April 23, 2026
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Less-than-truckload freight — shipments that fill only part of a trailer, typically 150–10,000 lbs and 1–12 pallets — is priced, managed, and audited differently from full truckload, and most mid-market shippers who mix both modes in their freight program apply full truckload logic to LTL and consistently overpay as a result. LTL is complex by design: freight class and density determine pricing, carrier terminal networks determine transit time, and accessorial charges trigger at a higher rate than FTL. Managing LTL effectively requires understanding the freight class system, building contracted LTL rates with regional and national carriers, and auditing every invoice for reclassification and reweigh charges that go uncontested in most manual programs. Learn more about When and How to Consolidate LTL Shipments Into FTL (2026 Guide).
LTL freight is classified into 18 classes (50–500) based on four factors: density, stowability, ease of handling, and liability. Class determines the base rate used in pricing.
| Freight class | Typical density (lbs/cubic foot) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class 50 | > 50 lbs/cf | Dense, durable goods — steel, stone |
| Class 70 | 15–22.5 lbs/cf | Auto parts, furniture (dense) |
| Class 85 | 12–13.5 lbs/cf | Crated machinery, cast-iron products |
| Class 100 | 9–10.5 lbs/cf | Boat covers, wine cases, caskets |
| Class 125 | 8–9 lbs/cf | Small household appliances |
| Class 175 | 6–7 lbs/cf | Clothing, couches |
| Class 200 | 4–5 lbs/cf | Auto sheet metal, mattresses |
| Class 300 | 2–3 lbs/cf | Wood cabinets, ping pong tables |
| Class 400–500 | < 1–2 lbs/cf | Deer antlers, gold dust, ping pong balls |
LTL contracts are typically structured as a percentage discount off the carrier's published base rate (tariff). The discount is negotiated based on volume, lane mix, and freight class distribution.
| Discount level | Context |
|---|---|
| 40–55% | Light volume, non-negotiated relationship |
| 55–70% | Mid-market shipper with regular LTL volume |
| 70–80% | High-volume LTL shipper with concentrated carrier relationships |
| 80%+ | Enterprise shipper with significant carrier commitment |
A "70% discount" means you pay 30% of the carrier's tariff rate — but tariff rates vary by carrier, so comparing discounts across carriers without comparing base rates is misleading.
When a carrier's terminal reweighs a shipment and finds a higher weight than declared, they bill for the actual weight plus a reweigh fee. Most shippers accept these charges — few have the documentation (scale tickets, shipper weigh records) to dispute them systematically.
When a carrier determines that your freight has been assigned a lower class than its density justifies, they reclassify and bill the higher class rate. Reclassification can increase LTL costs by 20–60% on affected shipments — and in most programs, it goes uncontested.
LTL carriers impose minimum charges that apply regardless of shipment weight. For small, dense shipments that would price below the minimum, the minimum charge can represent a 30–50% premium over what the rate math would suggest.
Full truckload (FTL) means your shipment occupies the entire trailer — one shipper, one destination, one carrier rate per load. Less-than-truckload (LTL) means your shipment shares trailer space with other shippers' freight and is priced per hundredweight (CWT) based on freight class, weight, and lane.
LTL is cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or 8–10 pallets that don't need exclusive trailer use. Above that weight or pallet count, FTL is typically equal or cheaper. The calculation should be done regularly on lanes with growing LTL volume to identify consolidation opportunities.
Calculate your freight's density: weight (lbs) ÷ cubic footage (length × width × height ÷ 1,728). Look up the corresponding class in the NMFC density table. If the carrier is consistently reclassifying your freight to a higher class, you either have a density calculation error or the carrier is applying incorrect classification.
Reweigh charges without shipper-side verification, reclassification to a higher class, accessorial charges (liftgate, residential delivery, limited access) applied without qualifying conditions, and duplicate billing for shipments that transferred between carriers at an LTL terminal.
Managed transportation providers negotiate consolidated LTL contracts across the carrier network, apply contracted rates automatically, audit every LTL invoice for reweigh and reclassification disputes, and monitor LTL volume for consolidation opportunities — capturing savings that individual shipper relationships typically miss.
