Full Truck Load FTL: when to choose it for international shipments

What is FTL full truck load

FTL stands for Full Truck Load. In an FTL service, the entire vehicle — usually a semi-trailer with 82-90 m³ of space and up to 24 tonnes of payload capacity — is dedicated exclusively to a single client's shipment.

Unlike groupage (LTL), where goods are consolidated with those of other shippers, in FTL there are no intermediate stops to load or unload other cargo. The vehicle departs from the collection point and arrives directly at the final destination.

When to choose FTL full truck load

The choice between FTL and groupage depends on several variables. In general, a full load becomes the most convenient and logically correct choice in certain situations.

• Bulky cargo: when occupying more than 50-60% of a semi-trailer's capacity
• Urgent goods: FTL guarantees minimum transit times, without waiting for consolidation
• High-value goods: fewer handling operations means less risk of damage or theft
• Fragile or delicate goods: the load is never mixed with that of other clients
• Need for collection and delivery at precise times: the dedicated vehicle allows maximum flexibility
• Goods requiring special transport conditions

Advantages of international FTL service

The main advantage of full truck load is speed: without intermediate stops, transit times are significantly lower than groupage. An FTL shipment from Bisceglie to Paris takes 36-48 hours, compared to 5-7 days for groupage.

Cargo security is another strength: fewer handling operations during the journey mean less risk of damage, breakage or loss. For valuable or particularly fragile goods, FTL is almost always the recommended solution.

• Minimum transit times (direct delivery)
• Maximum cargo security (no intermediate handling)
• Flexibility in collection and delivery times
• Complete real-time tracking
• No risk of mixing with other clients' goods
• Ideal for special cargo requiring specific conditions

FTL costs: how the price is calculated

The price of an FTL service depends on several factors: total distance, type of vehicle required, motorway tolls, any permits for special transport and current market conditions (fuel, vehicle availability).

Unlike groupage — where you pay by actual weight or volume — with FTL you essentially pay for the journey, regardless of how much of the truck you occupy. For this reason, it is advisable to fill the vehicle to maximum capacity to optimise the cost per unit of goods.

FTL with Italfrance: the countries we reach

Italfrance S.r.l. offers FTL services from Bisceglie and throughout Puglia to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg. Thanks to our partner network, we are also able to cover destinations in Germany, Austria and other European countries on request.

Every FTL shipment is followed by a dedicated contact who coordinates all phases: collection, Alpine crossing, delivery. The client receives real-time updates and can contact the dedicated contact at any time during transport.

How to request an FTL quote

To receive a quote for an FTL full load to Europe, fill in the form on our website indicating: collection point, destination, load dimensions and weight, desired departure date and any special requirements.

We will respond within 24 hours with a detailed proposal. For urgent needs, we can be reached by phone on +39 348 331 4224.