FTL Trucking: Understanding Full Truckload Transportation

Full truckload shipping, also known as FTL trucking, is one of the most important aspects of efficient supply chains. It’s the alternative to less-than-truckload transportation. Industries with high shipment volumes and tight delivery windows rely on FTL transport, as it offers better speed and reliability. 

In this post, we’ll share more about the role of FTL trucking, how it works, and what the FTL industry landscape is. We’ll also briefly compare FTL and LTL trucking so that you understand the main differences between the two.

What is FTL Trucking?

Full truckload trucking refers to shipments that fill an entire trailer or are moved as a dedicated load. Shippers choose FTL trucking when they need minimal handling and faster transit times due to direct delivery. FTL transportation is ideal for last-minute freight, high shipping volume, or high-value transported goods. 

FTL trucking reserves one full trailer for a single shipper, minimizing handling and delivering freight directly across North America lanes. Teams quoting FTL with tools that surface contract and spot pricing in the same session reduce guesswork, protect margins, and defend cost reviews.

How Does FTL Trucking Differ from Other Freight Modes?

Full truckload trucking differs from other options (LTL and parcel) in a few ways. Since there’s no freight consolidation or multiple handling stops, FTL shipping is much faster than other freight modes. 

The risk of damage is also reduced, and shippers get better cost efficiency. If the shipment is small and the items are not of high value, companies often choose less-than-truckload transportation. 

FTL Trucking Operations

Efficient FTL transportation relies on proper planning, efficient route selection, and good coordination across shippers and carriers. FTL has become the foundation of long-haul networks due to its faster transit times and fewer touchpoints. Let’s examine some of the main aspects of FTL operations.

Direct Routes

Full truckload logistics rely on direct routes from pickup to final delivery without cross-dock transfers or sorting. This makes transit times predictable and minimizes the chance of freight damage. Direct routes are the main reason why FTL trucking is the go-to option for time-sensitive shipments. 

Pro Tip: A tool like ShipperGuide improves routing decision-making and ETA predictability.

Dedicated Moves

Shippers often use dedicated FTL lanes where carriers run consistent routes daily or weekly. This offers excellent reliability and transparent pricing. Dedicated capacity is used in industries like food, beverage, and manufacturing. These sectors rely on steady supply chains and repetitive inbound and outbound freight flows. 

Dedicated FTL operations run repetitive daily or weekly lanes, giving teams high capacity confidence and predictable rate ceilings. This reduces SLA risk and eliminates chasing carrier acceptance across fragmented tools.

Load Planning

Maximizing space, protecting cargo, and ensuring weight compliance are the main factors behind load planning. Arranging freight properly reduces damage risk and ensures proper weight distribution across the truck. Proper planning is essential when shipping palletized goods, temperature-controlled products, or items with irregular shapes that require specific positioning.

The FTL Industry Landscape

As FTL has become the cornerstone of freight transportation, its market size has increased significantly in recent years. Let’s review more details about the latest FTL trends and the size of the full truckload industry:

FTL Market Size

The FTL market is among the largest sectors of the logistics industry in the US and other major economies. In addition to its enormous size, the FTL market also grows annually. Its growth is primarily driven by rising consumer demand and the need for fast and reliable transportation in retail and manufacturing supply chains. FTL remains the dominant mode for long-haul and middle-mile distribution.

Capacity Trends in the Full Truckload Industry

FTL capacity fluctuates based on various factors. The most important ones are seasonality, fuel prices, driver availability, and the state of the economy. Shippers and carriers increasingly rely on digital tools and strategic partnerships to forecast available capacity and mitigate risks. 

Key Players in the FTL Market

National trucking companies, regional carriers, digital freight brokers, and other companies are among the key players in the full truckload industry. Schneider, Knight-Swift, Werner, and J.B. Hunt are among the renowned businesses in the FTL trucking sector. Uber Freight, RXO, and Convoy (acquired by DAT) play an important role as tech-enabled brokers.

Frequently Asked Questions About FTL Trucking

If you want to know more about FTL trucking, perhaps our answers to common questions will help you.

How Is FTL Trucking Different from LTL Trucking?

FTL trucking moves a single load in a dedicated trailer with no transfers. On the other hand, LTL carriers combine and consolidate shipments and stop at terminals to sort and route freight. FTL offers speed, reliability, and lower costs for high-volume shipments. LTL can be a cheaper option when freight volumes are low.

What Are the Advantages of Using FTL Trucking?

By combining better control over routing, reduced handling, and faster delivery, FTL trucking is a preferred option for many shippers. The reduced risk of damage or delays is paramount for high-value shipments. By using FTL in transportation, companies also get improved predictability and reliability.

Streamline FTL Trucking Operations with ShipperGuide

Loadsmart’s ShipperGuide can help companies optimize full truckload routing and secure consistent capacity. By implementing a top-notch transportation management platform like ShipperGuide, you can gain real-time freight visibility, easier documentation management, simplified tendering, and more. Schedule a demo and discover why ShipperGuide is among the best TMS solutions out there.