What is full truckload transport?
In full truckload (FTL) transport the truck is reserved for one shipper’s cargo. It is loaded at your premises and driven straight to the delivery address, with no stops to pick up other loads and no transhipment on the way. The rate covers the whole truck rather than the space your cargo occupies, so any spare room in the trailer is yours too.
The industry-standard 13.6-metre curtain-side trailer usually takes 33 Euro pallets (120 × 80 cm) loaded single-stacked. The maximum payload depends on the vehicle combination and the weight limits of the countries on the route; for heavy cargo we confirm the limit at the quote stage.
Full truckload or groupage?
| Criterion | Full truckload (FTL) | Groupage (LTL) |
|---|---|---|
| Use of the truck | The whole truck is dedicated to your cargo | The truck is shared with other loads heading the same way |
| Rate basis | Per truck | Weight, volume (m³) or loading metres (LDM) |
| Transit time | Direct, so more predictable | Consolidation and distribution add time |
| Handling | Nobody touches the cargo between loading and unloading | Transhipment and extra handling are possible |
| Best for | Loads that fill the truck; heavy, sensitive or urgent cargo | A few pallets with a flexible delivery date |
Once your cargo fills most of a trailer, a full load often costs little more than groupage, and it is faster, with less handling. For loads of a few pallets, see our groupage transport page.
What is FTL best suited to?
- Series production and raw materials: regular, full-truck shipments from plant to plant.
- Heavy cargo: marble, ceramics and metal products that are heavy for their size.
- Bulky cargo: furniture, textiles and white goods that fill the trailer by volume.
- Sensitive, high-value cargo: shipments where transhipment and extra handling are unwelcome.
- Fixed delivery dates: loads that a production line, a project or a contract is waiting for.
- Temperature-controlled cargo: full loads of food and pharmaceuticals by refrigerated transport.
Overland or Ro-Ro?
Full loads from Türkiye to Europe travel in one of two main ways: entirely by road, crossing land borders such as Kapıkule, or by Ro-Ro ferry to ports in countries such as Italy and then onwards by road. A Ro-Ro leg can cut out some transit countries, their border crossings and their transit permit requirements, but it depends on sailing days. The overland route does not depend on a sailing schedule, which makes it more flexible. The right choice depends on the destination, the nature of the cargo, the delivery date and current border conditions, and we recommend a route for your load at the quote stage.
Loading and load security
In a full truck the cargo is stowed so that it cannot slide or tip over during the journey. The weight is spread evenly across the trailer floor to stay within axle-load limits, and pallets are secured with ratchet straps, anti-slip mats and corner protectors. From you, we need sound pallets, stretch-wrapped cargo and clear stackability markings on the packaging. Letting us know the opening hours at the loading and delivery addresses, and whether a forklift or loading dock is available, means the truck can be loaded and unloaded without waiting.
How a full-load shipment works
- Request: send us the loading and delivery addresses, cargo type, weight, pallet count and preferred loading date through the quote form, by phone or on WhatsApp.
- Vehicle allocation: our operations desk allocates a suitable tractor and trailer and plans the driver and the route.
- Documents: the invoice, packing list and CMR are prepared; the export declaration and, depending on the destination, an A.TR, EUR.1 or transit documents are arranged.
- Loading: the cargo is spread evenly across the trailer and secured.
- Transit and tracking: border and transit crossings are monitored from one operations desk, and you are kept informed throughout.
- Delivery: after customs formalities, the cargo is delivered to the consignee without transhipment.
How full-load rates are built
- Distance and route: overland or with a Ro-Ro leg; the countries crossed, motorway, bridge and ferry costs.
- Vehicle type: curtain-sider, refrigerated or specialist equipment.
- Cargo weight: weight limits on the route and how the load is distributed.
- Return loads: the chance of finding a backload from the destination region has a direct effect on the rate.
- Season and demand: truck capacity on the lane tightens at peak times.
- Extra services: additional loading or delivery points, waiting time and customs formalities.
Import and transit full loads
Full-load freight is not only for exports. We also carry import loads from Europe to Türkiye, and transit loads crossing Türkiye to third countries, as full truckloads. For imports we plan the export formalities in the loading country, the transit and customs clearance in Türkiye from the outset; for transit loads, the T1 or TIR carnet procedure. For declarations and regulation, see our customs clearance service.
Why Multitransport?
- Our own tractor fleet: on European lanes, our own tractors and curtain-side trailers keep the delivery plan in our hands.
- One operations desk: vehicle allocation, driver planning and routing are decided in one place.
- Border and transit monitoring: paperwork is ready before loading, and border crossings are part of the plan.
- A wide network: scheduled lanes and an agency network across 54 countries in 8 regions.
- Certified processes: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001 management system certificates.