When shipping freight, one of the first decisions you'll face is whether to use less-than-truckload (LTL) or full-truckload (FTL) shipping. Each has distinct advantages depending on the size of your shipment, your timeline, and your budget. Understanding the differences helps you choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment.
LTL shipping is used when your freight doesn't fill an entire truck. Your shipment shares trailer space with freight from other shippers, and you pay only for the portion of the truck you use. LTL is typically measured by the number of pallets, weight, and freight class of your goods.
LTL is ideal for smaller shipments, generally ranging from one to ten pallets. It's cost-effective for businesses that ship regularly but in quantities that don't warrant dedicating an entire truck to a single load.
FTL shipping means your freight has exclusive use of the entire truck, regardless of whether it fills the full capacity. You pay for the whole trailer, but your goods travel directly from pickup to delivery without stops to load or unload other shippers' freight.
FTL is the right choice when your shipment is large enough to fill or nearly fill a trailer, when you need faster transit times, or when your goods require special handling that precludes sharing space with other freight.
On a per-unit basis, FTL is often cheaper for large shipments because you're paying for the truck regardless of how full it is. LTL is cheaper for small to medium shipments because costs are shared among multiple shippers. However, LTL shipments typically take longer because the truck makes multiple stops, and there's a slightly higher risk of damage from additional handling.
The breakpoint where FTL becomes more economical than LTL varies, but as a general rule, if your shipment exceeds six to eight pallets or weighs more than 10,000 pounds, it's worth getting quotes for both LTL and FTL to compare.
Consider LTL when your shipment is smaller than half a truckload, you have flexible delivery timelines, and cost per unit is your primary concern. Choose FTL when your shipment is large, time-sensitive, fragile, or requires temperature control. For businesses that ship both small and large loads at different times, having a transportation partner that offers both LTL and FTL gives you the flexibility to choose the best option for each shipment.
Simore Transportation offers both LTL and FTL freight services from our Hamilton facility. Our team helps you determine the most cost-effective shipping method for each load, whether it's a single pallet going to the GTA or a full truckload heading to Calgary. With our own fleet and integrated warehousing, we provide seamless service regardless of shipment size. Call (905) 524-2475 for a freight quote.
See what we specialize in and how we do it
