What is a full truck load?
A full truck load, often written as FTL, means that an entire truck is booked only for your goods. Nothing belonging to another customer is loaded along with it, and the truck goes from your pick-up address to your delivery address without stopping to collect or drop any other consignment on the way. Because the vehicle is reserved for you alone, your goods are handled only twice, once when they are loaded and once when they are unloaded, and this is the biggest reason why careful customers choose a full truck for valuable, fragile or time-sensitive goods.
At Shree Shyam Logistics Movers we have been arranging full trucks from Pune for more than 12 years, for families, offices, traders and factories. Our Pune office is right in the middle of Pune's truck and transport belt, so we are able to find the right vehicle and a trained loading team quickly, and we can also send our supervisor to check the load when the consignment is large or valuable.
Who should book a full truck?
A full truck is the natural choice whenever the volume of your goods is large enough to fill most of a vehicle, or whenever you want complete control over the loading and delivery. Some of the people who use it most often are listed below, but if your situation is not here, please call us and we will tell you honestly whether a full truck or a smaller option suits you better.
- Families shifting a full 2BHK, 3BHK, row house or bungalow to another city, where furniture, appliances, kitchen items and boxes together need a large vehicle
- Offices and shops moving all furniture, files, computers, racks and stock in a single trip so that work can restart quickly at the new place
- Traders, distributors and manufacturers sending a large consignment to one customer or one warehouse in another state
- Anyone whose goods are fragile, expensive or important and should travel alone, without being shifted from one vehicle to another in the middle of the journey
Truck sizes and how we choose the right one
Choosing the correct vehicle is the first and most important decision in any transport job. A truck that is too small will force a second trip or leave goods behind, and a truck that is too large means you pay for space you do not use. We arrange small pickup-type vehicles for light loads, mid-size trucks for a normal two or three bedroom home, and big trucks or containers for large homes, factory goods and heavy machinery. When you send us your item list and the approximate weight or number of rooms, our team suggests the size that is safe for the goods and fair for your budget, and we explain why we are suggesting it so that you can make an informed decision.
For household goods we usually ask for the number of rooms, the big items such as beds, sofas, wardrobes, fridge and washing machine, and the number of boxes you expect. For business goods we ask for the type of goods, the type of packing such as cartons, bags, drums or pallets, and the total weight. Please confirm the exact vehicle type and its loading capacity with our team when you receive the quote, so there are no surprises on the loading day.
How booking works, step by step
- Send your details. Tell us the pick-up and delivery locations, the type of goods and the approximate weight or number of rooms, using the quote form or a phone call.
- We call you back. Our team asks a few simple questions about floors, lifts, access for the truck and special items, and then gives you a clear quote with the details of what is included.
- You confirm the date. Once you are happy with the quote, we fix the date and the loading time and arrange the truck, the driver and the loading team.
- Loading and checking. The goods are packed if needed, loaded in the correct order with heavy items at the bottom, and checked against the list so that you know exactly what has gone in the truck.
- Transport. The truck leaves for your destination and our office remains in touch with the driver, so that we can answer your questions about the progress of the consignment.
- Unloading. At the delivery address the goods are unloaded where you want them, and you can check them against the list before you accept the delivery.
What to tell us for an exact quote
The more accurate your information, the more accurate our quote will be, and the less likely it is that anything will change on the day of the move. If you are not sure about any of these points, just tell us what you know and our team will help you fill the gaps.
- Complete pick-up and delivery address, including the floor and whether there is a working lift or only stairs
- Whether a big truck can reach the door, or whether goods must be carried to the main road or through a narrow lane
- A list of large items such as beds, wardrobes, sofas, fridge, washing machine, television, gym equipment or machines
- Whether you need packing material, packers, furniture dismantling or help with unloading and placing the goods
- Your preferred date and how flexible you are, because a flexible date often helps us offer a better arrangement
Documents and points worth knowing
For household goods you should keep an identity proof ready, and it is useful to keep a copy of your new address proof or rent agreement as well, because some societies ask for it at the gate. For business goods, the invoice and, where applicable, the e-way bill must be ready before the truck leaves, and the GST details of the sender and the receiver should be correct, because a mistake in paperwork can delay a vehicle on the road far more than any traffic jam.
Many large cities allow heavy vehicles inside the city only during certain hours, and some housing societies allow shifting only at fixed times, so the arrival of the truck has to be planned with these rules in mind. Please also ask us which charges are included in your quote, such as tolls, loading and unloading help, packing material and any waiting time, so that you can compare our quote with others on the same basis.
Looking after your goods on the road
Good loading is what separates a safe journey from a damaged one. Our loaders place heavy furniture and appliances along the front wall of the truck and at the bottom, put cartons on top in even layers, wrap wooden furniture to protect it from scratches, and tie or wedge everything so that nothing can slide or fall during turns, braking or rough road. Fragile cartons are marked and kept in a protected position, and soft items such as mattresses and bedding are used to fill gaps. This careful way of loading is a major reason why customers who book a full truck once usually call us again for their next move.
Full truck load or part truck load?
If your goods fill most of a truck, or if you need fixed timing and full control, a full truck is usually the better choice. If you have only a few boxes, one or two rooms of furniture or a small business consignment, a part truck load can cost less because you pay only for the space you use. If you are not sure which one is right for you, describe your goods to our team and we will tell you honestly which option makes more sense. You can also combine a full truck with packing and unpacking, loading and unloading and warehousing if you need them.