LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)

Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight is the middle ground between parcel and full-truckload shipping. It suits palletized shipments that are too big for parcel carriers but do not fill a whole trailer — typically anywhere from about 150 to 15,000 pounds, or one to six pallets.

Because several shippers share the same trailer, LTL carriers move freight through a network of terminals and hubs, consolidating and reconsolidating loads along the way. Pricing is driven by freight class, weight, origin and destination ZIP codes, and any accessorials such as liftgate or residential delivery.

LTL is the workhorse of B2B shipping: predictable, cost-effective for medium loads, and widely integrated. The trade-offs versus full-truckload are longer transit times (more handling and terminal stops) and a small risk of reclassification or reweigh if the freight is not described accurately.