LTL (less-than-truckload)
Also called: less-than-truckload, LTL freight, less than truckload
Definition
LTL (less-than-truckload) is freight too small to fill a trailer, shipped alongside other shippers' loads and moved through carrier terminals. It is priced by weight, distance, freight class and accessorial services, so pallet size and density affect the cost.
In depth: Shipping pallets LTL: how to prepare, measure and ship a pallet
LTL carriers pick up palletized freight, sort it through terminals (cross-docks), and deliver it on different trucks. A single pallet may be handled several times between shipper and receiver.
How LTL is priced
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Freight class | Higher class, higher rate per weight |
| Weight | Rates are per hundredweight (100 lb), with weight breaks |
| Distance and lanes | Origin and destination |
| Dimensions and density | Carriers measure pallets; oversize or low-density freight costs more |
| Accessorials | Liftgate, residential, appointment and similar extra charges |
What LTL asks of the pallet
- Multiple handlings: forklifts at every terminal, so fork openings from more than one side help. See two-way vs four-way.
- Stacking: carriers may stack freight unless it is marked or priced as do-not-stack. The pallet and load must survive a load on top or be protected against it.
- Stable, secured loads: stretch wrap, no overhang.
- Tare weight and height: the pallet counts toward billed weight and measured height.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
State that pallets ship LTL, whether they may be stacked in transit, and whether they must be four-way. The LTL guide covers packaging and labeling.
Common confusions
LTL is not "partial truckload" (volume LTL), which moves a large shipment on one trailer without terminal handling, priced differently.
Related
- GuidesShipping pallets LTL: how to prepare, measure and ship a palletLTL (less than truckload) moves one or a few pallets on a shared trailer, priced by weight, distance and freight class. Build a square, wrapped load on a sound four-way pallet, measure its real size and weight including the pallet, declare the right class on the bill of lading, and book accessorials in advance.
- GlossaryWhat is freight class?Freight class is a rating from 50 to 500 in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) that US LTL carriers use to price shipments. Since the NMFC's 2025 overhaul, many commodities are classed by density on a 13-level scale, where denser freight gets a lower, cheaper class.
- GlossaryFreight densityFreight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
- GlossaryFTL (full truckload)FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
- GuidesFreight class and density: how to classify a pallet shipmentFreight density is the shipment's weight in pounds divided by its volume in cubic feet, measured at the outside of the loaded pallet. On the NMFC 13-tier scale, effective July 19, 2025, density maps to classes from 50 (50 lb/ft³ or more) to 400 (under 1 lb/ft³). Some items keep their own class, so check the NMFC item.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad barA load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
- GlossaryLoad overhangLoad overhang is any part of a unit load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet's top deck. Unsupported case edges lose compression strength, get damaged in handling, and increase the measured size of the shipment.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 232 words.