Full truckload or less than truckload? It mostly comes down to how much you're shipping, how fast it needs to get there and how much handling it can take.
One of the first things we ask a new customer is how much they're shipping. It sounds like small talk, but the answer usually decides whether you need a full truckload (FTL) or less than truckload (LTL).
The short version
With full truckload, the trailer is yours. We load at your dock and drive straight to your receiver. Nobody else's freight gets added along the way.
With LTL, you share the trailer with other shippers. Your pallets usually pass through a terminal or two, getting moved onto other trucks before they reach the receiver.
When a full truckload makes sense
As a rough rule, once you're past about 10 pallets, or around 15,000 lb (6,800 kg), FTL usually starts to make sense. Size isn't the only reason, though. We'd point you toward a full truckload if:
- the freight has a firm delivery appointment and can't be late
- it's fragile or valuable, so the fewer times it's handled the better
- it needs to stay at a set temperature the whole trip
- it's crossing the border and you want one carrier responsible from start to finish
When LTL is the better deal
If you're shipping a handful of pallets (say one to six) and your delivery date has a bit of room, LTL is usually the cheaper option. You only pay for the space you use.
The awkward middle
Somewhere between six and ten pallets, it really depends. On some lanes, and in some weeks, a volume LTL rate beats a full trailer. Other times it's the opposite. Honestly, the best move is to ask your carrier to quote it both ways and compare.
A few questions worth asking any carrier
Whoever you end up shipping with, these are worth asking up front:
- Do you own your trucks, or will my load get handed off to another company?
- If something goes wrong at 2 a.m., who picks up the phone?
- How do you charge for waiting time and extra stops, and who has to approve it?
- How do you handle damage claims, and how quickly?
Good carriers will be happy to answer all four.
Where we fit in
We're an asset-based carrier: our own 150+ trucks and 300+ trailers, running out of our home terminal in Ayr, Ontario. We handle both FTL and LTL, plus dedicated and expedited runs, temperature-controlled freight and warehousing.
Not sure which one fits? Tell us what you're moving and we'll quote it both ways. Or just call us at 519-465-8553 and we'll talk it through.