Skip to content
5.0 rated on Trustpilot

Truck Shipping Companies

Truck shipping companies move most of the country's commercial freight, from a pallet across town to a full trailer across the country. FullTruckload.com books dedicated trucks of every size, from Sprinter vans to 53 ft dry vans and flatbeds, loaded once and driven direct.

What shippers get

Delivered 500 Miles Away That Night

“Had a truck that morning and delivered that night 500 miles away!” — Michelle

Saved for the Next Time We Need a Truck

“I have Kevin's email saved for the next time I need a truck.” — Corey

Updates All the Way, Ahead of Schedule

“He kept us updated on the truck location and the order delivered ahead of schedule!” — Stacie

Freight by the numbers

Freight by the numbers

54.8 million tons

of freight worth $68.4 billion moved across the US every day1

What it means for you

Trucks carry most of the freight that moves in the U.S. every day, much of it over short distances. Choosing the right service and truck is what keeps your share of it moving on time.

56.4%

of US freight tonnage travels less than 50 miles2

Most freight tonnage moves short distances.

73.6%

of US-Mexico trade value moved by truck in 20253

Trucks carry most freight across the Mexico border too.

34%

of companies now rely on larger inventory buffers, down from 59%4

Leaner inventories make timely freight more important.

Straight truck (box truck)
In short

Commercial goods, mostly by truck

Nearly every shipment starts or ends on the road.

Freight transportation What it means

What freight transportation means

Freight transportation is the movement of commercial goods from the business that ships them to the business or person that receives them. It covers raw materials going to factories, parts going to assembly lines, finished goods going to warehouses and stock going to stores and job sites. Trucks carry most of it, because nearly every shipment starts or ends on the road.

This page is about shipping freight by truck. People looking to ship a car or other vehicle will find that under auto transport services, which work differently.

Truck shipping companies range from networks that move small boxes to carriers and providers that book a whole truck for one shipper. FullTruckload.com books dedicated trucks for commercial freight, sized to each load and driven direct.

Aerial view of a truck driving on the road
The point

Size and urgency pick the service

Parcel, full truckload or a dedicated truck.

Services Ways to ship

Ways to ship freight by truck

There are a few main ways to ship freight by truck. Parcel networks move small boxes through sorting hubs on set routes, which suits packages but not pallets or heavy items. Full truckload means one shipper books the whole truck, which is loaded once at pickup and driven straight to the receiver. Dedicated or expedited trucks are dispatched for one shipment on short notice and leave as soon as the freight is loaded.

Shippers also work with two kinds of companies. A carrier owns trucks and hauls the freight. A broker arranges a carrier's truck for the shipper without owning it, which can open up more trucks and lanes.

The right service depends on the size of the shipment and how soon it must arrive. FullTruckload.com books full truckload and dedicated trucks for each load.

Compare services

Parcel, full truckload or dedicated expedited

A parcel network, a full truckload and a dedicated expedited truck each suit a different shipment. FullTruckload.com books full truckload and dedicated trucks; read across to compare.

Parcel network Small boxes Full truckload FullTruckload.com Dedicated expedited Urgent loads
Small boxes Yes: Built for it Sometimes: Sprinter van Yes: Sprinter van
Pallets and full loads No: Size limits Yes: Built for it Yes: Van to dry van
Runs direct No: Sorting hubs Yes: One truck Yes: One truck
Leaves at pickup No: Set routes Sometimes: Planned pickup Yes: Dispatched for you
Handled once No: Sorted several times Yes: Loaded once Yes: Loaded once
Best for Packages Planned freight Freight that cannot wait

Parcel network

Small boxes
Small boxes
Yes: Built for it
Pallets and full loads
No: Size limits
Runs direct
No: Sorting hubs
Leaves at pickup
No: Set routes
Handled once
No: Sorted several times
Best for
Packages

Full truckload

FullTruckload.com
Small boxes
Sometimes: Sprinter van
Pallets and full loads
Yes: Built for it
Runs direct
Yes: One truck
Leaves at pickup
Sometimes: Planned pickup
Handled once
Yes: Loaded once
Best for
Planned freight

Dedicated expedited

Urgent loads
Small boxes
Yes: Sprinter van
Pallets and full loads
Yes: Van to dry van
Runs direct
Yes: One truck
Leaves at pickup
Yes: Dispatched for you
Handled once
Yes: Loaded once
Best for
Freight that cannot wait

General comparison; services vary by company and shipment.

