What Is LTL Freight? A Plain-English Guide for Shippers

Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight is how you ship pallets that are too big for a parcel carrier but too small to fill an entire trailer. Instead of paying for a whole truck, your shipment shares trailer space with freight from other businesses, and you pay only for the portion you use.

If you’re shipping somewhere between a single box and a full 53-foot trailer, LTL is almost always the mode you want.

When to use LTL (vs. parcel and full truckload)

A quick rule of thumb:

• Parcel (UPS, FedEx): small, light shipments — generally under ~100–150 lb and small enough to handle without a forklift. Cheaper and faster for small stuff.
• LTL: roughly 150 lb up to ~10,000–15,000 lb, usually 1–6 pallets. You don’t need a whole truck, so you split the cost.
• Full truckload (FTL): enough freight to fill (or nearly fill) a trailer, or freight that’s too fragile/time-sensitive to share space.

Shipping under 100 lb? Parcel is usually cheaper than LTL. Our freight class calculator is best suited to palletized 100 lb+ freight.

How LTL pricing works

An LTL rate is built from a handful of inputs:

1. Freight class — a number from 50 to 500 set by the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). Lower class = denser, cheaper to ship. This is the single biggest lever on your rate. (Freight class explained →)
2. Weight — heavier shipments cost more in absolute terms but often less per pound.
3. Distance — priced by origin and destination ZIP code (the “lane”).
4. Accessorials — extra services like a liftgate, residential pickup/delivery, inside delivery, or limited-access locations.
5. Fuel surcharge — a percentage added on top, tied to diesel prices.

Because freight class drives so much of the cost, getting it right matters. Under-declare and you risk a reclassification fee plus a re-rate after the carrier inspects your freight; over-declare and you simply overpay.

How to get the best LTL rate

• Know your real freight class. Measure and weigh your palletized shipment and calculate the density. Start with our free calculator.
• Get competing quotes. LTL pricing varies a lot between carriers and brokers on the same lane. One quote is never enough.
• Be accurate on dimensions and accessorials. Surprises at pickup or delivery turn into surprise charges.

Next step

The fastest way to a fair price is to let vetted brokers compete for your freight. Get competing quotes → — tell us about your shipment once and brokers in your lane bid for it.