Understand what the service includes
Full load commonly describes a vehicle or trailer dedicated to one shipment. It does not have to be physically full. A company may need dedicated capacity because of a fixed appointment, handling restrictions or the goods themselves. Agree whether the service permits other collections, stops or transfers; the label alone does not promise a direct uninterrupted journey.
Part load uses only part of the available capacity and may travel alongside other compatible freight. Depending on the carrier’s service, it can involve additional stops or transfers. Ask where the goods will be handled and who is responsible at each stage. Do not assume that all part loads use the same network or timetable.
Measure the goods and check both sites
Give the carrier the quantity, floor footprint, total weight and dimensions of the goods, including packaging and any overhang. State whether units can be stacked, mixed with other freight or handled more than once. A few large, non-stackable items may occupy substantial floor space even when their weight is low.
Match those details to usable vehicle capacity, loading access and securing arrangements. Gross vehicle weight is not payload: the vehicle’s own weight and applicable limits affect what it can carry. Ask the carrier to confirm the actual configuration rather than relying on a standard pallet count.
Check approach restrictions, yard space, loading height and equipment at collection and delivery. Identify who loads and unloads. A shared or dedicated service still needs a suitable vehicle and safe arrangements at both ends.
Compare the proposed movement
Use this comparison to ask questions, not to assign a service automatically. A tight delivery window may rule out a particular shared route, but it does not rule out every part-load service. The carrier must confirm what it can actually provide. Compare written commitments and the complete price, including agreed waiting, handling and changes.
| Check | Dedicated vehicle | Part-load service |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Reserved for the agreed shipment | Agreed share of usable capacity |
| Timing | Confirm slots and permitted stops | Confirm windows and route flexibility |
| Handling | Agree loading and any transfers | Check transfers and freight compatibility |
| Site access | Suitable vehicle and equipment at both ends | Suitable vehicle and equipment at both ends |
| Price scope | Written total, tax basis and agreed extras | Written total, tax basis and agreed extras |
Questions for dedicated and shared capacity
Space
- Dedicated vehicle
- Reserved for the agreed shipment
- Part-load service
- Agreed share of usable capacity
Timing
- Dedicated vehicle
- Confirm slots and permitted stops
- Part-load service
- Confirm windows and route flexibility
Handling
- Dedicated vehicle
- Agree loading and any transfers
- Part-load service
- Check transfers and freight compatibility
Site access
- Dedicated vehicle
- Suitable vehicle and equipment at both ends
- Part-load service
- Suitable vehicle and equipment at both ends
Price scope
- Dedicated vehicle
- Written total, tax basis and agreed extras
- Part-load service
- Written total, tax basis and agreed extras
Two shipper scenarios
These are planning scenarios, not offers or promises of availability. Ten non-stackable pallets with a fixed unloading appointment and restricted handling may justify a dedicated vehicle even if it is not full. The decision still depends on dimensions, weight, access and a carrier confirming the appointment and handling method.
Three compatible pallets with a flexible delivery window may suit a shared service if a carrier confirms the space, route, compatibility and any transfers. Flexibility does not guarantee a lower price or an available collection. Obtain the actual service and quotation before deciding.
Prepare a request the carrier can confirm
- Record quantity, dimensions, weight, stackability and handling limits.
- Give both site contacts, access details, equipment and responsibilities.
- Separate fixed appointments from genuinely flexible windows.
- Ask whether capacity is dedicated or shared, and about stops or transfers.
- Agree the total, VAT basis, extras, cancellation terms and delivery record.
Describe the freight accurately when preparing an HGV load request. Do not treat posting a request as confirmation of shared capacity or an automatically arranged consolidation plan: obtain the carrier’s accepted service details. A return load describes a carrier’s backhaul opportunity; it does not by itself tell a shipper whether capacity is dedicated or shared.
- Vehicle
- Movement plan
- Delivery record