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Freight Shipping Modes, Explained

A plain-English guide to the ways freight moves, from full truckload to ocean, and when each one makes sense.

What we do: Cosmos Dispatch arranges full truckload freight (dry van and reefer) across the US and Canada, plus container drayage to and from US ports. This guide also explains the modes we don't handle, so you can pick the right one for each shipment.

Shipping Modes

Six Ways Freight Moves

Full Truckload (FTL)

One shipper fills a whole trailer. The truck goes straight from pickup to delivery.

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Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)

Several shippers share one trailer and pay only for the space they use.

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Intermodal

Containers ride the rail for the long haul, with trucks at each end.

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Drayage

Short truck moves for shipping containers to and from terminals.

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Air Freight

The fastest way to move freight long distances, at the highest cost.

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Ocean Freight

The lowest-cost way to ship large volumes between countries.

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Specialized Services

Terms You'll Hear

Services that sit on top of the main modes, for freight with special needs.

Partial Truckload

Mid-size loads, often 6 to 12 pallets, that share a trailer without going through LTL terminals.

Hazmat

Regulated dangerous goods. Needs trained, certified carriers, placards and proper shipping papers.

Expedited & Team

Time-critical freight. Two drivers take turns so the truck keeps moving almost nonstop.

Drop Trailer

An empty trailer is left at the shipper or receiver so they can load or unload on their own schedule.

Heavy Haul & Oversize

Loads too heavy, wide or tall for normal limits. Needs special trailers, permits and sometimes escort vehicles.

Transloading & Warehousing

Moving goods from one container or trailer to another, such as ocean containers into 53-foot trailers, with storage in between.

Customs Brokerage

Licensed customs brokers clear imports with U.S. Customs, file the entry and pay duties for the importer.

Cross-Border

Shipping to or from Canada and Mexico. Involves customs on both sides and carriers allowed to cross the border.

In Detail

How Each Mode Works

Full Truckload (FTL)

We handle this

One shipper's freight fills the trailer, or the shipper pays for the whole trailer. The truck drives straight from pickup to delivery without stopping for anyone else's freight.

Best for

  • Around 10 or more pallets, or more than about 15,000 lbs
  • Time-sensitive freight that needs a direct route
  • Fragile goods that should be handled as little as possible

Good to know

  • Priced per load, mostly by distance, equipment type and how busy the market is.
  • Usually faster and safer than LTL because the freight stays on one truck.
  • Common equipment: dry van, reefer, flatbed and step deck.
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Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)

Several shippers share one trailer, and each pays for the space and weight its freight takes up. The freight moves through terminals, where it is sorted and moved onto other trucks along the way.

Best for

  • 1 to 6 pallets, roughly 150 to 15,000 lbs
  • Shipments that are not urgent
  • Shippers who want to avoid paying for a whole truck

Good to know

  • Priced by weight, distance and freight class, a standard rating based on how dense and easy to handle the freight is.
  • Slower than truckload, and freight is handled more, so good packaging matters.
  • Extras like a liftgate or residential delivery cost more.

Intermodal

Freight travels in a container that moves by rail for the long middle part of the trip. Trucks handle the pickup and delivery at each end.

Best for

  • Long distances, often more than 700 miles
  • Steady, planned freight with flexible delivery dates
  • Shippers looking to cut cost on long lanes

Good to know

  • Often cheaper than truckload on long lanes, but usually a day or more slower.
  • Rail schedules and terminal cut-off times shape the timeline.
  • Weight limits can be lower than a standard truckload.

Drayage

We handle this

Short-distance trucking that moves shipping containers between ports or rail terminals and nearby warehouses. It is usually the first or last leg of an international or intermodal shipment.

Best for

  • Picking up import containers after they are unloaded
  • Delivering export containers to a terminal
  • Moving containers to a warehouse for unloading or transloading

Good to know

  • The container rides on a chassis, a wheeled frame that is often rented separately.
  • Terminals give a set number of free days. After that, storage fees such as demurrage and per diem can add up quickly.
  • Most terminals require a pickup or drop-off appointment.

Air Freight

Freight flies on cargo planes or in the hold of passenger flights, with trucks moving it to and from the airports.

Best for

  • Urgent shipments
  • High-value, lightweight goods
  • Time-critical parts and samples

Good to know

  • The most expensive mode per pound.
  • Priced by chargeable weight: the greater of the actual weight or a weight based on the package size.
  • Strict rules for batteries, liquids and other dangerous goods.

Ocean Freight

Freight crosses the ocean in shipping containers, either a full container (FCL) or a shared container (LCL). Freight forwarders and NVOCCs usually book it and manage the paperwork.

Best for

  • Large international shipments
  • Goods that can wait several weeks in transit
  • Keeping cost per unit low

Good to know

  • Transit takes weeks, and port congestion or weather can add delays.
  • Imports must clear customs before they can leave the terminal.
  • Once in the US, freight usually continues inland by drayage, rail or truckload.
Equipment

Common Truckload Trailer Types

EquipmentWhat it haulsTypical sizeTypical max cargo
Dry vanBoxed or palletized goods that need protection from weather53 ft enclosed trailer, about 26 standard palletsAbout 42,000–45,000 lbs
ReeferFood, produce, pharmaceuticals and anything that must stay cold or frozen53 ft refrigerated trailer, set anywhere from about −20°F to 70°FAbout 42,000–44,000 lbs
FlatbedSteel, lumber, machinery and building materials loaded from the side or top48–53 ft open deck, 8.5 ft wideAbout 45,000–48,000 lbs
Step deckTaller freight that would be too high on a standard flatbed48–53 ft with a lower rear deck for freight up to about 10 ft tallAbout 45,000–48,000 lbs
Power onlyYour own loaded trailer, when you need a truck and driver to pull itYour trailerDepends on your trailer

Typical figures. The real limit depends on the truck's own weight, and most US highways cap a loaded truck at 80,000 lbs total.

See all truck and trailer types, with drawings

Side by Side

Quick Comparison

ModeSpeedCostBest for
Full TruckloadFast, directMediumFull trailers and time-sensitive freight
LTLSlower, stops at terminalsLow per shipmentA few pallets
IntermodalA day or more slower than truckLower on long lanesLong distances with flexible dates
DrayageShort local movesVaries with terminal feesContainers to and from terminals
AirFastestHighestUrgent, high-value, light freight
OceanSlowest (weeks)Lowest per unitLarge international volumes

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