LTL
LTL (Less than Truck Load) is a road-freight mode in which several shippers share space on one truck, each paying only for the portion they use. It is the road equivalent of LCL in ocean freight: smaller consignments are consolidated at a terminal, line-hauled together, and de-consolidated near destination for final delivery.
LTL is the economical choice for shipments too large for parcel but too small to fill a trailer — typically one to six pallets. Versus FTL, the trade-off is longer transit (consolidation and multiple stops) and more handling. Carrier rates depend on weight, freight class, distance and accessorial services. TMS platforms rate-shop LTL carriers and optimise consolidation.
LTL is the road twin of LCL: it lets small shipments share a truck and pay only for the space used, at the cost of extra handling and longer transit. Freight class and accessorials make LTL pricing more complex than a simple weight rate.
consolidate
A shipper with 3 pallets uses LTL — sharing a truck with other shippers and paying by weight, freight class and distance — instead of paying for a whole trailer they would barely fill.
What is freight class in LTL?
A standardised classification (based on density, handling, stowability and liability) that, with weight and distance, determines the LTL rate for a shipment.
When should I use LTL instead of FTL or parcel?
LTL suits shipments too large for parcel but too small to fill a trailer — typically one to six pallets. Larger loads move cheaper as FTL; very small ones as parcel.