What Is a Full Truck Load (FTL)?
A full truck load — commonly abbreviated as FTL — is a shipment that occupies the entire capacity of a single vehicle from collection to delivery. When you book an FTL service, the trailer is dedicated exclusively to your goods. No other customer's freight shares the space, and the vehicle travels directly from your collection point to your delivery address without intermediate stops to pick up or drop off other consignments.
Full truck load shipping is the backbone of UK freight logistics for large-volume movements. Every time a supermarket restocks its distribution centre, a manufacturer ships finished products to a customer, or an importer moves a container from port to warehouse, the chances are high that an FTL service is involved. The simplicity of the model — one truck, one customer, one journey — makes it the most reliable and time-efficient way to transport substantial quantities of goods across the country.
In practical terms, an FTL shipment typically means filling a standard articulated lorry with a 13.6-metre trailer. This provides space for approximately 26 standard UK pallets in a single layer, with a maximum payload of around 26 tonnes. However, full truck load does not necessarily mean the trailer must be physically full — it means you are paying for exclusive use of the vehicle, even if your goods only partially fill the available space.
FTL vs LTL — Which Is Right for Your Shipment?
When to Choose Full Truck Load
FTL is the better choice when your consignment fills at least half the trailer capacity (13+ pallets), when delivery speed is critical, when your goods are fragile, temperature-sensitive, or high-value and benefit from minimal handling, or when the total cost of FTL works out cheaper per pallet than LTL groupage rates. As a general rule, once your shipment exceeds 15 pallets, the cost per pallet for FTL becomes competitive with or cheaper than LTL.
When LTL Makes More Sense
Less than truck load (LTL) services — also called groupage or part-loads — are designed for smaller shipments that do not justify hiring an entire vehicle. If you are moving 1 to 10 pallets, LTL allows you to share trailer space with other consignments heading in the same direction. The cost per shipment is lower, but transit times are longer because the vehicle makes multiple stops, and there is a slightly higher risk of handling damage due to additional loading and unloading at each collection and delivery point.
The Cost Crossover Point
The break-even point between FTL and LTL depends on the specific route and carrier rates, but for most UK domestic movements it falls somewhere between 10 and 15 pallets. Below 10 pallets, LTL is almost always cheaper. Above 15 pallets, FTL is typically more economical and significantly faster. In the 10-to-15 pallet range, it is worth getting quotes for both options and comparing the total cost alongside the delivery time difference.
Full Truck Load Costs in the UK
FTL pricing in the UK is primarily driven by distance. Most haulage companies, including Rincon Services, price full truck load shipments on a per-mile basis with a minimum charge for short distances. Typical FTL rates for a standard articulated lorry range from £1.50 to £2.50 per mile for distances over 100 miles. Shorter runs often carry minimum charges of £250 to £400 to cover the fixed costs of dispatching the vehicle.
As practical examples: a 100-mile FTL run might cost £300 to £450, a 200-mile journey approximately £400 to £600, and a 300-mile cross-country delivery around £550 to £800. These rates assume standard daytime delivery with reasonable access at both ends. Surcharges may apply for same-day bookings, weekend or bank holiday delivery, restricted access sites, or waiting time beyond standard allowances.
Container haulage from ports is a specialised form of FTL where a loaded shipping container occupies the full trailer. Port FTL rates include the additional time and costs associated with port entry, vehicle booking systems, and terminal waiting time. Rincon Services provides competitive FTL container haulage from Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury, London Gateway, and Liverpool.
Advantages of Full Truck Load Transport
Speed and Directness
An FTL vehicle drives straight from collection to delivery without detours. This makes it the fastest road freight option for any given distance. For time-sensitive goods — perishable food, just-in-time manufacturing components, or retail stock needed for a promotion launch — FTL eliminates the delays inherent in multi-stop LTL services.
Reduced Handling and Damage Risk
Your goods are loaded once at collection and unloaded once at delivery. They are never removed from the trailer at intermediate hubs, never stacked alongside other customers' freight, and never transferred between vehicles. This minimal handling significantly reduces the risk of damage, loss, or contamination — making FTL the preferred choice for fragile, high-value, or sensitive goods.
Scheduling Flexibility
Because you are hiring the entire vehicle, you have greater control over collection and delivery times. Need a 6:00 AM collection to meet a factory production schedule? An FTL carrier can accommodate that. Need delivery within a specific 2-hour window at a customer's warehouse? FTL makes precise scheduling practical in a way that multi-stop LTL services cannot.
Security
With FTL, the trailer doors can be sealed at collection and not opened again until the delivery address. This tamper-evident approach provides an additional layer of security for high-value or sensitive cargo. For pharmaceutical goods, bonded freight, or high-theft-risk products, FTL with sealed doors is often a requirement rather than a preference.
How Rincon Services Handles Full Truck Load Freight
Rincon Services operates a fleet of 20+ HGVs providing full truck load transport across the entire United Kingdom. Our FTL services cover three core areas — container haulage from all major UK ports (Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury, London Gateway, and Liverpool), dedicated freight runs between warehouses and distribution centres, and Amazon Relay logistics for e-commerce fulfilment networks.
Our Bedfordshire depot is strategically positioned in the centre of England, providing efficient access to all corners of the UK. With 24/7 operations running 365 days a year, we can dispatch FTL vehicles at short notice for urgent requirements or schedule regular runs for customers with ongoing freight needs. Contact our team for a competitive FTL quote tailored to your specific route, cargo, and timing requirements.