FTL Shipping (full truckload) is the best choice for those who ship using cross-border road transport. FTL freight shipping is cheaper and more efficient compared to other modes of transport. FTL is sometimes referred to as truckload (TL), reefer, or van.
If you’re planning to ship 15,000 lbs or more than 10 pallets, you need to consider FTL shipments. Cost, security, speed, and performance cannot be ignored when choosing the right freight broker.
FTL shipping is when an importer uses an entire truck for a shipment. This mode of transport is different from LTL (less-than-truckload), where a shipper shares the space in the container with other distributors. The shipments from several importers are loaded in a single truck.
It’s helpful to think of FTL in relation to other shipping options like FCL (full-container load) and LCL (less-than-container load), which are common terms in ocean freight. With FCL, a shipper books the entire space inside a shipping container—similar to how FTL gives you the whole truck. This is ideal for large, bulky, or high-volume shipments where dedicated space is needed.
FTL is ideal for shippers with large volume products or those with sufficient goods to fill a full truck. Here, you don’t have to share a truck with other companies. Even though it is more expensive compared to LTL freight shipping, the delivery period is much shorter.
This kind of shipment favors importers who are handling sensitive or high-value freight. The special truck is tailored to each shipper’s needs and only contains what they are shipping. FTL shipping is available in a wide variety of weight and volume capacities.
FTL shipping costs depend on factors like freight weight and size, the type of goods, travel distance, fuel prices, market demand, and seasonal spikes. Sensitive or high-value items may require special handling, increasing rates. To get an accurate quote, carriers need your shipment’s exact specifications. Overall, FTL is most cost-effective for large loads—typically 15,000 lbs. or more, or over 10 pallets.
Shipping a full truckload doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few practical steps, you can make the most out of your FTL shipping budget while maintaining efficiency and reliability. Here are some proven ways to keep costs in check and maximise value on every load:
By partnering with a reputable third-party logistics provider, you can shift your focus from shipping headaches back to growing your core business—without worrying about freight falling through the cracks.
Key advantages of working with a 3PL for FTL shipping include:
When working with FTL freight providers, adopting a few best practices can make your shipping process smoother, more reliable, and ultimately more cost-effective.
By following these best practices, you set your shipments up for greater security, reliability, and speed.
Like so much else in global logistics, FTL shipping has had to navigate a rocky road in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s now a greater degree of unpredictability in supply chains, with everything from fluctuating demand to labor shortages throwing curveballs at shippers. As a result, importers have had to become more flexible in their approach.
The truckload sector is especially sensitive to shifts in capacity. With so many small players and relatively few barriers to entry, the market can swing from feast to famine almost overnight. After COVID-19, many drivers left the business, only to return when rising rates made the job attractive again. As such, the industry continues to see ongoing volatility.
For those moving FTL shipments, these changes mean a few things:
LTL shipping, by comparison, tends to lag in adapting to these capacity swings, meaning that if you have a big, time-sensitive load, FTL maintains its edge in responsiveness and reliability, even amid industry-wide disruptions.
So, for importers shipping in the post-pandemic world, FTL still offers speed and control, but with a little more need for agility and planning than before.
When choosing the right shipping method, you must consider the shipping budget, type of shipments sent, size of shipping goods, and priority scale. You should also consider the pickup location of goods. This means that the area should be easily accessible. Some damages might occur while transporting goods. Some products can be easily damaged and others are sensitive to temperature. For example, some products have large volumes but very fragile. In this case, FTL is the best choice and can benefit your operation.
At Amplify Logistics, we strive to become the go-to company in North America and we provide reliable FTL freight services not only in Toronto, Ontario, Canada but also across North America. We understand the value of your freight and therefore, our trucks have a satellite tracking and geofencing capabilities to ensure your shipments are secure.
If you have a supply chain management in mind, Amplify Logistics is ready to fulfill all your FTL freight needs. We’ll help you choose shipping methods that will suit your company’s needs and budget. Call us today so we can get started.