LTL transports to Eastern Europe: when part loads make more sense than full truckloads
Not every
delivery to Eastern Europe requires a fully utilised truck. Especially for small and medium-sized shipments, LTL transports can be an economical alternative to a full truckload. However, the quantity of goods is not the only deciding factor. Delivery date, route, transhipment, type of goods and flexibility play an equally important role in the choice between LTL and FTL.
Before every shipment, companies therefore have to ask themselves: when is a part load worthwhile, and when is a dedicated truck the better solution?
What does LTL transport mean?
LTL stands for “
Less than Truck Load”. With a part load, the shipment occupies only part of the available loading space or payload of a truck. The remaining space is used for other shipments.
This spreads the transport costs across several customers. Especially for a few pallets, individual machines, smaller production batches or regular shipments of goods, this can be considerably more economical than booking a complete truck.
With an FTL transport (“Full Truck Load”), the entire vehicle is usually available for one shipment or one customer.
When is a part load to Eastern Europe worthwhile?
LTL is particularly attractive when the transport volume is too small for a complete truck and an extremely short transit time is not required.
For example, a company needs to transport six or eight pallets from Germany to Romania. A complete articulated truck would be technically possible, but often does not make economic sense. If the pallets are combined with other shipments as a part load, the available loading space can be used much more efficiently. The same principle applies to transports to Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia or the Baltic states.
LTL can also make sense for regular deliveries. Instead of collecting larger quantities of goods and then sending a complete truck, smaller quantities can be spread across several transports as required.
LTL is not automatically groupage
Part loads and classic groupage are often treated as the same thing. In practice, however, there are differences. With classic groupage, a shipment often passes through several terminals or transhipment points. Part loads, on the other hand, can be carried with considerably fewer transhipments or even directly from sender to consignee, depending on the route and the transport concept.
This can be of particular interest for machines, sensitive products or larger individual items. That is why a transport request should not only ask for the cheapest price. It is just as important to know how the specific carriage is organised and whether, and how often, the goods are reloaded.
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When is FTL the better choice?
As the volume increases, the cost advantage of a part load decreases. From a certain point, a complete truck can be more economical and make more sense operationally.
FTL also offers advantages when a fixed delivery date has to be met or the goods are particularly sensitive, high-value or difficult to combine. Another advantage is direct carriage. The truck is loaded at the sender and then drives to the agreed consignee. There are no additional loading and unloading points for other shipments. For ADR goods, temperature-controlled products, oversized goods or goods with special requirements, it must also be checked individually whether combining them with other loads is possible and sensible.
Transit time or transport costs?
When deciding between LTL and FTL, two factors are often in conflict: price and time.
A part load can be cheaper but may take more time because of additional loading and unloading points. A direct transport as an FTL or express run, on the other hand, is usually faster but causes higher costs if the vehicle is poorly utilised. Companies should therefore state as early as the request when the goods must arrive at the consignee. Not every shipment needs the fastest possible delivery. If there is a realistic time window of several days, there are many more ways to combine a part load sensibly with other transports.
LTL or FTL? A practical decision aid
There is no fixed threshold above which a full truckload automatically pays off. Vehicle type, weight, loading metres, route and current capacities all influence the price. For an initial assessment, however, companies can use the following criteria:
| Situation |
LTL / part load |
FTL / full truckload |
| A few pallets or a smaller shipment |
✓ |
|
| The truck would only be partly utilised |
✓ |
|
| The delivery date is flexible |
✓ |
|
| Cost optimisation is the priority |
✓ |
|
| Regular smaller delivery quantities |
✓ |
|
| The goods can be combined with other shipments |
✓ |
|
| Larger quantity of goods or high loading space requirement |
|
✓ |
| Very tight or fixed delivery date |
|
✓ |
| Direct carriage required |
|
✓ |
| Additional loading and unloading points are to be avoided |
|
✓ |
| Particularly sensitive or high-value goods |
case by case |
✓ |
| ADR, temperature-controlled or special goods |
case by case |
case by case |
A simple practical example: if five pallets need to be transported from Berlin to Bratislava and delivery can take place within an agreed time window, there is a lot to be said for a part load. If, on the other hand, 28 pallets are needed, a complete truck is often the more sensible solution.
In between, there is a range in which both options can be attractive. With 12 to 18 pallets, for example, a part load on a well-served route can still be attractive. Depending on the weight, required loading metres, date and available vehicles, however, an FTL solution may already be more economical. That is why the number of pallets should not be the only basis for the decision. A light, stackable shipment requires much less capacity than non-stackable pallets or bulky machines of the same weight.
Rule of thumb: the smaller and more flexible in time the shipment, the more attractive LTL becomes. The larger, more urgent or more demanding the load, the more likely FTL is to pay off.
Special features of non-EU countries in Eastern Europe
For transports within the European Union, handling is comparatively straightforward. For deliveries to non-EU countries such as Moldova, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo or Ukraine, customs and, where applicable, transit procedures are added. This also affects the planning of a part load.
If several shipments with different consignees and customs procedures are combined on one vehicle, documents, customs offices and the order of unloading have to be coordinated.
Good LTL planning therefore does not just mean finding free loading metres on a truck. Route, customs clearance and scheduling have to be aligned with one another.
Planning a transport?
Send us the key details – we will get back to you the same day with a non-binding quote.
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What information does the freight forwarder need?
The more precisely a transport request is made, the better it can be assessed whether LTL, FTL or another transport solution makes sense.
The following are particularly important:
- Loading and unloading location
- Number and type of packages
- Dimensions and weight
- Stackability of the goods
- Description of the goods
- Desired loading and delivery date
- Special requirements, for example ADR or temperature control
For exports to non-EU countries, the commodity code and information on customs clearance may also be required.
LTL transports with MARTIN Internationale Spedition
MARTIN Internationale Spedition GmbH organises part loads and full truckloads between Germany, Western Europe and numerous countries in Eastern Europe.
These include Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and the Baltic states, as well as transports to Ukraine, Moldova and other countries outside the European Union.
Depending on the shipment size, route and desired transit time, we check whether a part load, a full truckload or a direct run is the right transport solution.
In doing so, we take into account not only the available loading space but also the transit time, possible transhipments, customs clearance and the requirements of the goods in question.
