Line Haul
What is line haul? Line haul refers to the long-distance portion of a freight movement, distinct from local pickup, delivery, and yard work.
Full definition
Line haul typically describes interstate or city-to-city transit — the leg between two LTL terminals, or the middle portion of an intermodal move. It's the segment where the carrier is making actual revenue miles versus accessorial pay.
Line-haul drivers are often paid by the mile and may run team driving for 600+ mile lanes. Local cartage drivers are typically paid by the hour or day.
For finance purposes, line-haul tractors are typically sleeper trucks financed over 60-72 months at full Class 8 GVWR.