Warehouse worker pushing a shrink-wrapped pallet of cartons toward a partly loaded LTL trailer at an open dock door
Less-than-truckload freight

LTL shipping for CPG brands

LTL (less-than-truckload) shipping moves freight that is too big for parcel and too small to fill a trailer. Your pallets share a truck with other shippers' freight, and you pay for the space and handling you use. For natural, organic, and other CPG brands it is the usual way one to a few pallets reach a distributor, retailer, or co-packer.

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  • Dry and refrigerated LTL
  • Delivery appointments booked for you
  • Vetted carrier network
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What is LTL shipping?

LTL shipping, short for less-than-truckload shipping, is how CPG brands usually move one to five pallets at a time. Instead of paying for a whole trailer, your pallets ride with LTL freight from other shippers. The carrier moves everything through its terminals. Your pallets are picked up, sorted, carried between cities, sorted again, and delivered. Fr8topia is a licensed freight broker in Valencia, California. It arranges LTL through a vetted carrier network, built first for natural and organic brands.

How an LTL shipment moves

How an LTL shipment moves Two pallets leave your dock on a local carrier truck, are sorted at an origin terminal onto a shared trailer with other shippers' freight, travel linehaul to a destination terminal, and are delivered to a distributor DC on its appointment. They change hands four times along the way. Times your pallets change hands DC On time Your dock Origin terminal Linehaul Destination terminal Distributor DC
  1. PickupA local carrier truck collects your pallets at your dock.
  2. Origin terminalYour pallets are unloaded, sorted, and loaded onto a trailer with other shippers' freight.
  3. LinehaulOne trailer, many shippers. You pay for the space your pallets use.
  4. Destination terminalUnloaded and sorted again for the local delivery run.
  5. DeliveryDelivered to the DC on its appointment, with paperwork that matches the PO.
  • Your pallets
  • Other shippers' freight
  • A time your pallets change hands

Those handoffs are why LTL costs less per pallet than a dedicated truck, and why it takes longer. Each handoff is also a chance for damage or a delay.

That shared network is what makes LTL affordable for small shipments. It is also why LTL is slower than a dedicated truck and why your freight is handled more. For a natural or organic brand shipping into a distributor, the handling and the timing matter as much as the price. A damaged case, a late arrival, or paperwork that does not match can come back weeks later as a deduction.

How are LTL shipping rates calculated?

LTL shipping rates come from four things: freight class, the lane, the weight, and any extra charges. Weight is only one of them, and since 2025 density counts for more.

Freight class and density

How much space your pallets take

Carriers price by freight class. For many products the class now comes mainly from density: the pallet's weight divided by its size.

Lane

Where it is going

Distance and the pickup and delivery ZIP codes. Busy lanes between major hubs usually price better than remote ones.

Weight

How heavy it is

Heavier shipments cost more in total, but the rate per pound usually drops as weight goes up.

Extra charges

What happens at each end

A liftgate, a delivery appointment, a residential address, or a reweigh all add to the bill. They are listed below.

A light, bulky pallet can cost more to ship than a heavy, compact one.

What changed in 2025. On July 19, 2025, the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) moved many commodities to classes based mainly on density. The NMFC now measures density on a new 13-tier scale. For a CPG brand that means the dimensions on your bill of lading matter as much as the weight. If a carrier measures your pallet larger than you declared, expect a reweigh or reclass charge.

Accurate pallet dimensions and weights are the cheapest savings in LTL. So is building square, stable pallets with nothing hanging over the edge. Overhang adds to the measured size and makes damage more likely.

What extra charges (accessorials) come with LTL freight?

LTL accessorials are charges for anything beyond a standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery. They are where LTL quotes and LTL invoices stop matching, and most can be avoided if the carrier knows about them before pickup.

