Full Truckload (FTL)

Full Truckload (FTL), also written as FTL or TL (truckload), is a freight shipment where the entire truck trailer is reserved for a single shipper's cargo. Unlike LTL shipments that share space with other freight, FTL gives the shipper exclusive use of the trailer — meaning cargo moves directly from origin to destination without intermediate terminal sorting, resulting in faster transit times and lower damage rates.

When to Use FTL

FTL makes economic and operational sense when:

Volume: The shipment fills or nearly fills a trailer (typically 26+ pallets, 40,000+ lbs, or over $2,000 in LTL cost)
Speed: FTL is a direct move — no terminal handling, typically 1–3 days faster than LTL on the same lane
Fragility: High-value or damage-prone goods benefit from reduced handling
Time-sensitivity: Just-in-time production schedules that can't absorb LTL transit variability
Temperature control: Reefer (refrigerated) truckload is the standard for food and pharma temperature-controlled moves

FTL Trailer Types

Dry van: Enclosed 53-foot trailer, the standard for most general freight. Carries up to ~26 standard pallets or 45,000 lbs.

Flatbed: Open trailer without sides or roof, for oversized freight — steel coils, construction materials, industrial equipment. Requires different loading/unloading and securement.

Refrigerated (reefer): Temperature-controlled trailer with an integrated diesel refrigeration unit. Standard for perishable food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

Step deck / lowboy: For freight too tall for a standard flatbed. Lowered deck section accommodates oversized loads.

Tanker: For liquid freight — chemicals, food-grade liquids, fuel.

FTL Pricing and the Spot Market

FTL pricing operates in two markets:

Contract rates: Shippers with predictable, recurring lane volume negotiate annual contracts with carriers. Rates are typically lower and provide capacity assurance.

Spot market: For non-recurring or excess shipments, shippers post loads on load boards (DAT Solutions, Truckstop.com, Convoy) where thousands of carriers bid. Spot rates are highly volatile — during 2021, spot rates were 50–80% above contract rates; during 2023, they fell 30–40% below contract rates as the market overcorrected.

Digital Freight Brokers

Digital freight brokerage platforms — Convoy, Uber Freight, Transfix — have disrupted traditional brokerage by using algorithms to match FTL loads with carriers instantly and transparently. While traditional brokers like C.H. Robinson, Echo Global Logistics, and Coyote Logistics (now sold by UPS to RXO) remain dominant by volume, digital platforms have compressed margins and improved pricing visibility for shippers.

Carrier Compliance (OTVI, Tender Acceptance)

FTL carriers are evaluated on tender acceptance rate — the percentage of loads they accept when offered. Shippers track carrier performance scorecards and allocate volume to carriers with high acceptance rates and strong on-time delivery (OTD) metrics. The FTL market is highly fragmented with over 500,000 registered motor carriers in the US; the top 10 carriers control less than 20% of the market.