Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)
What is less-than-truckload (ltl)? LTL is a freight shipping model where multiple shippers share trailer space — each pays only for the portion of the trailer their freight occupies.
Full definition
LTL carriers consolidate shipments at terminal hubs, sort them by destination, and deliver via local routes. The model is operationally intensive — sortation, dock handling, multiple stops per route — and pricing reflects that.
LTL is dominated by large carriers (FedEx Freight, XPO, Old Dominion, Saia, ABF) running terminal networks. Independent owner-operators rarely run pure LTL.
LTL pricing per pound is much higher than full truckload, reflecting the handling intensity. For shippers with small loads, LTL is the only viable option short of parcel.