LTL (less-than-truckload) freight shipping lets you send palletized cargo that’s too large for parcel carriers but doesn’t fill an entire truck. You share trailer space with other shippers and pay only for the portion you use. The process involves classifying your freight, preparing it on pallets, filling out a bill of lading, getting quotes, and scheduling a pickup. Here’s how each step works.
Know Your Freight Class
Every LTL shipment is assigned a freight class, a standardized code that carriers use to price your shipment. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association evaluates four factors when assigning a class to a commodity: density, handling, stowability, and liability. Density (how heavy the item is relative to its size) carries the most weight in most cases. Lighter, bulkier items get higher class numbers and cost more to ship per pound than compact, heavy ones.
Freight classes range from 50 to 500. A dense product like steel bolts might fall into class 50, while lightweight, bulky items like deer antlers sit near class 500. You can look up your product’s class using an NMFC classification tool, or ask your carrier or freight broker to help you identify the correct code. Getting this right matters because carriers will re-inspect and reclassify shipments that don’t match, adding $10 to $30 in inspection fees on top of the adjusted freight charges.
Prepare and Palletize Your Shipment
LTL carriers expect freight to arrive on standard pallets, properly secured and labeled. The most common pallet size is 40 by 48 inches, and your loaded pallet (including the pallet itself) should generally not exceed 77 inches in height. Most carriers cap individual pallet weights at around 2,500 pounds, though you should confirm limits with your specific carrier.
Stack heavier, denser items on the bottom and lighter items on top. Distribute weight evenly across the pallet surface so nothing shifts during transit. Then secure everything with shrink wrap, wrapping tightly enough that the load stays stable and maintains its shape when the truck stops, turns, or hits a bump. Banding (using straps around the load) adds extra security for irregularly shaped items.
Label each pallet clearly with the destination address, and make sure individual pieces inside a palletized load have their own labels in case anything separates. Place labels where they’re visible from the outside of the wrapped unit.
Get Accurate Quotes
When you request an LTL quote, the carrier’s pricing algorithm factors in your shipment’s weight, freight class, volume, and origin and destination. To get a quote that reflects what you’ll actually pay, provide precise information on three things:
- Pallet weight: Weigh your loaded pallets rather than estimating. Inaccurate weights lead to re-weigh charges and adjusted invoices that are almost always higher than the original quote.
- Origin and destination zip codes: Carriers optimize routes based on exact locations, so the right zip codes ensure your quote reflects the actual cost of moving freight through their network.
- Number of pallets: You’re paying for space on a shared truck. Carriers need to know how much of that space your shipment will consume.
You can get quotes directly from LTL carriers like FedEx Freight, XPO, or Estes, or through a freight broker or third-party logistics company (3PL) that shops multiple carriers on your behalf. Brokers can be especially useful if you’re new to LTL shipping, since they handle carrier selection and often negotiate better rates through volume discounts.
Fill Out the Bill of Lading
The bill of lading (BOL) is the most important document in your shipment. It serves three legal functions: it’s a receipt confirming what you handed to the carrier, a contract outlining the terms of shipment, and in some cases a document of title representing ownership of the goods. A BOL is legally required for interstate shipments.
Your BOL needs to include:
- Shipper and consignee names: Who is sending the freight and who is receiving it.
- Origin and destination addresses
- Commodity description: A clear description of what you’re shipping.
- NMFC item number and freight class
- Piece count: The number of individual handling units.
- Weight
- Packaging type: Pallets, crates, drums, etc.
- Extreme dimensions: Any pieces that are unusually long, wide, or tall.
- Hazmat information: Required if you’re shipping hazardous materials.
- Special handling instructions or accessorial services: Liftgate needed, appointment delivery, etc.
Fill out every field accurately. Errors on the BOL are the single most common cause of unexpected charges on LTL shipments. If the carrier finds that the weight, class, or piece count doesn’t match what’s on the BOL, they’ll adjust the invoice accordingly.
Understand Accessorial Fees
Accessorial fees are extra charges for services beyond a standard dock-to-dock delivery. They can add up quickly if you don’t plan for them when booking. The most common ones include:
- Liftgate service ($50 to $125): If the pickup or delivery location doesn’t have a loading dock, the driver uses a hydraulic platform on the back of the truck to raise or lower your freight. This is common for small warehouses, retail locations, and home deliveries.
- Residential delivery ($75 to $150): Delivering to a home address costs more than delivering to a commercial location because residential streets are harder for large trucks to navigate.
- Inside pickup or delivery ($50 to $125): If the driver needs to bring freight inside a building rather than just dropping it at the dock or curb, this fee applies.
- Re-weigh or re-classification ($10 to $30 plus adjusted freight charges): Triggered when a carrier inspection finds that your shipment’s weight or class doesn’t match what you put on the BOL.
Other common accessorials include appointment delivery (when the receiver requires a specific delivery window), notification before delivery, and limited-access fees for locations like construction sites, schools, or storage facilities. When you request a quote, mention every service you’ll need so the price you see is the price you’ll pay.
Schedule Pickup and Track Delivery
Once you’ve accepted a quote and prepared your BOL, schedule a pickup with the carrier or broker. Most carriers offer next-business-day pickup if you book before a cutoff time, typically early to mid-afternoon. Have your pallets shrink-wrapped, labeled, and staged at the dock or pickup area before the driver arrives. The driver will count your pieces, check them against the BOL, and have you sign a copy confirming the handoff.
LTL transit times depend on distance and how many terminals your freight passes through. A shipment moving within the same region might arrive in one to three business days. Cross-country shipments typically take four to seven business days. Unlike full truckload shipping, LTL freight gets unloaded and reloaded at carrier terminals along the way, which adds time but keeps costs lower for smaller shipments.
Most carriers provide a PRO number (a tracking number assigned at pickup) that lets you monitor your shipment’s progress online. When the freight arrives, the receiver should inspect it before signing the delivery receipt. If there’s visible damage, note it on the receipt immediately. Filing a freight claim is much harder if the delivery receipt was signed without noting any issues.
When LTL Makes Sense
LTL shipping is typically the most cost-effective option when your shipment weighs between 150 and 10,000 pounds and occupies one to six pallets. Below 150 pounds, parcel carriers like UPS or FedEx Ground are usually cheaper. Above about 10,000 pounds or more than half a trailer’s floor space, a full truckload (FTL) rate often becomes more economical because you’re paying for the whole truck regardless.
If you ship LTL regularly, building a relationship with one or two carriers can unlock volume discounts and more reliable service. For occasional shippers, freight brokers and online quoting platforms simplify the process by letting you compare rates across multiple carriers without negotiating individual contracts.