On the Poland ⇄ Ireland route we handle both models: LTL (less than truckload — part loads, a few pallets) and FTL (full truckload — a whole vehicle to yourself). Each has its use. Below we explain how they differ and how to pick the cheaper option for your shipment.
LTL — part loads on pallets
In the LTL model your load shares the trailer with other companies' consignments, and you pay only for the pallet spaces you occupy. It is the natural choice when:
- you are sending between 1 and a dozen or so pallets,
- you would not fill a whole vehicle,
- you want regular weekly departures without waiting for a full load.
The more spaces, the lower the unit rate — we explain the pricing logic in a separate post: how much transport to Ireland costs.
FTL — a whole vehicle to yourself
With FTL you hire the entire trailer just for you. The load is not reloaded or combined with others, it travels the shortest way and usually the fastest. FTL makes sense when:
- you have a full or nearly full load (for example a factory sending a batch of windows or furniture),
- the goods are sensitive and you want to avoid reloading,
- time and date certainty matter,
- you have an oversized load or one that needs a reefer.
Where the break-even point lies
Rule of thumb: as long as you are not filling the vehicle, LTL is cheaper, because you pay only for your own spaces. As the number of pallets grows and approaches the trailer's capacity, the part-load price catches up with the cost of a whole truck — and that is when FTL starts to pay off, while also giving you faster transport with no reloading. The exact threshold depends on dimensions and zone, which is why on larger batches we simply quote both options and show which comes out cheaper.
What an own fleet adds
We run both FTL and LTL on our own vehicles — this is not brokerage. In practice that means:
- A fixed schedule of weekly departures in both directions.
- Control over the load and SMS/email notifications at every stage.
- An FTL quote usually within 24 h and carrier liability cover up to €200,000.
- The ability to handle reefer and oversized loads.
We also come back from Ireland to Poland, so if you need transport the other way, take a look at return loads IE → PL — often at a better rate thanks to spare capacity on the return leg.
The takeaway: a few pallets → LTL and you pay per space; a full, urgent or sensitive load → FTL and a whole vehicle to yourself. Not sure which pays off? Work out the part-load price in the price list or ask for an FTL quote — we will compare both.
Has been organising transport of pallets, windows and furniture on the Poland ⇄ Ireland route since 2017. He writes about what actually works — on the road and in the warehouse.