what is ltl

LTL stands for "less than truckload". It refers to the transportation of an amount of freight that is sized between individual parcels and full truckloads. LTL shipping is used for the transportation of small freight or when freight doesnt require the use of an entire trailer. This shipping method can be used when freight weighs between 150 and 15,000 pounds. When shipping LTL, the shipper pays for the portion of a standard truck trailer their freight occupies, while other shippers and their shipments fill the unoccupied space. LTL carriers prefer to handle shipments with the fewest handling units possible, and they prefer a shipment of one pallet containing many boxes shrink-wrapped to form one piece rather than many individual pieces. The per-pound rates of LTL carriers are typically less than the per-pound rates of full truckload carriers.