FTL freight, full truckload, is the shipping of cargo that fills an entire trailer. Your freight is the only freight on the truck. It goes from your facility directly to the destination without stops, transfers, or terminal handling. One truck, one load, one destination.
For shippers who have enough volume to fill a trailer, or enough value that they want dedicated space regardless of volume, FTL is the fastest, most secure, and most predictable way to move freight over the road.
How FTL freight works
You book a truck. The carrier sends a trailer to your facility at the scheduled pickup time. Your team loads the freight. The driver seals the trailer and drives directly to the delivery location. The freight is unloaded. The move is complete.
There are no terminal stops. No transfers between trucks. No other shippers' freight mixed with yours. The trailer is sealed at origin and opened at destination, period. This eliminates the handling damage, delays, and tracking complexity that can occur with LTL shipments that move through multiple terminals.
When to use FTL
Your freight fills or nearly fills a trailer. A standard dry van holds approximately 44,000-45,000 lbs or 2,400 cubic feet. If your shipment approaches either threshold, FTL is more cost-effective than LTL because you're paying for the whole truck anyway.
Your freight is time-sensitive. FTL moves direct, no terminal stops, no waiting for other freight to be consolidated. Transit times are shorter and more predictable than LTL.
Your freight is high-value or fragile. With FTL, your freight isn't handled at intermediate terminals. It's loaded once and unloaded once. Less handling means less damage risk.
Your freight is hazardous. Hazmat shipments often require dedicated trailers by regulation. FTL provides that dedicated space with a driver who has the appropriate hazmat endorsements.
Your freight has special equipment needs. Flatbed, reefer, tanker, step-deck, specialized equipment is almost always booked as FTL.
FTL equipment types
Dry van. The standard enclosed trailer, 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, approximately 9 feet interior height. Used for the majority of general freight.
Refrigerated (reefer). Temperature-controlled trailers for perishable and temperature-sensitive freight. Available in a range of temperature settings from frozen to controlled ambient.
Flatbed. Open trailers for oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped freight that can't fit in an enclosed trailer. Includes standard flatbed, step-deck, and double-drop configurations.
Tanker. Liquid bulk trailers for chemicals, food-grade liquids, petroleum products, and other liquids. Total Connection's core specialty.
Specialized. Conestoga (rolling tarp systems), curtain-side, lowboy, and other configurations for specific freight types.
How FTL rates are determined
FTL rates are based on lane (origin to destination), distance, equipment type, current market capacity, fuel surcharges, and any accessorial charges. Unlike LTL, FTL rates are not based on freight class or weight, you're paying for the truck, not the freight characteristics.
Market conditions heavily influence FTL rates. When carrier capacity is tight, rates rise. When capacity is loose, rates fall. This is why many shippers use a mix of contract rates (locked in for a period) and spot rates (market price at the time of shipment) to balance cost predictability with market opportunity.
FTL vs LTL: the decision framework
The decision comes down to volume and priority. If your shipment is over 10,000 lbs or more than 10 pallets, FTL is almost always more cost-effective. If your shipment is under 5,000 lbs and time isn't critical, LTL is usually cheaper. The gray zone, 5,000 to 10,000 lbs, is where partial truckload often makes the most sense.
Beyond cost, consider transit time (FTL is faster), damage risk (FTL is lower), tracking simplicity (FTL is simpler), and security (FTL is sealed origin to destination).
How Total Connection handles FTL freight
We book FTL freight across all equipment types, dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker, and specialized, with a network of 30,000+ pre-approved carriers. Every FTL shipment gets carrier screening, rate optimization, real-time tracking, and a dedicated account manager.
Call 732-817-0401 or request a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FTL freight?
Full truckload shipping where your cargo is the only freight on the truck. It moves directly from your facility to the destination with no terminal stops or freight mixing.
When should I use FTL instead of LTL?
When your shipment exceeds 10,000 lbs or 10 pallets, when transit time is critical, when freight is high-value or fragile, when shipping hazmat, or when you need specialized equipment. FTL is typically more cost-effective than LTL for larger shipments.
How much does FTL shipping cost?
Rates depend on lane, distance, equipment type, market capacity, and fuel surcharges. Unlike LTL, FTL isn't based on freight class or weight. Get a quote from Total Connection for your specific lane and equipment needs.
What's the difference between FTL and dedicated trucking?
FTL books individual loads as needed. Dedicated trucking commits a truck and driver to your business on an ongoing basis, running your routes on your schedule. Dedicated makes sense for consistent, high-frequency shipping programs.
