_{July 7, 2021}

Full Truckload vs Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): What’s the Difference?

And Why You Should Choose AGM Transport!

Meet Your Truck Shipping Demands With AGM Transport

Shipping goods across a given distance is as easy as loading them into a truck and hauling them from one location to another, right?

It’s actually a bit more complicated, and one of the most important distinctions to understand in the industry is the difference between full truckload shipping and less-than-truckload shipping.

We’ll explore this distinction in more detail below and explain the benefits of each one. Of course, you can always get in touch with us if you would like to learn more about investing in either service through AGM Transport!

Close-up shot of a red semi.

Full Truckload Shipping

Abbreviated “FTL shipping” for short, full truckload shipping is fairly self-explanatory. Suppose you have several palettes of goods that will take up nearly all of a truck’s available space. In this case, your shipment would qualify as an FTL.

The main benefit of FTL shipping is that because the shipment takes up the majority of the space in the truck, you won’t have to worry about the goods being moved or changing hands during transportation — in most cases, the only time the goods will be handled is when they’re unloaded at the next destination.

Semi-truck transporting commercial cargo.

Less-Than-Truckload Shipping

Less-than-truckload shipping is abbreviated as “LTL” and is designed to make the most of the space on a truck. Consider that from the perspective of a trucking company, every inch of space inside of their truck has value. If they’re only transporting halfway-full trucks, then they’re losing potential revenue every time they hit the road.

LTL allows trucking companies to make the most of their space by combining shipments on a single truck, maximizing the goods that are being transported. LTL shipping also benefits the companies paying to ship their goods, as they don’t need to purchase the entire truck’s cargo hold in order to make the trip.

A row of white transportation trucks.

Which One Is Right for You?

There’s unfortunately no one-size-fits-all answer, as every company’s needs are different! What works for a small business shipping just a few goods is obviously going to be better or worse for a company shipping differently sized loads across various differences.

That said, you may want to consider opting for FTL shipping if you’re transporting fragile items or are operating on a strict deadline, as the truck operator is focused exclusively on getting your goods from one point to another. On the other hand, LTL shipping is perfect for smaller shipments and in cases when your goods can be loaded and unloaded throughout the trip without issue.

Commercial semi trucks in gray and orange with dry van trailers.