Worker loading a truck
The rule

Pay for the truck you need

Size points to the truck; urgency to the timing.

Choosing By size and urgency

Choosing by size and urgency

Matching the truck to the shipment avoids paying for more than you need. A few boxes can often go by parcel. A pallet or two that has to move today fits a Sprinter van, which carries up to about 3,000 lbs. Several pallets suit a box truck, up to about 5,000 lbs, or a straight truck, up to about 9,000 lbs, often with a liftgate for sites without docks.

Heavy urgent freight such as machinery or pipe fits a hot shot, up to about 16,000 lbs on a flatbed trailer. Full enclosed loads go in a 53 ft dry van, up to about 42,000 lbs, and full open-deck loads go on a flatbed, up to about 48,000 lbs.

Urgency then decides whether the truck is planned ahead or dispatched right away. FullTruckload.com books both.

5.0 from 1,600+ reviews on

Freight ready to ship by truck? Get a truckload quote.

Share the freight, both addresses and the dates, and we will book a dedicated truck sized to the load.

  • pick up box was delivered in 24 hours with updates as the delivery went on

    Brandon
  • We received same day service on a truck frame from Ohio to Michigan when we only called at 10:00 am to see if the delivery was even possible let alone the same day. INCREDIBE service.

    Edwin

Request a Quote

Step 1 of 3Origin and Destination Info

Trucks and trailers

The right truck for your freight

Hot shot truck5 / 6

Hot shot truck side view
32–40 ft42,000 lbs
Hot shot truck rear view
102 inWide
120 inHigh
Deck length32–40 ft
Payload42,000 lbs
Deck width102 in
Load height120 in
Best for

Construction, oilfield and farm equipment, machinery

About hot shot trucks

A hot shot pairs a heavy-duty pickup with a gooseneck flatbed trailer. It is the fast choice for equipment and machinery that need an open deck but not a full semi. Ramps at the back let rolling equipment drive straight on.

Price a hot shot truck

Send the pickup, delivery and weight, and we'll match the truck to your load.

Talk to dispatch(800) 373-2480 Get a hot shot quote
Construction workers on site
The upshot

Every industry ships by truck

Regular and one-off freight need different setups.

Industries Who ships by truck

How industries ship by truck

Every industry ships by truck, but in different patterns. Manufacturers bring in parts and raw materials and ship out finished goods, often on regular schedules with urgent runs when a line is short. Retailers move stock from distribution centers to stores, sometimes with several stops on one route.

Construction companies send steel, lumber, pipe and equipment to job sites on flatbeds and hot shots. Food and beverage companies move packaged goods in dry vans. E-commerce sellers move inventory between fulfillment centers, and trade show teams send exhibits to venues on a fixed date, often in straight trucks with liftgates.

Regular freight suits planned truckloads, while one-off and urgent shipments suit trucks dispatched on short notice. FullTruckload.com books both, so shippers do not need to juggle several providers.

TRUCKLOAD FREIGHT

LOADED ONCE, DRIVEN DIRECT

A dedicated truck collects the freight at pickup and drives it straight to the receiver, with no transfers and no other freight on board. This is how FullTruckload.com moves truckload freight, from a Sprinter van to a full 53 ft trailer or flatbed.

Expeditor Andy
The upshot

Details book the right truck

Weight, size and site details shape the booking.

Getting ready Ready to ship

Getting a shipment ready

A well-prepared shipment books the right truck the first time. Have a bill of lading ready, listing the shipper, the receiver and the freight; the driver signs it at pickup as a receipt. Know the total weight, the number of pallets or pieces and the dimensions, including anything oversized.

Check both ends. Does each site have a loading dock, or does the truck need a liftgate? Are there delivery appointments, gate hours or site rules? Who are the contacts at each end?

