LTL / Groupage

LTL / Groupage - Consolidated Freight Across Europe

Not every shipment needs a dedicated trailer. LTL - Less than Truck Load, also called groupage - consolidates your cargo with other shipments heading the same general direction, so you pay for the space you actually use instead of an entire trailer. Cargo Logistic Solutions runs LTL groupage across Europe through a network of consolidation hubs, with pricing based on the space and weight your cargo occupies, not a flat trailer rate.

What LTL / Groupage Actually Means

Your cargo shares trailer space with other consignments, typically routed through a consolidation hub where freight from multiple shippers heading the same direction is grouped together, then de-consolidated and delivered separately at the destination end. This is the direct trade-off against FTL: LTL costs less per pallet for smaller volumes, but adds the time needed for consolidation and de-consolidation at hub stops along the route.

We price LTL by loading metre (ldm), cubic metre, or weight - whichever reflects the actual space your shipment occupies - rather than charging for a full trailer you don't need.

When LTL / Groupage Makes Sense

• You don't have enough volume to fill a trailer. A handful of pallets doesn't justify paying for 33 europallet spaces you won't use.
• Your cargo can absorb a few extra days. Consolidation and de-consolidation at hub stops typically add 2–4 days to transit time compared to a direct FTL route.
• You're shipping regularly in smaller volumes. Businesses with steady but modest shipment sizes benefit from LTL's per-pallet pricing over repeated FTL bookings that would run mostly empty.
• Budget matters more than speed. LTL is consistently the more cost-effective choice per unit of cargo when time pressure isn't the deciding factor.

If your shipment is large enough to fill most of a trailer, or time-sensitive enough that hub delays aren't acceptable, FTL is usually the better fit - we'll tell you that rather than default to LTL because it sounds cheaper.

How LTL / Groupage Pricing Works

Unlike FTL's straightforward per-kilometre rate, LTL pricing reflects the space your cargo actually takes:

Carriers typically charge whichever calculation gives the higher figure for your specific shipment - a lightweight but bulky pallet may cost more by volume than by weight, and vice versa for dense cargo.

What Affects LTL / Groupage Cost

• Space occupied (ldm/m³) or weight - whichever calculation applies to your shipment's specific dimensions and density.
• Number of hub stops on the route - more consolidation points can mean a longer transit but sometimes a better rate, depending on the corridor.
• Origin and destination density - routes with high shipment volume in both directions typically have better rates than low-density corridors.
• Packaging - securely palletised, stackable cargo is cheaper to handle through consolidation than irregular or fragile shipments.
• Delivery precision requirements - narrow delivery windows or appointment-based delivery can add cost on top of standard groupage pricing.
• Seasonality - peak periods increase hub congestion and can extend transit time or tighten capacity.

Why Choose Cargo Logistic Solutions for LTL / Groupage

We run our own consolidation network rather than subcontracting groupage to third parties, which means better visibility over your shipment at every hub stop rather than a gap once it leaves our direct control. Every shipment is insured under CMR convention liability, tracked from collection through consolidation to final delivery, with a dedicated logistics contact who can tell you exactly which hub your pallets are at. With offices in Poland, Spain, Germany and the UK, we run groupage routes across the corridors our clients ship on most regularly.

Shipping smaller volumes regularly? Get a quote for your LTL groupage - we'll confirm pricing basis, transit time, and whether FTL might actually work out cheaper for your specific volume.