When does groupage stop being the cheapest option? At what LDM threshold does a dedicated truck beat consolidated freight on price? This guide answers both questions with corridor-specific data, hidden cost breakdowns, and practical decision rules for European shippers.
LTL (Less than Truckload / groupage) charges by loading meter (LDM). Your cargo shares trailer space with other shippers' goods, and you pay only for the floor area your shipment occupies. The standard European trailer is 13.6 LDM wide and 2.4 m wide. One EUR pallet = 0.4 LDM; a 10-pallet shipment = 4.0 LDM.
FTL (Full Truckload) charges per truck, regardless of how much space you fill. A dedicated curtainsider trailer (13.6 LDM, up to 24,000 kg payload) is reserved exclusively for your cargo. There are no other consignments on the vehicle, no consolidation stops, and no transhipment at sorting hubs.
The implication: LTL cost scales linearly with your cargo volume; FTL cost is fixed per vehicle. This creates a natural crossover point — the break-even LDM — beyond which FTL becomes cheaper per loading meter than LTL groupage.
The break-even LDM is simply:
Break-even LDM = FTL rate (€) ÷ LTL rate (€/LDM)
Use the same service level for a fair comparison. Include fuel surcharges on both sides.
Note that France–Germany has a much lower break-even (6.5 LDM) because FTL trucks are plentiful and cheap on that high-density corridor. Spain–Poland has a higher break-even (~11 LDM) because the FTL rate is steep relative to LTL.
Indicative all-in rates, Q1 2026. LTL includes fuel surcharge. FTL is per truck (13.6 LDM, curtainsider).
| Corridor | LTL Economy (€/LDM) | LTL Standard (€/LDM) | FTL (€/truck) | Break-even | Transit (LTL/FTL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain → France | €90–108 | €108–130 | €850–1,050 | ~7 LDM | LTL 2–3d / FTL 1–2d |
| Spain → Germany | €125–150 | €150–180 | €1,450–1,750 | ~9 LDM | LTL 3–5d / FTL 2–3d |
| Spain → Italy | €90–108 | €108–130 | €1,050–1,300 | ~8 LDM | LTL 2–4d / FTL 1–2d |
| Spain → Netherlands | €118–142 | €142–170 | €1,550–1,850 | ~9 LDM | LTL 3–5d / FTL 2–3d |
| Spain → Belgium | €115–138 | €138–165 | €1,500–1,800 | ~9 LDM | LTL 3–5d / FTL 2–3d |
| Spain → Poland | €108–130 | €130–155 | €1,900–2,300 | ~11 LDM | LTL 4–6d / FTL 3–4d |
| Spain → UK | €160–195 | €195–240 | €2,200–2,700 | ~10 LDM | LTL 4–6d / FTL 3–4d |
| Spain → Switzerland | €135–162 | €162–195 | €1,350–1,650 | ~8 LDM | LTL 3–4d / FTL 2–3d |
| France → Germany | €95–115 | €115–145 | €750–950 | ~6 LDM | LTL 1–2d / FTL 1d |
| Italy → Germany | €90–110 | €110–145 | €950–1,200 | ~7 LDM | LTL 1–3d / FTL 1–2d |
Sources: Transroad operational data, spot market indices Q1 2026. Rates are indicative; actual quotes depend on cargo type, ZIP codes, and surcharges.
Rate comparisons often miss the surcharges that can add 20–40% to the base rate. Below are the most common hidden costs for each mode on European lanes.
| Mode | Cost | Typical Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTL | Fuel surcharge | 16–26% of base | Reviewed monthly. Always confirm current rate. |
| LTL | ADR supplement | +25–35% | Applies to any ADR classified goods. |
| LTL | Remote area surcharge | €15–50 | Rural postcodes, islands, non-standard zones. |
| LTL | Re-delivery charge | €35–85 | If consignee unavailable at delivery. |
| LTL | Tail-lift delivery | €25–60 | Required if no loading dock at destination. |
| FTL | Fuel surcharge | Included or +10–18% | Often pre-included in FTL rate; confirm per carrier. |
| FTL | Waiting time | €40–80/hour | After 1–2 free hours at loading/unloading. |
| FTL | RPLP (Switzerland) | €180–320/truck | Mandatory Swiss heavy vehicle road tax. |
| FTL | UK border fees | €150–280 | Customs clearance + GVMS transit (post-Brexit). |
| FTL | German LKW-Maut | €0.15–0.22/km | Often included in FTL quote; verify with carrier. |
On every European corridor, FTL is faster than LTL groupage. The gap is typically 1–2 days and has two causes:
Consolidation delay. LTL cargo must wait at the origin hub until the trailer is full enough to depart. This adds 0.5–1.5 days on most lanes. Express LTL minimises this by using priority loading, but consolidation still occurs.
Hub transhipment. Most LTL freight passes through at least one sorting depot en route (e.g. Lyon for Spain→Northern Europe). Each transhipment adds 12–18 hours. FTL skips all hubs — the driver goes direct.
For time-critical B2B shipments (automotive JIT, retail replenishment, exhibition equipment), the 1–2 day transit advantage of FTL often justifies a 30–50% premium over LTL Standard rates — even when the volume is below the strict cost break-even.
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The break-even point between LTL and FTL in Europe is typically 8–10 LDM. Below 8 LDM, LTL groupage is almost always cheaper. Above 10 LDM, FTL is generally more cost-effective because the per-LDM cost of a dedicated truck falls below the LTL tariff. The exact threshold varies by corridor: on Spain–Germany it is closer to 9 LDM; on Spain–France it can be as low as 7 LDM due to the higher density of FTL trucks on that lane.
FTL is always faster than LTL because the truck goes directly from origin to destination with no consolidation stops or transhipment at sorting hubs. LTL freight typically adds 0.5–2 days for consolidation at the origin hub and may pass through a sorting depot en route. On the Spain–Germany corridor, Express LTL takes 3–4 days vs FTL at 2–3 days. On Spain–Italy, Express LTL is 2–3 days vs FTL at 1–2 days.
LTL (groupage) hidden costs include: fuel surcharge (typically 16–26% of the base rate, reviewed monthly), ADR supplement for hazardous goods (25–35%), re-delivery charges if the consignee is absent (€35–85), tail-lift delivery surcharge (€25–60), remote area supplement for rural postcodes (€15–50), and customs handling fees for non-EU destinations (€80–250). Always request an all-in quote that includes these surcharges.
Yes — FTL pricing is per truck, not per LDM. If you book an FTL vehicle for a 5 LDM shipment, you pay the full truck rate regardless of how much space you use. This is why FTL only makes economic sense when your shipment fills a significant portion of the trailer (typically 8–10 LDM or more) or when you need guaranteed dedicated space, time-critical delivery, or a single-handling service for fragile/high-value cargo.
Transroad offers LTL groupage from Spain to 30+ European countries including all EU member states, Switzerland, UK, Norway, and the Western Balkans. High-frequency corridors (France, Germany, Italy) have daily departures. Lower-density destinations (Baltic states, Balkans) typically have weekly or bi-weekly consolidation runs.
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