FullTruckload.com uses these details to book a dedicated truck sized to the load and keeps the shipper updated until proof of delivery. Truck shipping companies move most of the country's freight, and the right details make sure yours gets the right truck.

Truck Shipping Companies Questions Answered

What do truck shipping companies do?

Truck shipping companies move commercial freight by road, from the business that ships it to the business or person that receives it. They carry raw materials, parts, finished goods and stock on vehicles from cargo vans to full tractor-trailers. Some move small boxes through parcel networks, while others book a whole truck for one shipper's freight and drive it direct. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later.

What does freight transportation mean?

Freight transportation means moving commercial goods from shippers to receivers, such as raw materials to factories, parts to assembly lines, finished goods to warehouses and stock to stores and job sites. It can use trucks, aircraft, ships or trains, but trucks carry most freight within the United States because nearly every shipment starts or ends on the road. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly.

Is truck shipping the same as car shipping?

No, truck shipping for freight and car shipping are different services. Freight truck shipping moves commercial goods such as pallets, crates and machinery. Car shipping, often called auto transport, moves vehicles on specialized car carriers. Many search results mix the two, so it helps to look for freight trucking when moving goods and auto transport when moving a vehicle. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays.

What are the main ways to ship freight by truck?

The main ways to ship freight by truck are parcel networks for small boxes, full truckload where one shipper books the whole truck and it runs direct, and dedicated or expedited trucks dispatched for one shipment on short notice. The right choice depends on the size of the shipment, how soon it must arrive and how it will be loaded and unloaded. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment.

When should I use a full truckload?

Use a full truckload when the freight fills most of a truck, when it is fragile or valuable and should be handled only once, or when it needs to move direct without stops. A full truckload is loaded once at pickup and driven straight to the receiver. It also suits smaller loads that need a dedicated truck for speed or care. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later.

What is the difference between a broker and a carrier?

A carrier owns trucks and hauls freight, while a broker arranges a carrier's truck for a shipper without owning trucks itself. A carrier suits regular freight on lanes it runs often. A broker can reach many carriers, which helps when freight changes from load to load, when regular carriers are full or when a different truck type is needed. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly.

Which industries ship freight by truck?

Nearly every industry ships freight by truck. Manufacturers move parts in and finished goods out, retailers restock warehouses and stores, construction companies send materials to job sites on flatbeds, food and beverage companies use dry vans, e-commerce sellers move inventory between fulfillment centers, and trade show teams ship exhibits to venues on fixed dates. Truck shipping companies that handle both regular and one-off freight save shippers from juggling several providers. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays.

What trucks do truck shipping companies use?

Truck shipping companies use a range of trucks sized to the freight. Sprinter vans carry boxes and a pallet or two, box trucks and straight trucks carry several pallets with liftgates for sites without docks, hot shots carry heavy urgent freight, 53 ft dry vans carry full enclosed loads, and flatbeds carry steel, lumber and machinery. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment.

What information do I need to ship freight by truck?

To ship freight by truck, you need to know what the freight is, the total weight, the number of pallets or pieces and the dimensions, including anything oversized. You also need the pickup and delivery addresses and dates, whether each site has a loading dock or needs a liftgate, any appointments or site rules and the contacts at each end. Sharing complete details when booking helps avoid delays. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later.

How do I book a truck for my freight?

To book a truck for your freight, share what the freight is, the weight, the number of pallets or pieces and the dimensions, the pickup and delivery addresses and dates, whether each site has a dock or needs a liftgate, and the contacts at each end. The provider then books a truck sized to the load and confirms the pickup time. A provider can confirm what is possible for a specific shipment. Asking these questions before booking avoids surprises later. Planning ahead makes the delivery go more smoothly.

Get a quote

Need a truck for your freight? Get a quote now

Enter your pickup, delivery and date, and we will book a dedicated truck sized to the load.

5.0 from 1,600+ reviews on

Request a Quote

Step 1 of 3Origin and Destination Info

They are great. he kept me up to where the truck was. Which was very helpful and no other truck line has done that. They went out of their way to please me. Great Job. I will use them again.

Kelly · Verified review on Trustpilot
CTA Hero Star Background
TOP