In short: A full truck load (FTL) books the whole truck – up to 13.6 loading metres, 24,000 kg or 33 Euro pallets – and runs directly to the destination. A part load (often called LTL) starts at platforms such as Cargoboard from 7 pallet spaces or more than 3,000 kg and shares the truck with other shipments. Groupage covers smaller consignments (up to 6 pallets/3,000 kg at Cargoboard, up to 2,500 kg in DSV groupage) that are consolidated through cross-dock terminals.
The three modes at a glance
| Groupage | Part load (LTL) | Full truck load (FTL) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| German term | Stückgut | Teilladung | Komplettladung |
| Typical size (Cargoboard) | up to 6 pallets or 2.4 ldm, max. 3,000 kg, max. 1,000 kg per piece | more than 6 pallet spaces or over 3,000 kg, up to 30 Euro pallets or 12 ldm, max. 20,000 kg | up to 13.6 ldm, 24,000 kg, up to 33 Euro pallets |
| Threshold at DSV | groupage up to 2,500 kg | "Direct" from 2,500 kg | "Direct" |
| Process | collection, terminal handling, delivery | truck shared with other shippers' consignments | whole truck, no intermediate stops |
| Vehicle | changes between collection, main run and delivery | 40 t articulated truck (Cargoboard) | 40 t articulated truck (13.6 × 2.4 × 2.6 m) |
These limits are not standards but product definitions set by each provider. They differ between forwarders, so always check the specific thresholds in a quote.
Terms: FTL, LTL and groupage
FTL (full truck load) is unambiguous: the customer books the whole vehicle. LTL (less than truck load) is used inconsistently. Cargoboard uses LTL as a synonym for part load. DSV uses LTL for shipments above 2,500 kg that do not fill the vehicle and sells them together with FTL as "Direct". For small consignments, European English usually says groupage; DSV uses the term for shipments up to 2,500 kg moving through its terminal network. When tendering internationally, state quantities in pallets, loading metres and kilograms rather than just writing "LTL".
How prices are built
Groupage: Cargoboard names distance, weight and dimensions as price factors, plus surcharges for diesel, tolls and bulky goods. Billing is usually based on chargeable weight. In DSV's Swedish terms and conditions (version 14.2, May 2026) chargeable weight is the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric ("bulk") weight. For international transport DSV uses:
| Conversion (DSV, international, excl. Nordics/UK/Ireland) | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 333 kg per m³ |
| Loading metre | 1,850 kg per ldm |
| Pallet space (1.2 × 0.8 m or 0.4 ldm) | 740 kg |
Part load: Here the space taken up – in loading metres or pallet spaces – matters most, together with weight, distance, fuel and tolls (Cargoboard). For domestic LTL and FTL, DSV Sweden uses 1,950 kg per loading metre and 750 kg per pallet space.
Full truck load: The price covers the whole vehicle. According to Cargoboard it is driven mainly by toll and fuel costs, distance and additional services. How to turn that into a freight rate is shown in How to calculate a freight rate and Truck cost per km; for the fuel component see Fuel surcharge.
Worked example: 8 Euro pallets, 4,800 kg
An international shipment of 8 non-stackable Euro pallets weighing 4,800 kg in total:
- Floor space: 8 × 0.4 ldm = 3.2 ldm (see Loading metre)
- Volumetric weight by loading metre: 3.2 × 1,850 kg = 5,920 kg
- Volumetric weight by pallet space: 8 × 740 kg = 5,920 kg
- Chargeable weight: the higher of 4,800 kg and 5,920 kg = 5,920 kg
Classification: with more than 6 pallet spaces and over 3,000 kg this is a part load at Cargoboard; at DSV, being over 2,500 kg, it falls under Direct. At 30 pallets (12 ldm) Cargoboard's part-load maximum would be reached – beyond that, a full truck load is the right booking.
When to use which mode
- Groupage for a few pallets or packages, when a transit time of 1–2 working days domestically (Cargoboard Standard) is enough and price matters more than a direct run.
- Part load for medium quantities that are too big for the groupage network but do not fill a whole trailer.
- Full truck load for full or nearly full trailers, very heavy cargo close to 24 t, or when the goods must arrive without terminal handling and intermediate stops. Cargoboard says same-day delivery is possible depending on distance.
At what quantity an FTL becomes cheaper than a part load depends on the actual offer – for large part loads, compare quotes for both options directly.
Costing a full truck load
For full loads with your own or a chartered vehicle, Logist Calculator calculates road tolls for all European countries where they apply (HERE routing and toll data) and fuel cost using diesel prices from the EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, updated every Thursday – for vans up to 3.5 t, 7.5 t trucks and 40 t trucks. Calculate your route
FAQ
What is the difference between FTL and LTL?
With FTL you book the whole truck (up to 13.6 ldm, 24 t), which goes directly to the destination. With LTL you share the truck with other shipments, and the price depends on space used, weight and distance.
Is LTL the same as groupage?
Not always. Some providers use LTL for part loads above a weight threshold (DSV: over 2,500 kg), while groupage means small consignments handled through terminals.
How many pallets make a part load?
At Cargoboard, from 7 pallet spaces or over 3,000 kg; at DSV, Direct starts at 2,500 kg. There is no industry-wide threshold.
How many pallets are in a full truck load?
A standard semi-trailer usually takes 33 Euro pallets. Details in How many pallets fit in a truck?
Sources
- Cargoboard – Groupage shipping (German)
- Cargoboard – Part load shipping (German)
- Cargoboard – Full truck load shipping (German)
- Cargoboard – Calculating loading metres (German)
- DSV – Road transport (Italian)
- DSV – Groupage (Italian)
- DSV – Full loads, part loads and groupage (Italian)
- DSV – Terms and Conditions of Transport (Sweden), version 14.2, May 2026 (PDF)
Last updated: October 2026. Thresholds and conversion factors are provider-specific and may change – check the forwarder's current terms before quoting.