Question 1

When should I ship LTL instead of truckload?

Accepted Answer

LTL is usually best for roughly 1 to 6 pallets, under about 12,000 lbs, and under about 12 linear feet of trailer space. Above that, partial truckload, volume LTL, or full truckload is often cheaper.

Question 2

What is partial truckload or volume LTL?

Accepted Answer

Partial truckload and volume LTL cover shipments too large for standard LTL pricing but too small to need a dedicated full truck, roughly 7 to 12 pallets or 12,000 to 20,000 lbs. They are priced on space and weight rather than freight class, which often makes them cheaper than LTL for mid-size loads.

Question 3

At what point does a shipment need a full truckload?

Accepted Answer

Full truckload generally makes sense at about 13 or more pallets, 20,000 lbs or more, or when freight occupies half a trailer or more. Time-sensitive freight may also justify a dedicated truck for guaranteed transit.

Question 4

Why does freight class affect the LTL vs truckload decision?

Accepted Answer

Standard LTL pricing is driven heavily by freight class, so a high class can make an LTL shipment expensive. Partial truckload and volume LTL price on space and weight instead, so a high-class, mid-size shipment is often cheaper moved as a partial.

LTL vs Truckload.

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Quick rule of thumb

The partial / volume-LTL gap is where shippers overpay

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