carpooling situation. If a shipper is only sending a few pallets FTL, then, yes, LTL would be the more environmentally friendly solution.

However, FTL shipments take a direct route to their destination, with no diversions for other shippers’ freight. A truck driving a full trailer of FTL freight might release fewer carbon dioxide emissions as compared to a truck delivering a similar volume of LTL shipments.

In summary, the actual environmental impact of your shipment depends on several factors, not just whether it ships FTL or LTL.

Freight Tip from the Experts: If you’re shipping a load larger than six pallets or approaching 5,000 lbs., it pays to ask your freight broker or freight forwarder to run the numbers—and the timelines—for both FTL and LTL service. With both scenarios laid out, you’ll be able to make a confident choice.

Finally, as you navigate the FTL landscape, consider a partner who can help simplify your options, negotiate better pricing, and add expert insights to your freight processes—a freight broker.

Why Partner with a Freight Broker for Your FTL Freight Shipments

Working with a freight broker can offer you greater flexibility, better pricing, and improved ease when moving FTL freight.  

More specifically, when you find the right freight broker, you’ll enjoy: 

Access to a Trusted, Pre-Vetted Network

Freight brokers dedicate considerable time to building relationships with various carriers. They become well-acquainted with each, sparing you the effort of vetting and evaluating each potential partner. When you work with a broker for your FTL freight needs, you’ll gain instant access to a comprehensive network of trusted and reliable partners. 

One Phone Call, Multiple Quotes

Instead of contacting multiple carriers to find one with available capacity, you can make a single call to a freight broker. Your broker will reach out to their trusted partners, identify carriers with availability, and gather quotes. This approach will save you time—and give you a solid understanding of the going rate for your shipment.

More Competitive Pricing

In some industries, the best pricing comes from going directly to the companies you’ll be working with. For many FTL shipments, the opposite is true, for two reasons:  

• By quoting your shipment across multiple carriers, a freight broker can collect several quotes to locate the best price for you. 

• Additionally, some brokers do a high volume of business with specific carriers. This can give them access to negotiated rates more favorable than what you might get by going direct. 

Excellent Communication

Freight brokers serve as intermediaries between shippers and carriers. The best brokers take this role seriously, dedicating significant effort to keeping shippers informed about their freight’s progress. If an issue arises, good freight brokers excel at finding solutions, aiming to build strong partnerships with the shippers they serve. 

Expert Insights and Answers

Partnering with a freight broker means having a knowledgeable expert on your side who thoroughly understands FTL shipping. If any challenges arise—or you have any questions—you can turn to them for assistance.  

Moreover, a good freight broker can add value where future planning is concerned, assisting you in estimating costs and schedules to ensure your business runs smoothly. If your freight broker has industry-specific experience, that’s even better. 

In short, a freight broker can help save you time, effort, and money when moving FTL freight. It’s worth taking the time to establish a partnership with one you can trust. 

Making FTL Freight Service Work for Your Business

Shipping FTL doesn’t make sense for every business—or for every load. However, once you understand how and when to use FTL freight service, you’ll unlock its benefits, including faster timelines and cost efficiencies.

Looking for assistance with your next FTL shipment? Our experts have access to a robust network of over-the-road carriers to move your cargo anywhere in North America. Get started today with a complimentary quote for your next FTL shipment.