Dedicated vs Shared Load Transport Explained

When booking a lorry courier, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to choose a dedicated load or a shared load service. Understanding the difference can save time, reduce risk and ensure your goods arrive exactly as planned.

At London Lorry Courier, we offer both options across our Haulage and London Lorry Transport services. This guide explains how each works, when to use them, and which is best for your delivery.

What Is Dedicated Load Transport?

A dedicated load means the vehicle is booked exclusively for your goods. The lorry or van collects from your location and delivers directly to the destination with no additional stops.

Dedicated transport is the foundation of our Direct Delivery Service and is commonly used for time-critical, high-value or sensitive consignments.

Key Benefits of Dedicated Transport

  • Direct A-to-B delivery with no detours
  • Reduced handling and lower risk of damage
  • More accurate delivery times
  • Greater control over scheduling
  • Ideal for urgent or specialist loads

Dedicated transport is particularly well suited to:

What Is Shared Load Transport?

Shared load transport means your goods travel on a vehicle alongside other compatible consignments. The lorry follows a planned route with multiple collections and deliveries.

This option is often used for General Haulage where timing is flexible and the load does not require exclusive use of the vehicle.

Key Benefits of Shared Loads

  • Lower transport costs
  • Efficient use of vehicle capacity
  • Environmentally efficient for suitable loads
  • Ideal for non-urgent deliveries

Shared loads work best when:

  • Delivery windows are flexible
  • The load is palletised or caged
  • The goods are not time-critical
  • Cost savings are a priority

Dedicated vs Shared Load: Key Differences

Feature Dedicated Load Shared Load
Vehicle use Your goods only Multiple customers
Delivery route Direct Multi-drop
Speed Fastest option Slower, scheduled
Cost Higher Lower
Risk of handling Minimal Higher due to multiple stops

Which Option Is Right for You?

If your delivery is time-critical, fragile, high-value or forms part of a wider operation, dedicated transport is usually the safest and most reliable choice. This is why it’s commonly used for event work, production logistics and urgent commercial deliveries.

If your load is palletised, non-urgent and cost-sensitive, a shared load can be an efficient and economical solution — particularly for regular movements.

European transport follows the same principles. While we offer shared options where suitable, most Europe Van Transport (from London) and international movements under International Transport and Travel are booked as dedicated services to reduce border delays and handling risk.

What We’ll Ask Before Recommending an Option

To advise correctly, we’ll typically ask:

  • Is the delivery time-sensitive?
  • What is the value and nature of the goods?
  • Are there fixed booking slots or site access rules?
  • Is cost or speed the main priority?

This ensures the solution we recommend genuinely fits your needs — not just the cheapest or fastest option.

Need Help Deciding?

If you’re unsure whether a dedicated or shared load is best for your delivery, our team is happy to advise. Contact us via Contact, call 0203 417 4450, or submit your details through our Get A Quote page and we’ll guide you through the best option.