At a Glance
- Typical consignment size
- 1–10 LDM / 500–10,000 kg
- Transit time within Germany
- 1–3 business days (route-dependent)
- Transit time Germany–EU
- 2–5 business days
- Pricing basis
- LDM + weight (whichever is higher)
- Break-even against FTL
- approx. 10–11 LDM
LTL vs FTL: the decisive difference
With FTL (full truck load) one customer books the entire vehicle; with LTL several customers share the same lorry. FTL means a direct route without transhipment – LTL runs via transhipment points (hubs, depots). LTL is cheaper for smaller volumes (1–9 LDM) but usually takes 1–3 days longer because of the transhipment. The break-even point is typically around 10–11 loading metres.
LTL vs groupage: the fine distinctions
In German practice, LTL and groupage are often used synonymously. Groupage tends to describe the operating model (a scheduled service with fixed departure times and a hub-and-spoke network), while LTL denotes the loading concept.
Consolidation: how LTL works
In LTL traffic the forwarder collects consignments from various consignors (the pre-carriage leg). These are consolidated at the depot – that is, sorted by destination and combined into an economical overall load. At the destination hub the consignments are deconsolidated again and delivered to the individual consignees in the on-carriage leg.
When is LTL the best choice?
LTL is recommended for consignments between 1 and roughly 10 loading metres, or between 500 kg and 10 tonnes, where no fixed delivery time (just-in-time) is required. Typical LTL goods are industrial pallets, machine parts and semi-finished products.
