Shippers often face a false choice between the speed and security of truckload and the lower cost of LTL. Shared Truckload (STL) offers a third option, and it is gaining traction as shippers look for ways to reduce costs without sacrificing reliability.
Flock Freight’s FlockDirect® service enables STL at scale by pooling multiple shipments from different companies onto one truck—without terminal stops or transloading. With Shared Truckload, shippers pay only for the space they need and carriers avoid running partially empty. This naturally leads to fewer trucks on the road and fewer carbon emissions. It’s a clear alignment of operational efficiency, financial gain and environmental benefit.
Flock has staked its claim as the largest Shared Truckload brokerage in the U.S. by building the technology that makes this model work at scale. Its approach centers on automating the complex process of matching shipments into efficient Shared Truckloads. What used to be a manual, messy effort now happens in seconds.
Rethinking capacity: supply-side optimization
For carriers, the value of STL isn’t just in the initial route, it’s in how remaining trailer space is managed across the haul. Flock’s STL AddOnsTM product enables carriers to easily top off trucks with compatible freight during a Flock route, turning underutilized space into revenue.
This shift in capacity strategy—moving from spot-matching to in-transit optimization—is where STL’s potential really opens up. STL AddOns isn’t just about efficiency, it also reduces friction. Carriers get clear instructions, smooth transfers and fewer service disruptions for multi-stop loads, making the STL experience more predictable and profitable.
Scaling STL with AI
What enables this level of optimization is Flock’s AI-powered pooling engine. It doesn’t just match loads, it evaluates trillions of possible combinations based on origin, destination, timing, equipment, service levels and more. The result is a living, growing network that gets more efficient with every new shipment.
In contrast, manual STL efforts often involve matching in spreadsheets and with limited freight density, making service less consistent and savings hard to count on. With slow quoting, unpredictable ETAs and too many touchpoints, it’s clear why 96% of shippers say they’re unhappy with their current multi-stop solutions.
Flock’s tech-enabled model solves these challenges by automating what human brokers can’t reasonably scale, especially when precision and timing are critical.
STL in action: Two route examples
Let’s break down two real STL routes to see how this works on the ground.
Pool Example 1: Southern California → Georgia → Florida
Three Flock shippers—each operating independently—were pooled into a single, optimized Shared Truckload. The carrier initially booked the SoCal-to-Georgia leg, then received alerts about two AddOn load opportunities that aligned with the route and delivery windows. By combining all three shipments:
- The trailer ran at 100% capacity
- All shippers saved over 45% compared to the truckload rate
- The carrier earned 33.6% more than the truckload rate
Because FlockDirect® shipments are load-to-ride, each shipment was loaded in a first-in, last-out sequence. Freight stayed on the truck from pickup to delivery, receiving truckload-level service.
Pool Example 2: New Jersey → Virginia → Colorado → Utah
This load began with two shipments pooled into a Shared Truckload. When a third compatible shipment was booked by another Flock shipper, STL AddOns technology notified the carrier in real time, adding a third shipment to the STL.
The STL AddOn significantly increased carrier earnings while every shipper still saved on costs.
By combining these three shipments:
- The trailer ran 100% utilized
- Carrier earnings rose 39.4% above TL rates
- Shippers still saw 20–50% cost savings
What made this example stand out: All three deliveries had appointment windows, which the AI accounted for during optimization. The result was a time-sensitive route delivered on schedule—without sacrificing efficiency or profitability.
Shared Truckload’s growing role in freight strategy
More shippers are rethinking traditional multi-stop and partial-load strategies. They want better service, simpler planning, and lower emissions.
Tech-enabled STL offers a middle ground that’s increasingly hard to ignore. Shippers avoid the unpredictability of LTL while still controlling costs. Carriers gain access to a new, unique way to maximize revenue per mile. The planet wins too, as fewer trucks run more fully and efficiently.
Shared Truckload is becoming a key lever in modern freight planning—especially when it’s powered by tech that enables the model to rapidly scale. As the industry continues to chase smarter, leaner logistics, mode options like STL will move from innovative to indispensable.
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