Cargo Software Guide

FTL vs LCL Cargo Software — Softpal Cargo Handles Both

FTL needs vehicle bidding, GPS tracking, and km-slab billing. LCL needs weight slab, multi-LR logic, multi-delivery routing, and per-piece billing. Softpal Cargo covers both — in one unified platform.

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FTL + LCL
Both Cargo Types Supported
3,167+
Vehicle Vendors Available
8
Rate Models Covering All Cargo Types
1–2 Wks
Average Go-Live Time

FTL Cargo — Key Capabilities

Full Truck Load — Vehicle Placement & Driver Management

FTL operations require vehicle allocation to specific trips. Softpal Cargo manages vehicle placement confirmation (customer + vendor), driver assignment with contact details, trip charges, advance payment, and balance tracking — all linked to the original pickup request.

FTL Bidding — Get Best Rate from 3,167+ Vendors

For FTL movements, Softpal Cargo's bid system sends quotation requests to multiple vehicle vendors simultaneously. Compare total freight, advance amount, vehicle number, and vehicle description from all responses — and confirm the best bid for vehicle placement in one click.

GPS Tracking + Km-Based Billing for FTL

FTL trips are tracked via GPS device integration and SIM card tracking on Google Maps. Rate Models 7 (Km slab + pro-rata) and 5 (total vehicle weight) cover FTL-specific billing scenarios with mandatory km entry and automatic monthly pro-rata calculation.

FTL Vendor Settlement — Advance + Final, Pickup or Trip

Vendor payments for FTL trips follow a two-stage settlement: advance at vehicle placement and final settlement on trip completion. Settlement Type 1 covers pickup collection; Type 2 covers the entire trip. Diesel, cash, and other expenses are tracked against each settlement.

LCL Cargo — Key Capabilities

LCL — Weight Slab, Per Kg & Per Piece Billing

Less-than-truck-load cargo is billed using Rate Models 3 (weight slab + destination), 6 (per kg by slab), or 8 (per piece on delivery). Each rate model auto-calculates freight based on actual consignment weight or piece count without manual intervention.

Multi-Pickup & Multi-Delivery for LCL

Rate Model 3 supports one-and-multipoint pickups combined with one-and-multipoint deliveries — essential for LCL consolidation. Consignee-wise rates, vehicle-type rates, and destination-location rates handle the complexity of shared-load billing automatically.

LR-Based Billing with Multi-Consignee Support

Each LCL shipment gets its own Lorry Receipt (LR). When multiple LRs share one vehicle, Softpal Cargo applies the highest-trip freight to the primary LR and zeros the rest — with loading/unloading and additional delivery charges auto-assigned from the contract.

LCL E-Way Bill — Auto-Extend Across All Consignees

LCL movements often have multiple E-Way Bills for different consignees in one vehicle. Softpal Cargo tracks all bills, flags expiring ones, and enables bulk auto-extension with pre-filled vehicle number, pincode, and state — ensuring compliance for every consignee on the trip.

FTL vs LCL vs Softpal Cargo — Feature Comparison

See how FTL, LCL, and Softpal Cargo (which supports both) compare across key cargo capabilities.

FeatureFTL OnlyLCL OnlySoftpal Cargo
Full Vehicle Allocation
Weight Slab / Per Kg Billing
Per Piece Billing
Km-Slab Monthly Rate
Multi-LR in One VehiclePartial
Bid / Auction for Vehicle
GPS TrackingPartial
Driver & Vehicle SettlementPartial
Multi-Pickup & Multi-Delivery
E-Way Bill Multi-ConsigneeSingle
Consignee-Wise Rate Contract
Global Quote Comparison

Which Cargo Setup Should You Choose?

Use this decision guide based on your cargo operation's specific needs.

Choose FTL Cargo Setup If…

  • You move full vehicles for single customers or destinations
  • You need vehicle bidding and placement confirmation
  • You require GPS tracking and driver management
  • Your billing is per trip, per km slab, or monthly pro-rata
  • You need advance + final vendor settlement per trip

Choose LCL Cargo Setup If…

  • You consolidate multiple consignees in one vehicle
  • Your billing is per kg, per piece, or by weight slab
  • You need multi-pickup and multi-delivery routing
  • You manage E-Way Bills across multiple consignees per trip
  • You use consignee-wise or destination-wise rate contracts

Not Sure? Softpal Cargo Handles FTL and LCL in One Platform

Contact us to configure the right rate models for your operation — start with one cargo type and expand as needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions — FTL vs LCL Cargo Software

Full Truck Load (FTL) means one customer or consignee fills an entire vehicle for a single trip. Less than Container/Truck Load (LCL) means multiple consignees share one vehicle, each with their own LR and billing. FTL suits large shipments needing dedicated vehicles; LCL suits smaller consignments where sharing reduces freight cost. Softpal Cargo handles both with dedicated rate models, billing logic, and compliance features.

FTL cargo typically uses Rate Model 1 (consignee + vehicle + route), Model 4 (adhoc spot bidding), Model 5 (total vehicle weight), and Model 7 (km slab + pro-rata monthly). LCL cargo uses Model 3 (destination + weight slab + multi-point), Model 6 (per kg by slab), and Model 8 (per piece on delivery). All 8 models are available in one platform — you configure the right model per customer contract.

When one vehicle carries multiple LRs for an LCL movement, Softpal Cargo applies the freight of the longest (highest value) route to the first LR, and automatically sets all remaining LRs to zero freight with charges auto-assigned from the contract. Loading, unloading, and additional delivery charges are auto-created from contract configuration — eliminating manual calculation for every multi-consignee trip.

Yes. Softpal Cargo integrates with GPS device providers and SIM card tracking systems — both accessible on the same platform. The manifest screen overlays live vehicle location on Google Maps with tracking number, LR number, driver name, and source-destination coordinates. For LCL, all consignees on the manifest share the same vehicle track view.

For FTL, vendor settlement follows a two-stage model: advance at vehicle placement and final settlement on trip completion — tracked against trip charges, diesel, and cash payments. For LCL, vendor settlement uses the same two-stage model but at the pickup collection level (Type 1), allowing settlement per pickup rather than per full trip. Both settlement types are available for all cargo movements.

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Get Expert Advice on the Right Cargo Setup for Your Business

Our cargo experts will assess your FTL/LCL mix and recommend the right rate models and workflows — free of charge.

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