Send the lane and cargo
Origin, destination, commodity, volume, Incoterm and the timing you are working to.
FTL Shipping
Dedicated truckload when the cargo needs the trailer.
Full truckload service for cargo that needs direct routing, less handling, tighter delivery control or enough volume to own the trailer.
Overview
FTL is about control as much as volume.
A dedicated trailer reduces terminal handling and gives tighter timing. It still needs carrier fit, appointment planning and route visibility.
When dedicated truckload is worth it
FTL fits high-volume freight, fragile cargo, strict appointments, direct distribution and urgent inland moves where shared terminal handling creates risk.
Ground freight overview
The delivery appointment drives the route
Pickup time, dock availability, transit, driver hours and consignee receiving windows need to match before dispatch.
Freight class guideFTL can protect international freight
After ocean or air arrival, a dedicated truck can keep the shipment from sitting in a terminal network or missing a final delivery window.
Demurrage guide
FTL Options
Pick the truckload service around control.
Dedicated Dry Van Direct trailer capacity for palletized, boxed or floor-loaded freight. Quote dry van 
Flatbed & Heavy Cargo Open-deck solutions for machinery, oversized pieces and cargo that cannot load through a dock. Quote flatbed Expedited Truckload Priority dispatch for production, launch or recovery windows where transit time matters. Quote expedited Why Suaid
Truckload planned as part of the chain.
Carrier-neutral routing
Options are compared on fit, cost and risk instead of a carrier's owned capacity.
One accountable owner
A single coordinator keeps the shipment moving across parties and time zones.
Documents reviewed early
Commercial documents, HS codes and handoff details are checked before they delay the move.
Direct routing
Stops, driver hours and delivery appointments are planned around the freight.
Less handling
Dedicated trailers reduce terminal touches and transfer exposure.
Delivery visibility
Pickup, transit and delivery status stay connected to the operating file.
How It Works
From lane to delivery in four steps.
We shape the options
Carrier, trailer type, route, appointment and delivery window are matched before dispatch.
You approve the plan
One all-in proposal with the trade-offs shown before anything is booked.
We coordinate the handoffs
Pickup, transit updates, exception handling and delivery confirmation stay with one coordinator.
FAQ
FTL shipping, answered plainly.
Dedicated capacity is useful when control matters.
FTL means full truckload: your cargo uses a dedicated trailer instead of moving through an LTL terminal network.
Choose FTL for higher volume, strict appointments, fragile cargo, urgent delivery or when less handling is important.
Yes. FTL is often used after port pickup or warehouse release when direct delivery is needed.
Yes. Flatbed or specialized truckload options can be quoted for machinery and oversized cargo.
Origin, destination, cargo dimensions and weight, equipment type, pickup date, delivery requirements and any special handling notes.
Proof In Numbers
Operational results, not marketing rounding.
50
US states
Truckload carrier coverage
1
Dedicated trailer
Direct control for the shipment
GPS
Tracking ready
Visibility by carrier and lane
Equipment
FTL Trailer Types and Capacity
Full truckload means the trailer moves for you alone, from pickup to delivery. The trailer type sets what you can load and how.
| Trailer | Typical deck length | Loads from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry van 53' | 53 ft | Rear doors | Palletised general freight |
| Dry van 48' | 48 ft | Rear doors | Shorter lanes and tight docks |
| Reefer | 53 ft | Rear doors | Chilled and frozen goods |
| Flatbed | 48-53 ft | Side, top, rear | Steel, machinery, building materials |
| Step deck | 48-53 ft | Side, top, rear | Tall cargo that exceeds flatbed height |
Decision
When Full Truckload Costs Less Than LTL
FTL looks more expensive per shipment. Past a certain size it is cheaper per unit, and it is almost always faster.
- You have more than about 10 pallets, or the freight fills more than half the trailer.
- Your goods are fragile. FTL is loaded once and unloaded once, with no terminal transfers in between.
- You need a firm delivery date. FTL runs direct, so it skips the hub sorting that adds days to LTL.
- Your cargo has an odd shape or high value and would face heavy LTL surcharges.
- You ship dense freight with a high freight class, where LTL pricing turns against you.
Cost drivers
What Moves an FTL Rate Up or Down
Truckload pricing reacts to the lane, not just the distance. These are the levers you can actually control.
- Lane balance — A lane where trucks struggle to find a return load costs more. Ask about backhaul options.
- Loading and unloading time — Drivers get limited free time at each stop. Past that, detention is charged by the hour.
- Appointment windows — A tight window forces the carrier to hold capacity. A flexible day usually prices better.
- Season — Produce season and quarter-end both tighten capacity on many lanes.
- Extra stops — Each added pickup or drop is a separate charge and adds hours to the driver's clock.
Process
How an FTL Booking Runs, Step by Step
A truckload move is short, so the planning happens before the truck rolls. This is the normal sequence.
- Quote and lane check — Origin, destination, equipment, weight, and the pickup window set the rate. Capacity is checked on the lane before the rate is confirmed.
- Booking and dispatch — The load is tendered to a carrier and a driver is assigned. You get the carrier name and the reference number.
- Pickup — The driver checks the count and condition, then signs the bill of lading. What the driver signs is what the carrier is liable for.
- In transit — Tracking follows the driver's hours-of-service rules, not the map. A long lane may include a mandatory rest.
- Delivery and proof — The consignee signs the proof of delivery. Any damage must be written on it at that moment, not later.
- Invoice reconciliation — Detention, extra stops, and layover appear here. Compare against the timestamps before approving.
Glossary
Truckload Terms on Your Rate Confirmation
Read these before you sign the rate confirmation, not after the invoice arrives.
- Deadhead — Miles the truck drives empty to reach your pickup. Long deadhead raises the rate.
- Detention — Charged when loading or unloading runs past the free window, usually billed hourly.
- Layover — Charged when the driver must wait overnight, typically because a delivery window was missed.
- TONU — Truck ordered, not used. A fee when a booked truck arrives and there is nothing to load.
- Hours of service — Legal driving limits. They set the real transit time, not the distance on the map.
- Drop trailer — The carrier leaves a trailer at your dock to load in your own time, which removes detention from the equation entirely.
- Team drivers — Two drivers alternate so the truck keeps moving through rest periods. It roughly halves transit on long lanes, at a premium.
Active Lanes
Popular lanes for FTL Shipping
Industries Served
Industries we serve
Sectors that rely on this product the most.
Free Tools
Free Logistics Tools
Explore All Services
Services rarely travel alone.
Browse the full catalog by family. Every line connects to the same operating thread and the same accountable coordinator.
Moving the freight itself: ocean, air and inland legs matched to cargo, timing and landed cost.
Storage, equipment and clearance kept in the same operating thread as the move.
Route strategy, cost modelling and protection before the booking is placed.
Related insights
Guides written by the operating team, the same people who quote and move the freight.
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