When we talk about transporting products through truck freight (by road), we have two options: full truck load & less than truckload. Both methods have their pros and cons.
Today’s guide is all about full truckload, its cost, benefits and FTL companies. After reading this article, you will easily decide when and why you need to ship through FTL and not LTL.
Full Truck Loading Services Explained
Full truck load or FTL means the loading of an entire truck for a single client. In this mode, your shipment will not be shared with anybody else, and your truck will be filled with one dedicated shipment. Usually, this method is adopted to save money, as it is an economical way to move your shipments if you have enough goods to fill the truck.
The trailer size is usually 13.6×2.45×2.70 meters. It provides almost a space of more than 90 cubic meters, which is enough to carry large-size shipments. We at “Bansar” provide complete assistance in importing products from China through FTL shipping. Let us understand the process of full truck load in simple steps.
Booking
Let’s start with an example. In the first step if you want to import your products from China to the UK. You will hire a shipping company like “Bansar” to facilitate your transportation process.
First, we will book a carrier to arrange a truck to load your goods. We give each detail to the freight broker (carrier), like the trailer’s dimensions, loading point, and delivery site.
Loading
Actually, this is a critical and technical step. In the loading step the truck is loaded with the goods by the shipper or any concerned party. The truck is filled to its maximum limit and the space is utilized effectively. This step is done at the manufacturing site in China.
Transit From China To The Destination
When your truck is fully loaded, then it is moved from the loading site toward the destination point. The FTL shipments don’t take so many breaks during transit.
Your FTL shipment will start from China and end in the UK at the required site. It will not need to stop at every point because it is dedicated to a single buyer, so no loading and unloading is done during transit.
Unloading
Depending on the agreement signed between the buyer and the seller, the truck is unloaded by the concerned party. After that, your truck reaches the destination point in England. Then unloading of goods will be done either by the shipping brokers, or third-party hired for this purpose.
Documentation
You have to show the import documents to clear the FTL shipment. You will need the bill of lading, packing list of the goods, commercial invoice, and the shipping manifest. For sensitive products, certifications are also required. So you have to provide all the documents to the authorities for the clearance of your full truckload shipment.
Payment
Finally, you give the payment to the courier company after receiving the goods safely. The payment terms are decided at the time of booking, then some advance is given in China to start the process. Finally, when the shipment arrives at the target location, then payments will be made to the courier company.
Pros & Cons of Full Truck Load Shipping
Advantages of FTL
Fast Delivery Time
If you select the full truck load shipment way to import your products, this will definitely lead to faster delivery time in your warehouse. In FTL shipping, your load is not shared with anyone.
So, no extra time will be required to load and unload at different points and involve two or more parties. There is also less chance of delays due to weather conditions as occur in sea shipping.
Easily Trackable Shipments
When you select “Bansar” for your FTL shipping, you can track your shipping online at any point. We have an organized system to check the instant position of your shipping process. We always hire courier companies, which provide a tracking system to locate the position of their truck at any point of shipping.
Cost-Effective For Bulk Orders
You should always select a full truckload for the bulk quantity orders. It will cost you less. You should fill your truck to its maximum limit to gain maximum benefit. Always choose the truck type wisely to gain the maximum output. However, you have to make sure that the quantity is good enough to fill the whole container.
Products Safety is Guaranteed
You can import products with full protection and safety through this method. Even sensitive and fragile items can be imported with full protection and safety. You can import seafood in reefer trucks, where the temperature is maintained during transit.
Fragile items like delicate glassware, intricate ceramics, antiques, musical instruments, and electronic items are packed according to international standards.
Disadvantages of FTL
- Higher Costs For Partial Orders: If you don’t have enough quantity to fill the whole truck, you will be at a loss because you have paid for the entire truck. For partial orders, you should not consider FTL as an ideal choice because of the high cost associated with it. You should consider full truck load if you have at least 10 pallets to ship.
- Hard To Move Goods After Loading: Once the goods are loaded, it is hard to move anything. In the trucks, the space is limited compared to the big containers where you can enter and move the products.
Cost of Full Truck Load
The cost of road truck freight is calculated using CBM units or per kg. In different scenarios, the cost will be different. If you are residing in Europe and want to import your products from China through road freight, then you must understand, that its cost depends on the cargo type, season time, and some other factors.
Normally the rate of truck road freight is $4 per kg from China to Europe. 1 CBM unit is equal to 333 kg in road freight. So you can convert a 90 CBM full truck into kilograms. The CBM unit is calculated by multiplying the height, length, and width of the parcel in meters. In case you want to import special cargo, including temperature-sensitive items and fragile items, extra charges will be required.
When You Should Go For FTL Shipping?
There are many practical reasons why you should go for the full truckload freight option. The main reason is the cost-effectiveness, the more the weight, the less the cost is. If you have enough quantity to fill the whole truck, then you must opt for FTL.
The second main reason to choose FTL is the faster delivery because of the non-stop journey. It starts from China and will reach the destination point without any major stops. There is another valid reason why you should go with FTL. Your products will not be mixed with other goods since you’re transporting the whole cargo without sharing transport.
But if we talk about less than truckload transportation, your items are shared with others, so loading and unloading can cause a mixing of items. In the case of perishable items, FTL is the most suitable mode of carrying your goods from China to your destination country.
Full Truck Load Companies in China
Bansarship
We are one of the leading freight forwarding companies in China. Our team assists you in each step of shipping, whether it is sea shipping, air freight, rail, or road freight services. You will find top-notch services on this platform regarding FTL transportation from China to all parts of the world.
Bansarship provides an easy way to contact and get all the relevant information regarding your full truck load shipment.
Seacon Logistics
It operates from China and provides road freight services efficiently from China to worldwide. They have a global network with plenty of experience in global shipping. You can email or call them to get the latest rates for FTL shipping from China to your desired location.
Super International Shipping
One of the reliable names in the shipping industry. It provides comprehensive cargo services from China to all around the world. You can import your goods through loading full trucks by getting their services.
AAA China Limited
This company has been operating since 2010 in Shenzhen China. It provides state-of-the-art services regarding road freight. You can easily import your electronic items from Shenzhen using their logistic supply chain.
FAQs
What is The Difference Between FTL & LTL?
FTL is the full truck load, which means you will import the whole truck having your shipment. In FTL, you don’t share your truck space with anyone else. On the other hand, LTL or less than truckload means booking some space in the truck. You can carry small quantities of goods by booking a specific space in the truck.
How Many Pallets Can Fit in a Full Truck?
It depends on the size of the truck and the size of the pallet as well. Usually, a 10-ton truck can carry 20 pallets in it. Industrial pallets are larger than euro pallets. A big trailer can carry 33-34 pallets in it. Read more about this topic in our recently published article: pallets truckload capacity.
What is The Full Truck Load Weight in Kg?
This weight is dependent on the truck size and the country it is entering. The normal maximum weight for US FTL shipments is 80k pounds per truck. Similarly in Australia, 42500 kg including the truck weight.
What Are The Dimensions of a Full Truck Load?
The most commonly used vehicle for full truckload is a semitrailer that has dimensions of 13.6 meters in length, 2.45 meters in width, and 2.70 meters in height.
Is There Any Difference Between FTL vs FCL?
FTL is a term used for road freight and FCL is a term that is used for sea shipping. In both cases, the truck and containers are fully loaded by a single importer respectively.
Conclusion
So, that was everything you needed to know about shipping goods through FTL (full truckload). You can ask several companies to give you the quote and guide you about the nature of your products. Our team is also available to offer you free service in case you want to discuss anything related to FTL or LTL shipments.
