Moving goods from A to B can be complex. Whether you're moving furniture, palletised goods, general freight or anything else, you may come across the terms FTL, LTL and backloads. All of these are common ways to transport goods long distance using a truck. Let's delve into what each means. 

What is FTL?

FTL stands for Full Truck Load. This means the truck is loaded to its maximum capacity with goods from a single shipper, heading to a single destination.  Essentially, the entire truck is dedicated to one customer’s cargo. If you are moving goods from a large house or need to transport a heavy amount of goods, then you may have enough for a full truck load, depending on the size of the truck. 

The good thing about FTL is that there is only one pickup, one shipment and one place to deliver. This means the transist times are often faster and there are no transfers involved. 

FTL costs: If you can fill an entire truck load with your goods, then FTL is your best bet cost-wise too. If you are considering a full truck load for furniture, another option you have is container transport. This is a self-pack option where you hire a container to pack yourself and then only pay for the transport of your goods. It tends to be a lot cheaper than FTL loads but again, it's important to compare between the two. Get free quotes for both here. 

The estimate cost of FTL loads is approximately $80 to $150 per cubic metre.

What is LTL?

What's the difference between FTL and LTL? LTL stands for Less Than Full Truck Load. 

LTL shipments involve multiple shippers’ goods being consolidated into one truck. Instead of filling the entire truck, each shipper only pays for the portion of the truck that their cargo occupies.

LTL is ideal for smaller shipments that don’t require a full truck. This method can be more cost-effective for shippers who don’t have enough goods to justify a full truck load.

For example, let's say you have 20m3 of goods but the truck can hold 40m3. There's no point in paying for that additional 20m3, right? With LTL shipments, you don't have to. Best Rated Transport can assist in LTL and FTL loads. 

The good thing about LTL loads is you're only paying for what space you take but it does tend to be slightly higher per cubic meter. The cost of LTL shipments tend to be around $150 to $250 per cubic metre. Another thing to consider when it comes to LTL shipments is that it can take longer in transit and there will be multiple stops for multiple clients. However, if you are flexible and willing to consider sharing a load, this can be a very cost effective way to move your items. 

What is a Backload?

Backloading is another very smart option for moving items long distance. A backload refers to a return trip or an additional load that a truck picks up after completing its initial delivery. 

Essentially, it involves using the empty space in a truck that's already scheduled to travel to your destination. This is typically done when a moving company has a truck returning to its base or a nearby area after completing a delivery, and it’s a cost-effective way to fill that truck's return journey.

Backloading is ideal for interstate and long distance moves, especially if you don't have a set date. If you are willing to be flexible with your dates, even by just a few days or a week, then you will have a better chance to finding a removalist that can offer you this cheap way to move. Backload costs tend to fall around $100 to $200 per cubic metre depending on the location. 

At Best Rated Transport, we only work with trusted backload operators so you can rest assured that your items are in good hands throughout the journey. When you compare removalist quotes, we can automatically look into backload transport options for you. 

Find a truck easily through Best Rated Transport. Free quotes. No obligation to book. Connect with the Top Rated Transport companies in Australia.

We are Australia's Best Rated way to compare prices, read reviews and more.