ChargeWhat triggers itHow to avoid it
LiftgateNo loading dock or forklift at pickup or delivery.Ship dock to dock where you can, and say so on the quote request when you cannot.
Delivery appointmentThe receiver only accepts freight at a booked time, as distributor DCs do.You will not avoid it for a DC. Price it in, and confirm the appointment is booked before the truck leaves.
Residential or limited accessHomes, schools, construction sites, storage units, and some small stores.Give the full delivery address and location type up front so it is in the rate.
Inside deliveryThe driver brings freight past the dock or the front door.Request it only when the receiver needs it.
Reweigh and reclassThe carrier measures a different weight, size, or class than the bill of lading shows.Weigh and measure every pallet, and match the bill of lading to what ships.
RedeliveryThe first delivery fails: missed appointment, closed receiver, or a refused load.Confirm receiving hours and the appointment before the truck leaves.
DetentionThe truck waits too long to be loaded or unloaded.Have freight ready at pickup time, with paperwork done.

Charges and their amounts vary by carrier and lane. A quote should list the ones that apply to your shipment.

LTL, partial truckload, or full truckload: which fits?

Use LTL for 1 to 5 pallets and partial truckload for about 6 to 18. Use consolidation for repeat shipments into the same distributor DC, and full truckload when you can fill a trailer. Treat that as a first filter, then price the options side by side.

OptionUsually fitsTrade-off
LTL1 to 5 pallets, irregular shipmentsLowest cost for small shipments, but more handling and slower transit.
Partial truckloadAbout 6 to 18 palletsShares a trailer with one or two other shipments: fewer stops, less handling, and you still pay only for your share.
ConsolidationRepeat shipments into the same distributor DCYour pallets combine with other brands' freight headed to the same DC on one appointment, at a per-pallet price.
Full truckloadEnough freight to fill a trailerFastest and least handled, but you pay for the whole truck.

See how retail consolidation programs work, or work out what freight does to your margin with the landed freight cost per case guide.

How do you ship LTL into UNFI, KeHE, and retail DCs?

Distributor and retailer DCs take LTL freight all the time, but they run on rules that a parcel shipment never meets. These four are where LTL turns into deductions.

  • The delivery appointment. DCs receive by appointment. No appointment, or a truck that misses its window, can mean a refused load and a redelivery charge.
  • The routing guide. Each distributor publishes how it wants freight to arrive: pallet build, labels, and paperwork. The details live in its current routing guide, and they change.
  • The must-arrive-by date. The purchase order sets a delivery window, and arriving early can count as a miss. See MABD explained.
  • Paperwork that matches. The bill of lading, the PO, and the case count have to agree. A mismatch is one of the most common causes of a chargeback.

For dry LTL into UNFI and KeHE, Fr8topia books the delivery appointment for you. Start with the UNFI and KeHE compliance hub, or see the receiving details for UNFI and KeHE.

Amazon LTL. Fr8topia also ships LTL into Amazon fulfillment centers. Amazon runs its own appointment, pallet, and labeling rules, separate from the distributors. Send your Amazon shipment details with the quote request.

Dry or refrigerated LTL?

Shelf-stable product moves in standard dry trailers through the regular LTL network. Chilled and frozen product needs refrigerated LTL, which runs on fewer lanes and fixed schedules and costs more. If your product needs temperature control, see refrigerated LTL.

Should you use an LTL freight broker or book a carrier directly?

Booking an LTL carrier directly suits steady, high-volume lanes. An LTL freight broker suits irregular volume and many delivery points. It also suits freight where retailer compliance rides on each delivery.

Book a carrier directly when

  • You ship the same lanes on a steady schedule
  • Your volume is high enough to earn the carrier's best rates
  • One carrier's network covers everywhere you deliver
  • Someone on your team books appointments and handles claims

Use a freight broker when

  • Your volume is irregular or growing
  • You deliver to several distributors and retailers with different rules
  • You want one contact for the carrier, the appointment, and the paperwork
  • Deductions are already costing you money

Fr8topia is a licensed freight broker, not a carrier. We source and manage a vetted carrier network, book the delivery appointment, and keep the paperwork. For the cost side, see what CPG brands really pay for freight brokerage.

What do you need for an LTL freight quote?

An accurate LTL freight quote needs six details. With them, the rate comes back right the first time and the invoice matches the quote.

  • Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, and whether each end has a loading dock.
  • Pallet count, with the dimensions and weight of each pallet.
  • What the product is, and whether it needs temperature control.
  • Delivery appointment or routing guide requirements at the receiver.
  • Any extras: liftgate, inside delivery, or a residential address.
  • Ready date, and the date it must arrive.

