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Full Truckload (FTL) – The Whole Truck Exclusively for Your Shipment

With a full truckload (FTL), the whole truck belongs to one shipment: one consignor, one consignee, up to 24 t payload and 34 pallet spaces in the standard articulated truck. Worthwhile from around 15 loading metres, a high weight or when transit time and goods safety take priority – the goods are loaded only once and unloaded once.

Packaged project load on a low-loader

With a full truckload – internationally Full Truck Load (FTL) – the entire truck belongs to your shipment: one consignor, one consignee, up to 24 tonnes payload and 34 pallet spaces in the standard articulated truck. Speed Logistics runs FTL traffic at a fixed price in Germany, Europe and to non-EU countries such as Türkiye or North Africa – including complete customs clearance from EXW to DDP, with personal dispatch around the clock.

The decisive advantage over part load and groupage: your goods are loaded once and unloaded once. No reloading, no hub, no foreign shipments in the load space – this considerably shortens the transit time, makes the delivery date plannable and reduces the risk of damage to a minimum. You receive your fixed-price quote within a few hours of enquiring.

When a full truckload pays off

As a rule of thumb, FTL is worthwhile from around 15 loading metres, high shipment weight or when transit time and goods safety take priority. Even with lower utilisation the full truckload can be economical: the exclusive truck sets off directly and predictably, while part loads depend on consolidation opportunities and often wait for suitable round trips. Typical FTL goods are palletised industrial goods, building materials, plant components, FMCG batches and project loads – in short: everything that sensibly fills an articulated truck or must run exclusively.

Equipment: the right trailer for your load

  • Curtain-sider (tautliner): the standard for palletised goods – loadable and unloadable from the side, on request also by crane from above
  • Mega and jumbo trailers: up to 3 m internal height for voluminous goods such as packaging, foams or automotive containers
  • Box body: enclosed body for weather- and access-sensitive goods
  • Special equipment on request: for example for over-height or over-weight individual pieces

If one articulated truck is not enough, we dispatch several vehicles in a group – for example for plant relocations or project logistics with clocked deliveries. Simply give us the dimensions, weight and special features of the load – such as crane unloading, side loading or lashing-point requirements – and the dispatch team will propose the most economical equipment for your lane.

Process and tracking

You submit the lane, load data and desired date; we give you the fixed price and a binding loading window. The truck presents itself at your ramp at the agreed time, and the trained driver takes over load securing in accordance with the relevant regulations. Throughout the entire journey you see position and ETA via GPS live tracking; the multilingual dispatch team keeps consignor and consignee proactively informed – from loading through the border crossing to signed delivery.

FTL international: costs and guide prices

In non-EU transport we take over the export accompanying document, transit procedure and import clearance – your full truckload crosses the border without demurrage. The price depends on distance, lane, equipment and lead time; as a non-binding guide, around €699–3,999 per full truckload applies depending on distance, and international lanes we calculate individually. You receive the binding fixed price before the order is placed – with no subsequent surcharges, no diesel-surcharge surprises. For regular FTL lanes, such as the weekly plant supply or fixed customer deliveries, we agree framework terms with guaranteed capacity: you report the demand, and we provide the articulated truck – even in times of scarce load space.

FTL, LTL and groupage compared
CriterionFull truckload (FTL)Part load (LTL)Groupage
Quantitywhole truck / from ~15 pallets~4–7 LDM / from ~2.5 tsingle pallets / from 30 kg
Transhipmentnone (direct)usually nonehub transhipment (cross-docking)
Transit time EUshortest, directshort, some leeway2–4 working days
Pricing logicfixed price per vehicleshare of the load spacefixed price per pallet
Suitabilitydeadline/damage-criticalmedium quantitiessmall regular shipments

Frequently asked questions: Full Truckload (FTL)

What is a full truckload (FTL)?

FTL stands for Full Truck Load: one truck runs exclusively for one consignor to one consignee – in the standard articulated truck with up to 24 tonnes payload and 34 pallet spaces. The goods are loaded once and unloaded once, without transhipment, without a hub and without foreign shipments in the load space.

From when is FTL worthwhile instead of part load or groupage?

As a rule of thumb, from around 15 loading metres or a high shipment weight. But FTL is also worthwhile below that when transit time, a fixed date or goods safety take priority: the full truckload runs directly and predictably, while part loads depend on consolidation opportunities and groupage is transhipped several times – with corresponding time and damage risk.

What does a full truckload cost?

The price depends on distance, lane, equipment and lead time. As a non-binding guide, around €699–3,999 per full truckload applies depending on distance; international and non-EU lanes are calculated individually. Speed Logistics gives the binding fixed price before the order is placed – with no subsequent surcharges or hidden items.

How much fits in a full truckload?

A standard curtain-sider holds up to 24 tonnes payload, 13.6 loading metres and 34 spaces for euro pallets. Mega and jumbo trailers offer up to 3 m internal height for voluminous goods. If one vehicle is not enough, Speed Logistics dispatches several articulated trucks in a group – for example for project loads or plant relocations.

Does Speed Logistics also run full truckloads to non-EU countries?

Yes. Besides Germany and the EU, we run FTL traffic to non-EU countries such as Türkiye or North Africa – door to door including the export accompanying document, transit procedure and import clearance. The customs formalities are prepared in advance so that the full truckload crosses the border without demurrage and the deadline holds.

Can I track my full truckload during transport?

Yes. Every full truckload from Speed Logistics runs with GPS live tracking: position and estimated arrival time are visible at any time. In addition, the multilingual dispatch team informs consignor and consignee proactively about loading, border crossing and delivery – and is personally reachable around the clock for queries, including at the weekend.

What should I bear in mind when booking a full truckload?

State the dimensions, weight and special features of the load – such as crane unloading, side loading or lashing-point requirements. Based on this, the dispatch team proposes the most economical equipment: a tautliner for palletised goods, mega/jumbo up to 3 m internal height for voluminous goods or a box body for sensitive shipments. If one articulated truck is not enough, several vehicles are dispatched in a group.

Why is FTL sometimes economical even with low utilisation?

The exclusive truck sets off directly and predictably, while part loads depend on consolidation opportunities and often wait for suitable round trips. When a fixed date or goods safety takes priority, the full truckload can therefore be the better choice even below full utilisation – without transhipment risk and with a calculable transit time.

Request full truckload (ftl)

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.