Shipping LTL
There's a lot to know when shipping less-than-a-truckload. Save time and money by putting our expertise to work for you!
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What is LTL Shipping?
LTL Shipping Rates: Factors
More About Freight Classes
Example: LTL Shipment From Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN
Let's say you are shipping something from Columbus to Indianapolis via LTL. Once booked, the city driver will pickup the freight and take it back to their terminal in Columbus. The truck is then unloaded and your shipment is loaded onto a truck headed for Indianapolis, along with other freight going in that direction. Much like a flight, the other shipments may be delivering in Indy or may be moving along to another terminal.
The carrier will use a calculation to see what exactly can go on that Indy bound truck and typically the more dense the shipment, the more weight or space it takes, the more it will cost per mile.
Transit Time
In the above example, the shipment is picked up in Columbus, moved to the Indianapolis terminal over night and is out for delivery the next day. This is an example of a 1 day transit. To figure out transit time, you subtract out the day it was picked up and account for the freight moving toward the terminal and the day it delivers.
An example would be if you ship from Columbus to Dallas, TX. It's picked up on a Monday and will deliver on Wednesday. The transit days are Tuesday and Wednesday, a 2 day transit. Like the Indianapolis example, it is picked up, taken to the local terminal, put on another truck and moved overnight to Dallas, however, Dallas is 1000 miles away from Columbus, so it takes longer to arrive at the Dallas terminal. Then it would most likely be out for delivery on Wednesday.
You may also upgrade your shipment for a Guaranteed Transit time. If you'd like an accurate transit time for your shipment, contact us using the form below and we can help.
NMFC New Freight Class Lookup
Use the table below as a guide. Have questions, contact us.
| Freight Class | Example of Commodity | Weight Range Per Cubic Foot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Nuts, Bolts, Steel Rods | More than 50lbs | |
| 55 | Hardwood Flooring, Paint, Bricks | 35-50lbs | |
| 60 | Bottled Beverages, Ceramic Tile | 30-35lbs | |
| 65 | Car Parts, Boxes of Books | 22.5-30lbs | |
| 70 | Food Items, Boxed Paper | 15-22.5lbs | |
| 77.5 | Tires, Bathroom Fixtures | 13.5-15lbs | |
| 85 | Engines Pharmaceuticals | 12-13.5lbs | |
| 92.5 | Computer Monitors, Refrigerators | 10.5-12lbs | |
| 100 | Car & Boat Covers, Canvas, Wood Crates | 9-10.5lbs | |
| 110 | Cabinets, Table Saw, Drill Press | 8-9lbs | |
| 125 | Radio, Stereo, Coffee Maker, Small Appliances | 7-8lbs | |
| 150 | Medical Instruments, Sheet-Metal Parts | 6-7lbs | |
| 175 | Stuffed Furniture, Clothing | 5-6lbs | |
| 200 | Aircraft Parts, Aluminum | 4-5lbs | |
| 250 | Bamboo Furniture, Mattress/Box Springs | 3-4lbs | |
| 300 | Wood Cabinets, Chairs, Tables, Misc Firniture | 2-3lbs | |
| 400 | Paper, Coffee Fiters | 1-2lbs | |
| 500 | Ping Pong Balls, Styrofoam | <1lb |
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