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LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping is used when a shipment does not fill an entire truck — your freight shares trailer space with other shippers and you pay only for the portion you use. FTL (Full Truckload) dedicates an entire trailer to a single shipper's freight. LTL is more cost-effective for smaller shipments (typically 1–6 pallets or under 15,000 lbs); FTL is faster, more secure, and more cost-effective for larger shipments.
An LTL shipment typically weighs between 150 and 15,000 pounds and occupies 1–6 pallet positions. LTL carriers operate hub-and-spoke networks — freight is picked up locally, transported to a regional terminal, sorted, consolidated with other freight, and forwarded to its destination.
Full Truckload (FTL) shipping dedicates an entire trailer exclusively to one shipper's freight. Whether you fill the truck completely or not, you pay for the full trailer. Your freight moves directly from origin to destination without the multiple stops, terminal handling, and consolidation of LTL. According to BTS Freight Facts, trucking accounts for over 70% of all U.S. freight by value.
Quick Decision Rule: Use LTL when your shipment is under 15,000 lbs or 6 pallets and you can accept a 2–5 day transit window. Use FTL when your shipment is over 15,000 lbs, time-sensitive, high-value/fragile, or when the FTL quote is within 20% of the LTL price — at that point, FTL's speed and security advantages make it the better choice.
Internal Resources — Buske Logistics Blog
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) defines 18 freight classes (50–500) based on four factors: density (lbs per cubic foot), stow-ability (how easily it loads with other freight), handling (ease of handling), and liability (susceptibility to damage or theft). Lower classes (50–85) are dense commodities like metal parts and building materials. Higher classes (250–500) are low-density or difficult commodities like ping-pong balls or mattresses.
For long-haul shipments (1,500+ miles) that don't require direct trucking speed, intermodal freight — combining rail and truck transport — often delivers FTL-equivalent economics at 10–20% lower cost. Freight is loaded into a container, trucked to a rail ramp, transported by train, then trucked to final delivery. Transit times are typically 1–3 days longer than over-the-road trucking. For more on freight modes, see the Buske Freight Shipping 101 guide.
LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shares trailer space with other shippers — you pay only for the space your freight occupies. FTL (Full Truckload) dedicates an entire trailer exclusively to your shipment. LTL is more cost-effective for shipments under 15,000 lbs; FTL is faster, more secure, and more economical for loads above 15,000 lbs or 7+ pallets.
LTL rates are based on: freight class (NMFC classification), shipment weight, origin-destination distance, and accessorial charges (liftgate, residential delivery, fuel surcharge, etc.). Higher freight class and longer distance both increase rates. Many carriers also offer density-based pricing as an alternative to freight class, which can reduce disputes.
Use LTL when your shipment is under 15,000 lbs or 6 pallets, when you can accept 2–5 day transit times, and when your freight can withstand multiple handling touches at LTL terminals. LTL is the right choice for regular small-volume shipments where sharing trailer costs makes economic sense.
Freight class is a standardized rating system (classes 50–500) established by the NMFC that classifies commodities based on density, stow-ability, handling difficulty, and liability risk. Higher freight class means higher LTL rates. Misclassifying freight leads to invoice adjustments (re-weigh/re-class charges) that can significantly increase your actual shipping cost.
Intermodal shipping combines two or more transportation modes — typically rail and truck. A container is trucked to a rail ramp, transported by train, then trucked to final delivery. It offers FTL-equivalent economics at 10–20% lower cost on long-haul lanes (1,500+ miles) with 1–3 extra days of transit time versus over-the-road trucking.
