LTL vs FTL: When Does Booking the Whole Truck Actually Save You Money?

LTL (less-than-truckload) means you pay for the trailer space your pallets use. FTL (full truckload) means the whole 53-foot trailer is yours. The interesting question is where the lines cross.

How LTL pricing works

LTL rates are built per pallet, with the rate driven by size and weight bands, heavier or taller pallets cost more per mile. Multi-pallet discounts kick in fast: the second pallet typically ships around 70% of the first, the third around 65%, and additional pallets around half. That's the carrier sharing consolidation savings back to you.

The crossover point

Add up per-pallet rates with discounts and somewhere around 8–12 standard pallets your LTL total meets the flat cost of a dedicated truck. Past that point, FTL is strictly better: cheaper, faster (no terminal stops), and your freight is the only thing on the trailer, no transfer damage risk.

The dimensional trap

One over-size pallet changes everything. Anything over 8'6" wide or 5,000 lbs per piece is no longer LTL freight, it's heavy haul, priced on different equipment. Non-stackable freight also eats more effective space and gets surcharged. Measure honestly at quote time; re-classification at the dock always costs more than quoting it right.

Rule of thumb

1–7 pallets: LTL, no question. 8–12: quote both, compare (LoadLoom's freight form has an LTL/FTL toggle so it takes 20 seconds). 13+: book the truck.