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Glossary

LTL (Less Than Truckload)

LTL is a shipping method where multiple shippers share space on a single truck, each paying only for the portion of the trailer their freight occupies.

What Is LTL (Less Than Truckload)?

Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipping is used when a shipper does not have enough freight to fill an entire trailer. Instead of paying for a full truckload (FTL), the shipper pays for only the space their freight occupies, and the carrier or LTL company consolidates multiple shippers' freight onto one truck. LTL shipments typically weigh between 150 and 15,000 pounds.

Major LTL carriers include FedEx Freight, XPO Logistics, Old Dominion, and Estes Express. These companies operate hub-and-spoke networks where freight is picked up from multiple shippers, consolidated at terminals, sorted, and then delivered. Transit times are longer than FTL because of the additional handling and routing through terminals.

For owner-operators, LTL can be a profitable niche. Rather than running traditional LTL terminal routes, many carriers work as "LTL partials" — taking loads that are too large for standard LTL carriers but too small to justify a full truckload rate. These partial loads (5,000-20,000 pounds) can be combined with other partials or a smaller FTL load to maximize trailer utilization and revenue per load.

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Why It Matters

Understanding LTL opens up additional freight opportunities. Partial LTL loads can be combined to fill your trailer at premium rates. Even if you primarily haul FTL, knowing when an LTL partial makes sense can turn a half-empty trailer into a profitable run.

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Real-World Example

Greg has a dry van delivery in Memphis and a next-day pickup in Nashville. His trailer is empty for the 200-mile repositioning drive. His FF Dispatch dispatcher finds an LTL partial — 8,000 pounds of auto parts from Memphis to Nashville at $1,800 flat. It fills a quarter of Greg's trailer and takes only 20 minutes to load. Instead of deadheading 200 miles (costing $200 in fuel), Greg earns $1,800 on the repositioning run.
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How FF Dispatch Handles This

FF Dispatch looks for profitable LTL partials to fill empty trailer space or turn deadhead runs into revenue miles. We also book multi-stop LTL routes for box truck carriers that maximize per-day earnings.

Related Terms

Box Truck

A box truck is a medium-duty truck with an integrated enclosed cargo area, typically used for local and regional deliveries, multi-stop routes, and smaller shipments.

Cross-Dock

Cross-docking is a logistics practice where freight is transferred directly from an inbound truck to an outbound truck at a facility with minimal or no warehousing time.

Freight Lane

A freight lane is a specific origin-to-destination route that carriers regularly run, with predictable freight volumes, rates, and demand patterns.

Backhaul

A backhaul is a return load picked up near a delivery destination to avoid driving empty on the way back to a carrier's home base or next pickup location.

Dispatch Service

A dispatch service is a company that finds loads, negotiates rates, handles paperwork, and manages logistics for owner-operators in exchange for a percentage of the load revenue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between LTL and FTL?+
FTL (Full Truckload) means one shipper fills the entire trailer. LTL means multiple shippers share space on one truck. FTL is direct point-to-point; LTL typically routes through terminals with longer transit times.
Can I haul LTL with a semi-truck?+
Yes. Many carriers haul LTL partials — loads too big for LTL carriers but too small for full truckload rates. Combining partials with other freight can maximize your trailer utilization and revenue.
How is LTL freight priced?+
LTL pricing is based on freight class (determined by density, handling, liability, and stowability), weight, distance, and origin/destination. It is more complex than FTL pricing, which is typically a flat rate or per-mile rate.

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