Freight glossary
LTL vs FTL
LTL (less-than-truckload) shares a truck with other freight; FTL (full truckload) is a whole truck for your shipment.
LTL is for freight too big for parcel but too small to fill a trailer — you pay for the space and weight you use, and the truck carries several shippers' loads. FTL dedicates the whole trailer to you, with no shared stops.
LTL is cheaper for smaller palletized loads; FTL is faster and lower-risk (fewer handoffs) once you have enough pallets to justify a full trailer, usually around 10+.
Why it matters
The right choice balances cost against speed and handling. LTL saves money; FTL reduces transit time and damage risk.
Example
Two pallets from Toronto to Montréal ship LTL; a full 24-pallet load ships FTL.
Related terms
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