LTL in one paragraph
LTL (less-than-truckload) freight is too big for a parcel carrier but does not fill a trailer. Estes describes LTL shipments as weighing between 150 and 15,000 pounds, usually on pallets and taking only part of a trailer; shippers share the trailer and pay only for the space their freight occupies. C.H. Robinson puts the typical shipment at one to six pallets and 150 to 10,000 pounds, so the upper limit depends on whom you ask.
LTL, volume LTL and truckload
| Type | Where it starts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LTL | 150 to 15,000 lb, part of a trailer | Estes |
| Volume LTL | 5,000 lb or more, or at least 8 linear feet | Estes |
| Truckload | 30,000 lb or more and at least 48 linear feet | Estes |
| LTL in a rules tariff | 19,999 lb or less; 20,000 lb or more is truckload | XPO, CNWY 199-AJ.5 |
Each carrier sets its own limits; these are the published figures of the carriers named.
Because LTL freight shares trailers and moves through terminals, C.H. Robinson notes that LTL transit typically takes longer than full truckload.
What sets the price
- Weight, distance, class and services. In C.H. Robinson’s words, these fundamentally determine LTL pricing. The class comes from the NMFC, often from density: work yours out with the freight class calculator.
- Weight breaks. Estes notes that the total cost rises with weight while the cost per pound falls.
- The lane: its length, volume and competitiveness.
- Fuel surcharge. In Estes’s tariff (Item 530) it applies to linehaul charges and follows the U.S. average on-highway diesel price from the Department of Energy, adjusted weekly.
- Minimum charge. Carriers set a minimum linehaul charge per shipment (XPO’s tariff defines it), so very small shipments do not get much cheaper.
- Accessorials for anything beyond dock-to-dock service (below).
Accessorial charges
Accessorials cover any service beyond standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery. Declare them when you book: services added on the day appear as extra charges on the freight bill. What two carriers publish in their rules tariffs:
| Service | What it is | XPO (eff. Dec 1, 2025) | Estes (eff. Jan 2, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liftgate | Moving freight between the truck and the ground where there is no loading dock. | $13.45 per 100 lb, min $259, max $644 (Item 218) | $4.95 per 100 lb, min $75, max $350 (Item 567) |
| Residential delivery | Delivery to a non-commercial address; often needs a liftgate as well. | $16.00 per 100 lb, min $180, max $880 (Item 224) | $8.50 per 100 lb, min $75, max $550 (Item 751) |
| Limited access | Places with restricted entry, such as schools, military bases and government buildings. | $16.00 per 100 lb, min $180, max $880 (Item 224) | $85.00 per shipment (Item 751-10) |
| Inside delivery | The driver takes the freight into the building instead of leaving it at the dock or curb. | $17.45 per 100 lb, min $179, max $1,504 (Item 216) | – |
| Appointment | Delivery within a time window agreed with the receiver. | $67.50 per shipment (Item 253) | $30.00 per shipment, $25.00 residential (Item 647) |
Tariff list prices; negotiated rates and other carriers differ. “Per 100 lb” is per hundredweight of the shipment.
The bill of lading
Federal rules (49 CFR 373.101) require a motor carrier’s bill of lading to show:
- the names of the consignor and the consignee;
- the origin and destination points;
- the number of packages;
- a description of the freight;
- the weight, volume or measurement of the freight, where it affects the rate.
For LTL, carriers also want accurate weights, the dimensions of each handling unit and the NMFC item number; J.B. Hunt’s shipper guide lists all three. Accurate dimensions on the bill are the best defence against a reclass or reweigh charge.
Questions
What does LTL stand for?
Less-than-truckload: freight that fills only part of a trailer, so it travels with other shippers’ freight and you pay for the space yours takes.
How much does an LTL shipment weigh?
Estes describes LTL shipments as weighing between 150 and 15,000 pounds; C.H. Robinson says they typically range from 150 to 10,000 pounds on one to six pallets. The limits differ by carrier.
What is the difference between LTL and truckload?
An LTL shipment shares the trailer and moves through terminals, so C.H. Robinson notes it typically takes longer than full truckload. At Estes, shipments of 30,000 lb or more taking at least 48 linear feet may qualify as truckload; XPO’s tariff treats 20,000 lb or more as truckload.
What is volume LTL?
A larger shipment that still does not need a whole trailer. At Estes, volume loads start at 5,000 lb or 8 linear feet of trailer space; carriers quote these separately.
What is an accessorial charge?
A fee for a service beyond standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery, such as a liftgate, residential delivery or an appointment. Book them up front: unexpected services are added to the freight bill.