A full truckload (FTL) is the most efficient form of transport for large shipment volumes: a vehicle is assigned exclusively to your goods, drives from the loading point to the consignee without an intermediate stop and is therefore faster, more plannable and gentler than any groupage load. Speed Logistics organises full truckloads with articulated lorries up to 24 t payload and 13.6 m loading floor – across Germany, across Europe and to non-EU countries including customs clearance.
You receive a fixed-price offer within a few hours, and the dispatch team looks after the transport personally around the clock – from loading to the signed CMR consignment note.
When is a full truckload worthwhile?
As a rule of thumb: from around 15 pallet spaces or roughly 10 t of weight, the full truckload is usually more economical than a part load or groupage – and it always makes sense when the deadline or the value of the goods does not allow transhipment. Typical use cases:
- Series deliveries between plants and distribution centres
- Just-in-time deliveries with a fixed unloading slot in production
- High-value or sensitive goods that should not be loaded with third-party freight
- Project transports and relocations of entire warehouse stocks
- Export loads towards Türkiye, the Maghreb or the Gulf states with customs clearance
Equipment: the right trailer for your load
The standard is the curtainside semi-trailer with 33 pallet spaces and load securing via lashing straps, load bars and anti-slip mats. Depending on the goods, we assign alternatives: mega or jumbo trailers for voluminous goods up to 100 m³, box-body trailers for weather-sensitive goods, vehicles certified for temperature-controlled loads, or side loading for crane handling. We also run smaller exclusive vehicles – Sprinter, 7.5- or 12-tonne trucks – as a 'small full truckload' when the quantity does not fill an articulated lorry but the deadline demands an exclusive vehicle.
Process and transit times of an FTL direct transport
After your enquiry with quantity, lane and deadline we calculate the vehicle and route and quote a binding fixed price. On loading day the vehicle arrives at the agreed slot, and the journey runs without transhipment straight to the consignee – within Germany regularly within 24 hours, to neighbouring European countries usually in 1–3 working days. Via GPS tracking you always know where your load is; the dispatch team reports delays at the ramp or border proactively.
Costs and pricing model
The FTL price is calculated per vehicle, not per pallet – the decisive factors are distance, lane (potential for outbound/return loads), deadline pressure and additional services such as customs or weekend loading. Within Europe the guide value for a standard semi-trailer is, depending on lane and lead time, roughly €1.10–1.80 per kilometre. Your specific quote is a fixed price door to door – without diesel-surcharge surprises or hidden extras.
Regular runs: full truckloads on a fixed schedule
Many of our customers run the same lane regularly – daily, weekly or per production cycle. For such regular runs we agree fixed conditions and fixed processes: the same loading time windows, established drivers, coordinated load securing and one contact in dispatch who knows the lane. This reduces the coordination effort on both sides and makes transport costs plannable across the year. If an additional load comes up at short notice or a production date shifts, the 24/7 dispatch team steps in and re-plans – you don't need to submit a new enquiry, one call is enough. On request we review regular runs with you each quarter: punctuality, standing times at the ramps and optimisation potential in time windows.