Types of cargo 

Full Truck Load (FTL)

Full truckload, commonly referred to as FTL, is a type of shipping mode whereby a truck carries one dedicated shipment. In other words, the journey is reserved for one shipment only. FTL trucking has several advantages over the alternative trucking shipment mode, LTL, or less than a full truckload shipment.

Container transportation is suitable for sending large consignments of products on a complex route: with one or more reloads, as well as for multimodal transportation. Atlas Chain carries out transportation in 20- and 40-foot containers using container ships of the required type.

Full Truck Load (FTL)

Full truckload, commonly referred to as FTL, is a type of shipping mode whereby a truck carries one dedicated shipment. In other words, the journey is reserved for one shipment only. FTL trucking has several advantages over the alternative trucking shipment mode, LTL, or less than a full truckload shipment.

FTL Services

For shipments that are large enough to fill or nearly fill an entire shipping container, full truckloads work out cheaper.

Full truckloads are much less encumbered by size and weight restrictions.

FTL shipments get to the destination sooner, as the truck is making no other pickups or drop-offs along the way.

FTL transport means less handling (there is no transferring between trucks mid-transit), the shipment is likely to get lost or damaged.

Full Container Load (FCL)

The FCL freight term, meaning “full container load,” is a term used in ocean freight, as opposed to LCL (less than container load).

What Does FCL Mean?

A full container load does not mean that the shipment fills an entire container, but rather FCL freight shipping is a shipment mode, whereby only one shipment, or part of a shipment, is included in a container.

There are several benefits to using the FCL shipping mode rather than LCL. One of these benefits is a reduced risk of damage or loss.

Another big benefit of an FCL shipment is quicker transit time. There are several reasons for this, primarily that FCL shipments do not require consolidation and deconsolidation. In some circumstances, FCL may even be the cheaper mode, for example, if the shipment volume occupies 75% of the smallest shipping container.

Less Than Container Load (LCL)

Less Than Container Load (LCL) refers to any shipment that does not take up the full capacity of a shipping container (ie, a shipment with a volume of less than 20 cubic meters (CBM)). In this case, the shipment is consolidated with other LCLs.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Less than truckload, commonly referred to as LTL, is a type of shipping mode whereby a truck is available to carry more than one shipment. LTL trucking has several advantages over the alternative trucking shipment mode, FTL – a full truckload shipment.

For smaller shipments, less than truckload shipping works out cheaper. To quickly get accurate estimates on both modes, try this freight class calculator.

LTL loads have considerably more size and weight restrictions.

FTL shipments get to the destination sooner, as the truck is making no other pickups or drop-offs along the way.

FTL transport means less handling (there is no transferring between trucks mid-transit), so the shipment is less likely to get lost or damaged.

When it comes to quoting, LTL shipping is usually calculated by freight class, which usually breaks down to price-per-weight, whereas FTL shipping quotes are usually calculated by price per mile.

Less Than Container Load (LCL)

Less Than Container Load (LCL) refers to any shipment that does not take up the full capacity of a shipping container (ie, a shipment with a volume of less than 20 cubic meters (CBM)). In this case, the shipment is consolidated with other LCLs.