The quick answer
If your shipment is under 6 pallets and under 5,000 lbs, you probably want LTL. If it's over 12 pallets or over 15,000 lbs, you want full truckload. Between those, you want to look at partial truckload - that middle option that gets ignored.
Fragile, time-sensitive, or high-value freight leans toward truckload even when LTL math says otherwise. Less handling means fewer claims.
What LTL actually is
LTL means less-than-truckload. Your freight rides in a trailer with other shippers' freight. The carrier picks up at your dock, takes it to a regional terminal, sorts it, puts it on another trailer, drives it to a destination terminal, sorts again, then a delivery truck takes the last leg.
Cost: you pay for space and weight, not the whole trailer. Cheaper for small loads. Transit: 2-5 business days for most US lanes, longer if your zip is rural. Risk: more handling points means more chances for damage. NMFC freight class matters - get it wrong and you get rebilled.
What full truckload actually is
You book the whole trailer. Driver picks up at your dock and drives directly to delivery. No terminals, no sorts, no transfers. One driver, one trailer, one trip.
Cost: flat rate for the lane, regardless of how full the trailer is. You pay the same whether it's 12 pallets or 26. Transit: faster than LTL. Most US lanes are 1-3 days. Risk: way less handling. Damage claims drop. Easier to track. Better fit for fragile, food, pharma, retail-direct.
The middle option: partial truckload
Most shippers don't ask about this. Partial is when your freight takes more space than LTL handles well but doesn't fill a whole trailer. The driver may pick up one or two other partials going the same direction. No terminal handling - it stays on the same trailer the whole way.
Sweet spot: 6 to 18 pallets, 5,000 to 25,000 lbs. Often beats LTL on cost and beats truckload on price for partial loads. Less handling than LTL because no terminal sorts. Worth quoting if your load lands in this range.
Side-by-side
| Factor | LTL | Partial | Truckload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet count | 1-6 pallets | 6-18 pallets | 12-26 pallets |
| Weight range | Under 5,000 lbs | 5,000-25,000 lbs | 15,000-48,000 lbs |
| Transit time | 2-5 business days | 1-3 business days | 1-3 business days |
| Handling points | 3-5 (terminal sorts) | 1 (direct) | 1 (direct) |
| Damage risk | Higher | Low | Lowest |
| Pricing | Class + weight + zip | Linear feet + weight | Flat lane rate |
When truckload beats LTL even on smaller loads
- Freight is fragile and you can't afford another claim.
- Receiver is strict about delivery windows. LTL terminals miss them.
- Product is high-value. Less handling, less theft risk, less damage exposure.
- Pickup or delivery is residential, lift gate, inside, or limited-access - LTL accessorial fees stack up.
- Freight class is high (anything over class 100). LTL gets expensive fast.
- You ship the same lane regularly. A dedicated truckload relationship beats LTL on consistency.
What we need to quote it both ways
Send us the load. We'll quote LTL, partial, and truckload side by side so you can pick the math that works for you. To do that we need:
- Pickup and delivery zips.
- Number of pallets, weight, dimensions if oversized.
- Freight description (helps with NMFC class for LTL).
- Ready date and required delivery window.
- Any accessorials: lift gate, residential, inside delivery, appointment required.
Cheaper than three phone calls and three different quote forms. Call 214-444-3721 and we'll walk through both options on the same line.