GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Truckload
A shipper books a full truckload (FTL) when a consignment fills an entire truck or exclusive use of the vehicle is required.
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Source: https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/Definition/lkw-ladung-64877
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Definition & Explanation
A shipper books a full truckload (FTL) when a consignment fills an entire truck or exclusive use of the vehicle is required. Smaller shipments move as less-than-truckload (LTL), sharing trailer space with other consignments consolidated at the carrier's depot. FTL runs direct from origin to destination with no intermediate handling, offering faster transit times and a lower damage risk; LTL lowers per-unit freight costs but adds handling stages and transit time. Every international road shipment is accompanied by a CMR consignment note, which establishes carrier liability under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road. The FTL/LTL distinction closely mirrors the FCL/LCL split in ocean freight, though the governing legal frameworks differ significantly.
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