Get an LTL quote

Tell us what you are shipping and where it needs to be. Our team responds with a rate within two business hours.

Get an LTL quote

Or call (909) 304-1068, Monday to Friday, 8 to 5 Pacific.

Frequently asked questions

What does LTL stand for?
LTL stands for less-than-truckload. It is freight that is too big for parcel shipping but does not fill a trailer. So it shares a truck with other shippers' freight, and you pay for the space and handling your pallets use.
How much does LTL shipping cost?
It depends on the lane, the freight class, the weight and size of your pallets, and any extra charges such as a liftgate or a delivery appointment. Two pallets of the same weight can price very differently if one is bulky and light. The quickest way to a real number is a quote with your ZIP codes, pallet count, dimensions, and weight.
Can I ship a single pallet by LTL?
Yes. LTL is built for shipments as small as one pallet. Give the carrier the pallet's dimensions, weight, and the type of delivery location. A single pallet is priced on its density plus any extra charges at each end.
Can LTL deliver to UNFI or KeHE?
Yes. Distributor DCs receive LTL freight, but they need a delivery appointment. They also expect your paperwork to match the purchase order. A missed appointment or a mismatch can lead to a refused load or a deduction, so the appointment and the paperwork matter as much as the rate. Fr8topia books the appointment for you.
How do I choose an LTL carrier?
Compare LTL carriers on your lane. Check whether they serve both ZIP codes through their own terminals. Then look at the transit time, how they handle delivery appointments, and the price. A freight broker like Fr8topia compares carriers from its vetted network for each shipment.
Show 8 more questionsShow fewer questions
What is freight class, and why does density matter?
Freight class is a rating from the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) that LTL carriers use to price a shipment. Since July 19, 2025, many commodities are classed mainly by density: the weight of the pallet divided by the space it takes up. Light, bulky pallets usually land in a higher class and cost more per pound.
How long does LTL shipping take?
LTL takes longer than a dedicated truck because freight is sorted at terminals along the way. The lane decides how many terminals it passes through. If a delivery has to make a distributor appointment, build that time into your ship date.
How many pallets is too many for LTL?
Once you are consistently shipping about 6 or more pallets on a lane, partial truckload usually costs less and is handled less. That is because your freight rides with one or two other shipments instead of many. For repeat shipments into the same distributor DC, consolidation is often cheaper still.
What is the difference between LTL and FTL shipping?
LTL (less-than-truckload) shipping puts your pallets on a shared trailer that moves through terminals, so you pay only for the space you use. FTL (full truckload) gives you the whole trailer, straight from pickup to delivery. It is faster and handled less, but it costs more for a small shipment.
Do I need a liftgate?
Only if the delivery location has no loading dock or forklift. Distributor DCs have docks, so a liftgate is usually not needed there. Small stores, offices, and homes often do need one, and carriers charge extra for it.
Is expedited LTL shipping available?
Yes. Many LTL carriers offer guaranteed or expedited service on faster schedules, at a higher rate. It is worth it when a must-arrive-by date or a distributor appointment is tight, so ask for it when you request a quote.
Can you ship LTL to Amazon fulfillment centers?
Yes. Fr8topia ships LTL into Amazon fulfillment centers. Amazon has its own appointment, pallet, and labeling requirements, separate from UNFI and KeHE. Include your Amazon shipment details when you request a quote.
Is a freight broker more expensive than going direct to an LTL carrier?
Not necessarily. A freight broker buys across many carriers and can often match or beat the rate a small shipper gets on its own. It also handles the carrier choice, the appointment, and the follow-up. Going direct can make sense for steady, high-volume lanes.

Ship your next pallets without the deductions

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Sources

Page last updated October 18, 2026. 2025 NMFC density-based classification changes, effective July 19, 2025: National Motor Freight Traffic Association, "2025 NMFC Changes" (info.nmfta.org/2025-nmfc-changes), retrieved October 18, 2026. Pallet ranges for LTL and partial truckload reflect the ranges Fr8topia publishes elsewhere on this site. Extra charges vary by carrier and lane.