One of the first questions we ask when quoting international road freight is: “Is it a full trailer or a part load?” The answer affects cost, delivery time and how your goods are handled.
What is full truckload (FTL)?
With full truckload, a trailer is reserved for your cargo only. A standard curtainsider has a loading length of about 13.6 m and carries roughly 33 euro pallets or close to 24 tonnes. The goods are loaded and sealed at your site and not opened until destination.
What is groupage (LTL)?
With groupage or less than truckload, your goods share a trailer with other shippers’ cargo, and you pay only for the space or weight you use. It suits a few pallets, samples and trial orders.
How they compare
- Cost: groupage is cheaper for small loads; as volume grows, FTL becomes cheaper per kilo.
- Time: FTL goes direct. Groupage usually takes longer because loads are consolidated and then distributed.
- Handling: FTL is loaded and unloaded once. Groupage may be handled several times, so packing must be stronger.
- Documents: in groupage, every shipper’s paperwork must be complete or the whole trailer waits.
How groupage is priced
Groupage is usually charged on chargeable weight: the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. In road freight many carriers count one cubic metre as about 333 kg, so light but bulky goods may be priced by volume. Ask your carrier for their exact rule.
Which should you choose?
- If your cargo fills around half a trailer or more, compare both quotes; FTL is often cheaper.
- If delivery time is critical or the goods are fragile or high-value, choose FTL.
- If you have a few pallets and some flexibility on timing, groupage saves money.
Artam Tir compares both options for your cargo and recommends the more economical one. See our FTL and groupage services.