What is Full Truckload?
Full Truckload (FTL), also called truckload or TL, is a road freight service in which a single shipper books the entire capacity of a truck, and the trailer moves directly from pickup to delivery without intermediate cross-docking. Rates are usually quoted per load or per mile or kilometre, with fuel surcharges and accessorial charges added. Capacity is limited by both volume and weight regulations: in the US, federal limits on the Interstate System are 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight, with 20,000 lb per single axle and 34,000 lb per tandem, and 53-foot dry vans are common equipment. In the EU, Directive 96/53/EC caps articulated vehicles at 16.50 m length and generally 40 tonnes, with higher limits for certain intermodal container combinations. Standard European semi-trailers have a 13.6 m loading length, which typically holds 33 Euro pallets.
Why it matters for forwarders
FTL makes sense when cargo is large enough to fill a truck by weight or volume, or when speed, security and reduced handling justify the cost. The forwarder's main risks are overweight loads, which bring fines and rejected deliveries, and accessorial charges such as detention, layover and redelivery when appointment windows are missed. Plan axle weight distribution, not just total weight, for dense cargo. In North America, load tenders and status updates are often exchanged via X12 204, 990 and 214 messages. Document appointment times, loading responsibility and waiting time terms in the rate confirmation to avoid disputes.