LTL Freight and Groupage Explained: Cost, Transit and Suitable Cargo

LTL freight (less than truckload), also called groupage, is a road freight method in which the cargo of several shippers is combined in one truck and each shipper pays only for the space its own goods occupy. It is the most economical solution for small consignments that are not large enough to fill a truck.

If you are ordering a few pallets from a Turkish supplier, testing a new product with a sample lot or replenishing stock in Central Asia or Russia in small batches, groupage lets you ship regularly without paying for a whole truck. This guide explains how LTL works, how it is priced, how long it takes and which cargo suits it best.

How LTL freight works

LTL is built on a network of collection and distribution. Your cargo is collected from the supplier's warehouse, or delivered by the supplier to the carrier's hub (consolidation warehouse). There it is loaded together with other cargo going on the same route; this step is called consolidation.

When the truck crosses the border and reaches the destination country, the cargo is sorted at a distribution warehouse and sent on to the final delivery addresses. Because of these two extra steps, groupage shipments can take a few days longer than a dedicated truck, but the cost of the truck is shared by many shippers, so the unit price falls clearly.

On international LTL shipments, export customs is handled with a separate declaration for each shipper. Complete documents matter: one shipper's missing paperwork can hold up the whole truck and its consolidation schedule.

What does the consolidation hub do?

The hub is the junction point of the groupage network. Pallets from different customers are sorted by route, weighed, measured and loaded onto the right truck. The partner warehouse in the destination country does the reverse: cargo unloaded from the truck is grouped by consignee and transferred to delivery vehicles. The layout of the warehouse and the quality of handling matter as much as the choice of carrier for your goods to arrive undamaged.

How LTL freight is priced

A full truck has one rate per vehicle; with LTL freight the charge depends on the space your cargo takes up in the truck. Three measures are used:

• Loading metre (LDM): one metre of trailer length across the full trailer width. Two euro pallets side by side take up about 0.8 loading metres.
• Volume or volumetric weight: for light but bulky goods, volume in cubic metres is converted into a chargeable weight; the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight is charged.
• Pallet count: for cargo stacked on standard euro pallets, a price per pallet is the most practical method.

Collection and delivery at both ends, border costs and any warehouse handling fees are added to this. Rates change with market conditions, the season and exchange rates; all the cost items are covered in our article on how international freight rates are calculated.

For regular, small-volume shipments, choosing routes with weekly groupage departures makes both price and schedule more predictable.

Benefits and limits of groupage

Benefits

• Lower cost: you pay only for the space you use, which brings real savings on small loads compared with a full truck.
• Frequent departures: on busy routes trucks leave several times a week, so you do not need to build up a large order.
• Stock flexibility: sending smaller lots as needed reduces warehouse costs on the buyer's side.
• Testing a new market or supplier: a sample or trial order can be shipped at low cost.

Limits

• Longer transit: consolidation and distribution steps extend delivery time.
• Extra handling: unloading and reloading at the hub increases the risk of damage, so solid palletising is essential.
• Product compatibility: different goods share the truck, so odour, moisture or temperature conflicts are possible; refrigerated groupage is available only on some routes.
• Schedule dependency: the truck may wait for other shippers' cargo.

LTL or FTL? Comparison table

The right choice depends on volume, urgency and how sensitive the product is. The benefits of a dedicated truck are explained in our guide to full truckload (FTL); the table below summarises both methods:

Roughly, if your cargo takes up less than a third of the trailer, groupage makes sense; if it takes up more than half, a full truck is usually better. In between, delivery date and product sensitivity decide. If you receive regular orders from the same supplier, combining several orders into one full truck can be more efficient in both price and time.

Which cargo and routes suit LTL freight?

Palletised, packaged goods, spare parts, textiles, cosmetics, electronic components, marble samples and dry food are ideal for LTL freight. Fragile goods need pallets with corner boards, stretch wrap and strapping; liquids need leak-proof packaging.

Among routes, Europe has the most developed groupage network. On the road freight route from Turkey to Germany, small loads move regularly on weekly groupage departures. Groupage is also available to Central Asia, for example to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but with more border crossings the consolidation schedule is less frequent than to Europe. Our groupage and LTL service also combines cargo from several suppliers into one truck.

At sea, the equivalent of groupage is LCL (less than container load). For distant markets such as China, LCL can be seen as the sea version of road groupage; details are in our guide to container shipping from Turkey.

How to prepare a groupage shipment

In groupage your cargo travels with other goods and is handled at least once at a hub. These steps reduce both damage and delay:

1. Stack goods on standard euro pallets to a height that suits the trailer, and stretch-wrap them.
2. Label every pallet with the consignee's name, order number and pallet count.
3. Write pallet dimensions and gross weight correctly on the packing list; the loading metre calculation is based on them.
4. Make sure export declaration and origin documents are ready before the truck departs, and confirm document requirements against current regulations and the destination country's rules.
5. Arrange cargo insurance that matches the value of the goods; it matters even more when cargo is transhipped.

Frequently asked questions

How long does groupage take?

On European routes it usually takes about 2-4 days longer than a full truck; groupage from Antalya to Germany is often delivered in a little over a week. On Central Asia and Russia routes the time can be longer, depending on how often consolidated trucks depart.

Is there a minimum shipment size?

Most carriers accept cargo from a single pallet. On very small shipments, however, fixed costs push up the price per pallet, so combining a few pallets is usually better value.

What is a loading metre and how is it calculated?

A loading metre is one metre of trailer length across the full trailer width. Multiply the length of the cargo by its width and divide by the trailer width of about 2.4 metres; for example, a 1.2 x 0.8 metre euro pallet takes up about 0.4 loading metres.

How should groupage cargo be packed?

The cargo will be unloaded and reloaded by forklift at the hub, so it must be secured on the pallet, stretch-wrapped and strapped if needed. Use warning labels on goods that must not be stacked.

BNK Logistics (BNK Lojistik), based in Muratpaşa, Antalya, plans road, sea and rail routes to Europe, Russia, Central Asia and China, and helps you decide whether groupage or a full truck fits your volume and delivery schedule. Send your cargo details through our quote form or call us on +90 542 485 53 70 or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 485 53 70.

Updated: October 16, 2026