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The simplest explanation of a full truckload shipment is a shipment where you pay for all of the visible loading space on a trailer. The solution however can vary depending on the cargo, equipment, and person you are talking to. For shippers these nuances can be a little confusing at times. In this article we are going to try and simplify it a little bit.
Sometimes you just need the space
If you have a large amount of freight to ship you will need to purchase the full truck. Most of the time when folks talk about a full truckload they are referring to a 53′ enclosed van trailer. Not all trailers are the same but the standard trailer’s external dimensions are 53′ long x 102″ wide x 13’6″ tall. If you are loading standard pallets you can fit up to 26 depending on the loading configuration.
Sometimes you just need the service
Notice in our definition we define this kind of shipment as one where you pay for all of the visible loading space on a trailer. The truth is many shippers may not always use the full visible space on the trailer but still pay for the full truck. Why would they do this? Because they need the service level that comes with full truckload. Let us explain.
Full truckload offers direct transit from shipper to consignee
Many shippers need to know exactly when their freight is going to deliver. Sometimes they have a deadline to meet. A full truckload shipment will deliver from origin to destination directly. The driver should only stop for standard breaks or required DOT down time. LTL shipments and partial truckloads have a longer transit because there is more places to stop.
Full truckloads are more readily available
The number of drivers available to take a load depends on a variety of factors. Often it comes down to supply and demand or more simply put: the ratio of trucks to loads in a particular area. This can be further reduced by the number of restrictions you place on a load. Partials create a restriction. There are fewer drivers looking for or willing to haul a partial load. Most drivers want a full load. If you don’t have a lot of lead time to get your load moving, it may be best to purchase the full truck.
We hope this article is helpful as you look to move your freight. At BAM Freight we specialize in LTL and Truckload shipping. If you need assistance with either of these please give us a call at 904-559-1731 or via email at customerservice@bamfreight.com.
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Dave Stevens
Transportation Executive with experience in developing processes and controls for early stage start up companies. Specialties include: Sales, Marketing, Transportation, Trucking, Brokerage, Project Transport and Rail Operations.,Organizational Design, Process Development, Accounts Receivable Management, Leadership, and Business Start-ups.
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