Freight Comparison
FTL vs LTL: Which Shipping Method Is Right for You?
Choose FTL (Full Truckload) when you have enough freight to fill or nearly fill a trailer, need faster point-to-point transit, or want minimal handling. Choose LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) when your shipment is roughly 1-6 pallets and you'd rather share trailer space and pay only for the portion you use. TAT brokers both, so the right pick comes down to weight, timing, and how much handling your freight can tolerate.
| Full Truckload (FTL) | Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical weight | Over ~15,000 lbs or a full/near-full trailer | About 150-15,000 lbs, roughly 1-6 pallets |
| Cost basis | Flat rate for the whole trailer; cheaper per pound when full | Priced by weight, freight class, and distance; you pay only for the space used |
| Speed / transit | Faster and more direct; one truck, origin to destination | Slower; multiple stops, terminals, and rehandling add days |
| Handling / damage risk | Lower; freight is loaded once and stays put until delivery | Higher; freight is transferred between trucks and terminals several times |
| Tracking / visibility | Simpler single-truck tracking, often with a dedicated driver | Terminal-based scans; visibility depends on the carrier's network |
| Freight class / NMFC | Usually not required to assign a class | Requires an NMFC freight class that drives the rate |
| Best use case | Large, urgent, fragile, or high-value loads filling most of a trailer | Small to mid-size shipments where cost matters more than speed |
Choose Full Truckload (FTL) when…
- Your freight fills or nearly fills a 48-53 ft trailer
- You need faster, more direct transit with a firm delivery window
- The load is fragile, high-value, or shouldn't be rehandled
- You have 10+ pallets or heavy freight over ~15,000 lbs
- You want exclusive use of the trailer for security
Choose Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) when…
- You're shipping roughly 1-6 pallets or under ~15,000 lbs
- Cost savings matter more than the fastest transit
- Your freight can tolerate extra handling at terminals
- You ship smaller volumes on a regular or flexible schedule
- You want to pay only for the trailer space you actually use
Frequently asked questions
At what weight should I switch from LTL to FTL?
There's no hard rule, but many shippers move to FTL once a load approaches 10-12 pallets or 15,000 lbs, or fills most of a trailer. Beyond that point, an FTL flat rate often costs less per pound than LTL and avoids rehandling. Getting quotes both ways is the surest test.
Is LTL cheaper than FTL?
For small shipments, yes, because you split the trailer cost with other freight and pay only for the space and weight you use. But as your volume grows, LTL pricing climbs and a full-truckload flat rate can become cheaper overall. It depends on weight, freight class, and lane.
Does LTL have a higher risk of damage?
Generally yes. LTL freight is loaded, unloaded, and transferred multiple times across terminals, so it sees more handling than a single FTL load that stays on one truck. Proper palletizing, shrink-wrapping, and accurate freight class help reduce that risk.
What is freight class and why does it matter for LTL?
Freight class is an NMFC-based rating (from 50 to 500) that reflects density, handling, stowability, and liability. It directly determines your LTL rate, and misclassifying freight can trigger reweigh and reclassification charges. FTL shipments typically don't require you to assign a class.
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