This is due to the fact that you’re paying on an “as needed” basis. LTL, on the other hand, is an economical method in almost all circumstances. This is especially true if the entire shipment is going to the same destination. However, if you can fill up and maximize the entire space given to you, then FTL shipping might turn out to be cheaper. Based on the FTL/LTL meaning, it would be easy to assume that FTL is much more expensive as you’ll be renting the entire trailer. FTLĬost is, undoubtedly, one of the prime considerations when choosing between LTL vs. The question is, which method should you choose -FTL or LTL? Cost of LTL vs. In contrast to FTL, LTL (or Less-Than-Truckload) is where you only use a portion of a truck’s space. This process entails hiring an entire truck or carrier to carry a large shipment. But what do LTL and FTL stand for?įTL (or Full Truckload) is the “traditional” way of shipping.
With the prevalence of eCommerce and direct-to-consumer deliveries, shipping methods have adapted to accommodate smaller, custom-sized loads.īecause of this, a new type of shipping method was introduced in the 1980's: LTL.
Large, whole-truck-only shipments are now, for the most part, a thing of the past.
