Use LTL when a shipment is roughly 1 to 6 pallets or 150 to 10,000 lb and can be handled at carrier terminals. Use a full truckload when the freight fills most of a trailer, weighs more than about 15,000 lb, or should not be transferred. In between, a partial or volume quote is often cheapest.
How the two modes work
In LTL (less-than-truckload), your pallets share a trailer with other shippers' freight. The carrier picks up, moves the freight through one or more terminals, and delivers on a local route. You pay for your share of the truck, priced by weight, freight class, distance and any extra services.
In truckload, one truck is dedicated to your freight and drives from pickup to delivery with no terminal transfers. You pay for the truck and the miles, whether or not the trailer is full.
Signs a shipment belongs on LTL
- One to six standard pallets
- Roughly 150 to 10,000 lb
- Freight is boxed, palletized and can be moved by forklift more than once
- A delivery window of a few business days is acceptable
Signs a shipment belongs on a truck
- More than about 10 to 12 pallets, or more than about 15,000 lb
- Fragile, high-value or oddly shaped freight that should not be re-handled
- A firm pickup or delivery appointment
- Temperature control for a full load, or open-deck freight that needs a flatbed
The middle ground: volume LTL and partial truckload
Shipments of about 6 to 12 pallets often price badly on standard LTL tariffs. Carriers will spot-quote them as volume LTL, and truckload carriers will sell part of a trailer as a partial. When a shipment is in this range, ask for LTL, volume and truckload prices together and compare.
| LTL | Truckload | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 1 to 6 pallets, 150 to 10,000 lb | Up to about 26 pallets or 44,000 lb |
| Pricing basis | Weight, class, distance, services | The truck and the miles |
| Handling | Moved through terminals | Stays on one trailer |
| Transit | Usually 1 to 5 business days plus terminal time | Direct drive, roughly 500 miles a day for one driver |
| Best for | Small, sturdy, palletized shipments | Large, urgent, fragile or special-equipment loads |
Common questions
At what weight is truckload cheaper than LTL?
There is no fixed number, but the crossover usually sits somewhere between 8,000 and 15,000 lb or around 8 to 12 pallets, depending on the lane and freight class. Price both when a shipment is in that range.
Is LTL slower than truckload?
Usually, yes. LTL freight is transferred at terminals, which adds time. A truckload drives straight from pickup to delivery.
What is partial truckload?
A partial is a shipment that uses part of a truckload trailer, typically 6 to 18 pallets. It often skips terminal handling and can cost less than LTL for larger shipments.
Written by the MeritSpan Logistics team. Last reviewed November 9, 2026. Figures are typical values; equipment and carrier rules vary.