Full truck load services move up to 63% of the goods moved by road in Europe. This is the result of a survey by the consultancy firm Transport Intelligence in its report "European Road Freight Transport 2023", which shows the importance of this freight segment, also known as FTL (Full Truck Load), and in which it anticipates the expected growth of this traffic in the coming years.
One of the main conclusions of the study is that up to 92% of the companies surveyed foresee an increase in their full truckload services and more than half believe that they will grow at a faster rate than LTL (Less than Truckload) transport in the next five years.
Why is FTL transport growing?
The dynamic growth in FTL services is a consequence of the good results that loading companies are achieving by moving their goods as a unit in a single truck, exclusively filling the vehicle's entire load capacity. But there are also some factors that are improving the attractiveness of these traffics and help to explain this market dynamic:
- Lessons learned from the pandemic: the logistical challenges posed by COVID-19 highlighted the importance of CTF in ensuring the availability of transport capacity, especially in times of high demand and supply chain disruptions.
- Adapting to e-commerce: The continued expansion of e-commerce has generated a demand for logistics capable of handling large volumes of goods and ensuring their faster delivery to consumers. FTL has established itself as a direct and agile solution to meet these needs.
- More competitive on long hauls: the ability to transport full loads directly from point to point significantly reduces delivery times and the costs associated with intermediate stops and cargo handling. This is especially valuable on long-haul routes where transport efficiency directly impacts profitability.
- Greater control over the supply chain: The use of FTL allows companies to have greater control over their logistics operations, from planning to execution, facilitating better inventory management and reducing the risk of damage or loss during transport.
- Flexibility in freight management: although FTL may be less flexible compared to LTL in terms of freight consolidation, it offers a significant advantage in terms of adaptability to specific needs that shippers impose on delivery times.
What are the benefits of FTL services?
FTL transport operations have a number of advantages that make them an attractive option for companies in a variety of industries:
1. Cost reduction
By optimising utilisation of cargo space and minimising cargo handling, FTL can offer a more cost-effective solution for high-volume transportation.
2. Increased safety and reduced risk of damage
Direct transport without transhipment significantly reduces the risk of cargo damage, loss or theft.
3. Efficient transit time
The elimination of additional stops for loading and unloading on LTL routes allows for faster delivery times and greater reliability in the conditions set.
4. Full industry customisation
FTL services offer the flexibility to adapt to specific transportation requirements, such as oversized loads, weight or special conditions.
5. Supply chain optimisation
The efficiency and reliability of FTL enables better planning and management of the supply chain, improving the flow of goods and customer satisfaction.
What FTL transport services does Rhenus operate?
Rhenus Logistics is one of the leaders in the European road freight market and a strategic partner for many companies in the FTL segment, offering global connectivity thanks to an extensive direct transport network linking any origin and destination on the continent.
"We are committed to excellence, which we demonstrate with tailor-made full truckload services that go beyond the transport of goods. We treat each FTL project with unique attention to align ourselves 100% with the specificities of the customer and provide advice and added value to improve each service," explains Andreu Gutiérrez, Country Sales Director Road for Rhenus Logistics in Spain.
With this objective in mind, Rhenus provides three types of services adapted to the most demanding delivery times:
Urgent deliveries: we offer various solutions to speed up express deliveries as much as possible, such as the incorporation of a second transporter so that they can drive in shifts and minimise stops.
Milk Run: we organise pick-ups at different points and with different customer suppliers until the lorry is filled and taken to its final destination.
Just-in-Time deliveries: we can fully customise the shipping process to arrive just when the goods are required to arrive to provide maximum efficiency for the customer.
Want to see the advantages of FTL transport in your logistics operation? Contact our team of experts.