LTL (Less Than Truckload) means your freight rides with other customers and you pay for the share you occupy, by ton or m³. FTL (Full Truckload) means you buy the whole unit even if you do not fill it. Mexican market rule of thumb: below 6–8 pallets or about 4 tons, LTL usually wins on cost; above 12–14 pallets or when FTL on the lane costs less than summed LTL, dedicated wins; in between, time, handling risk, and appointments decide.

pallets: LTL often wins
6–8
pallets: FTL often wins
12–14
typical LTL transit
+1–3d
self-consolidation
3rd way

For finance, the typical error is comparing base rates. LTL brings surcharges that move the break by several points: compare expected total cost, including your historical damage rate.

Cluster: freight invoice audit · unit types · charge dictionary

Full comparison

Cost, time, handling, risk, and traceability do not move together. The table forces a decision on what hurts your operation most.

LTL vs FTL at a glance

Real break: 6–8 pallets LTL wins; 12–14 or lower total FTL wins.

LTL

Consolidated

  • · Pay a share
  • · +1–3 days
  • · More handling
  • · Less appointment control

FTL

Dedicated

  • · Pay the unit
  • · Direct
  • · Untouched freight
  • · High traceability
Source · CSCMP · MX corridor refs 2026

The break point, with numbers

Calculate both for every recurring shipment: LTL = per-ton or per-pallet rate × your load (+ surcharges); FTL = trip rate by unit type and corridor. Compare expected total cost, including historical LTL damage and shortage.

SignalTilts to LTLTilts to FTL
Pallets / weight≤ 6–8 / ≤ ~4 t≥ 12–14 or cheaper FTL
TimeYou tolerate +1–3 daysCritical appointment / retail OTIF
RiskRobust freightFragile / high value
ControlConsolidator itinerary OKYou need GPS and your own appointment
Calibrate with your history, not the market average.
Cross-dock: consolidated LTL vs dedicated unit
The break is not rate alone: handling, appointments, and surcharges decide.

Hidden LTL charges

Redelivery, reconsignment, appointment fees, oversize pallets, extended zones: each is legitimate when contracted and evidenced; each is leakage when it appears by default.

Hidden LTL charges

Select a step to see detail

Step detail · 01

Re-delivery

Missed

Consignee absent or missed appointment.

Third path: self-consolidation

If you generate several partial shipments to the same zone each week, consolidating yourself (one dedicated multi-stop unit) often beats both: FTL cost shared across your own deliveries, without third-party handling.

Export, cold chain, and negotiation

For regular US export, FTL with transfer usually gives more document control than cross-border consolidation. In cold chain, multi-customer LTL multiplies thermal failure points. Negotiate LTL with your real shipment profile on the table.

What OCL runs

OCL Cargo is an autonomous TMS with agents and computer use. It reconciles LTL waybills at volume and feeds mode decisions with a file. Coexists without day-one migration; humans on exceptions. OCL can stamp invoices and Carta Porte when the flow requires it.

Pre-pay

Consolidation under control

  1. Compare

    Total cost

  2. Audit

    LTL surcharges

  3. Assign

    Best mode

  4. Learn

    Real break

6–8 week pilot

Run LTL vs FTL on last-quarter recurring shipments and audit LTL surcharges at 100%. Metric: total cost per successful delivery and % of waybills with unsupported surcharges.

Elige un paso para ver el detalle

Detalle del paso · 01

Break by corridor with own data

Break by corridor with own data
Pilot signals
Key takeaways5 points
  1. LTL = share; FTL = full unit.
  2. MX rule of thumb: ≤6–8 pallets LTL; ≥12–14 FTL; middle = time and risk.
  3. Compare total cost, not base rate: surcharges move the break.
  4. Third path: self-consolidation multi-stop.
  5. OCL audits LTL waybills at volume and feeds mode decisions.

How much of your LTL spend is surcharges nobody reconciles?

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