FTL vs LTL: Which Road Transport Option Saves You More?
When shipping goods by road in India, you'll typically choose between Full Truckload (FTL) and Less Than Truckload (LTL/Part Load). The right choice depends on your shipment size, urgency, and budget.
What is FTL?
FTL means you book an entire truck exclusively for your cargo. You pay for the full truck regardless of how much space your goods occupy. The truck goes directly from pickup to delivery without stops.
What is LTL?
LTL (also called Part Load) means your cargo shares truck space with goods from other shippers. You pay only for the space your cargo occupies. The truck makes multiple pickups and deliveries.
When FTL Makes Sense
Choose FTL when: your cargo fills more than 50% of a truck, you need direct point-to-point delivery, your goods are fragile or high-value, you need guaranteed delivery time, or you're shipping hazardous materials.
When LTL Makes Sense
Choose LTL when: your cargo is small (under 5 tonnes or 500 CBM), you're flexible on delivery time, you want to reduce per-unit shipping costs, or you're shipping to multiple destinations.
Cost Comparison
FTL is priced per truck per route. LTL is priced per kg or per CBM. For small shipments, LTL is significantly cheaper. As volume increases, FTL becomes more cost-effective — typically above 5-7 tonnes.
Transit Time
FTL offers faster, more predictable transit times since the truck goes directly to your destination. LTL involves consolidation hubs and multiple stops, adding 1-3 days to transit time.
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