FTL (full truckload)
Also called: full truckload, TL, truckload
FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
In depth: How many pallets fit in a truck? 53 ft and 48 ft trailer counts
In FTL the shipper pays for the trailer, not the weight or class. The goal is to fill it, by floor space, height or weight, whichever comes first.
Pallets per 53 ft trailer (single stacked)
| Pallet | Straight | Turned |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | 26 | 30 |
The pallets per truck calculator covers other sizes, trailers and containers. Actual counts also depend on the trailer's inside width, wheel wells, and door and wall features.
Weight limits
US federal rules cap gross vehicle weight on the Interstate at 80,000 lb (36,287 kg), and the payload is what remains after the tractor and trailer. Payloads are commonly in the low to mid 40,000 lb range (about 18,000 to 20,400 kg), but the carrier's figure for its own equipment is what counts. Dense products reach the weight limit before filling the floor.
Why it matters for pallet design
- Footprint: a pallet that allows two across and more rows raises the count.
- Height: double stacking needs a pallet and load that can carry a unit load on top.
- Weight: heavy pallets eat into payload on weight-limited loads.
- Securing: load bars or airbags stop shifting in a partly full trailer.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Give the trailer type, loading pattern (straight, turned or pinwheeled), whether pallets are double stacked, and the per-pallet weight. For empty pallets delivered by truckload, state the pallets per bundle and bundles per load.
Common confusions
"Truckload" in pallet supply often means a truckload of empty pallets, which is a quantity, not a freight mode.
Related
- GuidesHow many pallets fit in a truck? 53 ft and 48 ft trailer countsA 53 ft dry van holds 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight (two across, 13 rows) or 30 loaded turned (15 rows), single stacked. Double stacking doubles that if the loads allow. A 48 ft trailer holds 22 to 24 straight or 28 turned. Weight often runs out first, at about 42,000 to 45,000 lb of cargo.
- CalculatorsPallets per truck and containerHow many pallets fit in a 53 ft or 48 ft trailer, a box truck, or a 20 ft, 40 ft or 45 ft container, straight, turned or mixed, with a top-view load plan.
- GlossaryLTL (less-than-truckload)LTL (less-than-truckload) is freight too small to fill a trailer, shipped alongside other shippers' loads and moved through carrier terminals. It is priced by weight, distance, freight class and accessorial services, so pallet size and density affect the cost.
- GlossaryPallet positionA pallet position is the space for one pallet: a floor spot in a trailer or container, or a slot in a warehouse rack. Carriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) often count capacity and charge storage by pallet position.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- GlossaryLoad barA load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryFreight densityFreight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad overhangLoad overhang is any part of a unit load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet's top deck. Unsupported case edges lose compression strength, get damaged in handling, and increase the measured size of the shipment.
- GlossaryPinwheelingPinwheeling has two meanings. In palletizing it is a pattern where cases are arranged in rotated groups around the center of each layer, often leaving a small void. In trailer loading it means turning some pallets 90 degrees so more fit on the floor.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 275 words.