LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)
Freight too small to fill a trailer, consolidated with other shippers' freight and moved through a hub-and-spoke terminal network, priced by weight, class, and distance.
How it works — and why it matters
An LTL carrier picks up shipments — typically one to six pallets — from many shippers, consolidates them at a local terminal, linehauls between terminals, and delivers on local routes. Pricing historically keys off NMFC freight class (a density- and handling-based classification), weight, and lane, plus accessorials for services like liftgates and residential delivery.
The terminal network is why LTL tracking differs from truckload: a shipment is handled multiple times and rides several vehicles, so visibility comes from scan events at each handling point rather than one truck's GPS. It is also why transit times are quoted in service days and why damage and re-weigh disputes are a bigger part of LTL operations than TL.