What is LTL freight?

LTL, less than truckload, is freight too big for a parcel carrier but not big enough to fill a trailer, so it shares the trailer with other shippers’ freight. Old Dominion, Estes and ABF put it at about 150 to 15,000 lb, which Old Dominion says is typically one to six pallets.

Checked November 14, 2026 against Old Dominion Freight Line, Estes Express Lines, ABF Freight and FHWA.

How big an LTL shipment is

By source

Each row is one carrier’s or agency’s own figure. They do not agree on the top end: some put it at 10,000 lb.
Carrier or agency	Weight	Pallets	Source
Units	lb		Source numbers
Old Dominion	150 to 15,000	1 to 6	⁴
Estes (web page)	150 to 15,000		⁵
ABF Freight	150 to 15,000		⁶
FedEx Freight	over 150		⁷
Estes (PDF guide)	150 to 10,000		⁸
Bureau of Transportation StatisticsDefines LTL as under 10,000 lb and truckload as 10,000 lb or more.	under 10,000		¹

Cite this table: How big an LTL shipment is, Pallet Dimensions, checked November 14, 2026, https://palletdimensions.com/ltl/#sizeDownload CSV

What sets an LTL rate

As carriers describe it

The factors LTL carriers name in their own pricing guides. Each carrier applies them through its own tariff.
Factor	How it works	Source
Freight class and density	The NMFC class, based on density, handling, stowability and liability, is one of the main inputs to the price.	²⁵⁹⁴¹⁰
Weight	The total weight of the shipment is a primary factor in the price.	⁵⁹¹⁰⁴
Size and floor space	The more of the trailer floor a shipment takes up, the higher the cost.	⁴¹⁰
Distance and lane	Longer hauls cost more, and the volume and competition on the lane also move the price.	⁵⁹⁴¹⁰
Accessorials	Services beyond dock-to-dock, such as a liftgate or residential delivery, are charged on top.	⁵⁹¹⁰
Fuel surcharge	A percentage added to the freight charge that offsets changes in what carriers pay for fuel.	⁵⁹¹⁰¹¹

Cite this table: What sets an LTL rate, Pallet Dimensions, checked November 14, 2026, https://palletdimensions.com/ltl/#ratesDownload CSV

Common accessorial charges

Charged on top of the freight rate

Names vary between carriers, and so do the fees. Check your carrier’s tariff for the amount.
Charge	When it applies	Source
Liftgate	The pickup or delivery site has no dock, so the truck’s powered tailgate lowers the freight.	¹²¹³⁴⁵⁶¹¹
Residential pickup or delivery	The address is a home or other non-commercial site.	¹²¹³⁴⁶
Inside pickup or delivery	The freight is picked up from or delivered inside the building.	¹²¹³⁴
Delivery notification or appointment	The consignee must be called or a time set before delivery.	¹²⁴
Reweigh and reclassification	The carrier’s inspection finds a different weight, size or class than the bill of lading.	¹²¹³⁶
Detention	The truck is kept waiting at pickup or delivery.	¹²¹³
Redelivery	A delivery fails and has to be made again.	¹²¹³
Storage	Freight is held at the terminal.	¹²⁵
Over length	A piece is longer than the carrier’s standard length.	¹²⁵¹³
Hazardous materials	The shipment includes regulated hazmat.	¹²⁵

Cite this table: Common accessorial charges, Pallet Dimensions, checked November 14, 2026, https://palletdimensions.com/ltl/#accessorialsDownload CSV

Where LTL ends and truckload begins

The federal freight glossary defines a truckload as enough freight to fill a truck, or at least enough to qualify for a truckload rate.³ Estes draws the line at 30,000 lb or more taking at least 48 linear feet of the trailer.⁵ Old Dominion says full truckload is the better choice when a shipment fills or nearly fills a 48 or 53 ft trailer.⁴ Between about 15,000 and 30,000 lb, neither definition settles it; get both kinds of quote.

What changes the answer

Freight class: Most LTL rates depend on the NMFC class, which for many items comes from density. See the freight class chart.
What you tell the carrier: A residential address or a liftgate that was not on the bill of lading can be added after pickup, and freight can be re-weighed or reclassed.⁶
Floor space: A light shipment that takes up a lot of the trailer floor can cost more than its weight suggests.

Questions about LTL

What does LTL stand for?

Less than truckload: freight that does not fill a trailer and shares it with other shippers’ freight.

How many pallets is LTL?

Old Dominion says typically one to six pallets, or about 150 to 15,000 lb.

What is the weight limit for LTL?

There is no single limit. Old Dominion, Estes and ABF give about 15,000 lb as the top; an older Estes guide and a Bureau of Transportation Statistics paper use 10,000 lb.

What are accessorial charges?

Extra charges for services beyond standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery, such as a liftgate, residential delivery or inside delivery.

Sources

Estimating multifactor productivity in truck transportation, section 2, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026. An older research paper in BTS’s archive.
Classification, NMFTA. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
Freight glossary, FHWA. Primary source. Read November 14, 2026.
LTL guide, Old Dominion Freight Line. Read November 14, 2026.
What is LTL freight shipping?, Estes Express Lines. Read November 14, 2026.
LTL freight shipping: a beginner’s guide, ABF Freight. Read November 14, 2026.
LTL freight, FedEx Freight (Canada). Read November 14, 2026.
LTL freight shipping explained (PDF), Estes Express Lines. Read November 14, 2026. Undated; its 10,000 lb upper figure differs from Estes’ web page.
LTL pricing guide, Old Dominion Freight Line. Read November 14, 2026.
Mastering LTL freight pricing, ABF Freight. Read November 14, 2026.
Transportation glossary (PDF), Estes Express Lines. Read November 14, 2026.
Surcharge quicksheet, effective January 6, 2025, FedEx Freight. Read November 14, 2026.
What your accessorial charges mean, Old Dominion Freight Line. Read November 14, 2026.