Full Truckload is a mode of freight for larger shipments that occupy more than half and up to full capacity of a 48’
or 53’ dry van trailer. This term and method is used when shippers have enough freight to fill a truck, want a dedicated trailer for the freight, the freight is time-sensitive or the shipper decides it’s more cost effective than LTL because of weight.
Benefits of Truckload Shipping
- Faster transit times : Freight that is shipped via full truckload generally arrive at their destination quicker than goods that are shipped via LTL’s hub-and-spoke model. Less stops. Less crossdocks. Less hands on your freight. Less chance of an inefficiency.
- Freight Security : Less chance of damage – Full truckload shipments are generally less susceptible to damages as they are handled less times than LTL shipments. Less hands touching the freight, the less times the freight “crosses a dock”, the lower the probability of an item being lost or damaged.
- Cost/Rates : If shipments are large enough to require the entire use of a trailer’s space or weight is substantial enough, it could be more cost effective than booking multiple LTL shipments.
Truckload Shipping Best Practices
- Information: Stay informed. Do your research. Understand the Transportation industry. The more information the parties and actors involved have, the less probability of delay and cost increase and the greater the probability for success. Create your own luck with the right information.
- Consistency: Develop and incorporate a process. If you have a steady amount of freight that takes up a similar amount of space consistently, develop and implement a process for your team. Make it transferable to ensure the plan you have in place is fluid and is protecting your or your client’s interests.
- Flexibility: Plan ahead and give yourself time. Time is critical with Transportation. Not enough time leads to delays and additional costs. Creating a contingency plan allows you to have time to counterplan and react. Time can be your greatest enemy or Time can be your greatest mitigation tool. Be flexible.
- Efficiency: Having a plan and a proven method of execution along with resourceful information creates efficiency. Map out your truckload ahead of loading in your warehouse. Make sure your freight fits in a 48’ or 53’ before the tractor and trailer arrive.
Truckload Equipment Types
Dry Van : Typically used to move dry goods that are not temperature sensitive – Flatbed : This trailer does not have walls and is typically used for shipments that are either too tall or too wide to fit through trailer doors
Why choose Full Truckload? Full truckload is best for large shipments that use the entire space of a trailer, are typically time-sensitive, and when weight factors into cost efficiency
Which is faster? Full truckload freight moves DIRECTLY to destination whereas LTL freight typically moves via a hub-and-spoke mode – Why can Full Truckload be more efficient? Full truckload moves directly from point A to
point B, whereas the majority of LTL freight moves through a hub-and-spoke system increasing the number of crossdocks and increases the probability for an inefficiency to occur.