Freight Shipping for Small Businesses

Freight shipping — moving large, heavy, or palletized shipments via semi-truck rather than parcel carriers — becomes necessary when packages exceed UPS/FedEx limits (typically 150 lb or 108 inches in length) or when you're shipping enough volume to make a pallet more economical than individual boxes.

For small businesses, freight feels intimidating: freight classes, BOLs, lumper fees, accessorial charges. But once you understand the structure, freight is just another shipping channel — one that opens up for everything from bulk supplier orders to large furniture and equipment shipments.

LTL vs. FTL: Which Do You Need?

Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping means your freight shares truck space with other shippers' goods. It's the right choice for most small businesses: you pay only for the space your pallet(s) occupy. Full-truckload (FTL) means you're renting the entire truck, which only makes sense when you're filling most of it — typically 10+ pallets or 20,000+ lb.

LTL transit times are longer than FTL (typically 2–7 business days versus 1–3 for FTL) because carriers consolidate and route freight through hubs. LTL is also handled more than FTL — your pallet may be loaded, unloaded, and reloaded multiple times, which increases damage risk for fragile goods.

• LTL: 1–6 pallets, under ~10,000 lb, cost-effective for smaller loads
• FTL: 10+ pallets or filling most of a 48–53 ft trailer
• Volume LTL (VLTL): 6–12 pallets, priced between LTL and FTL rates
• Partial truckload: similar to VLTL, sometimes faster than LTL due to fewer transfers

Understanding Freight Classes

LTL pricing is based on freight class, a system developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). Freight classes run from 50 to 500 — lower class numbers are denser, more stable, and cheaper to ship; higher class numbers are lighter, more fragile, or harder to handle, and cost more per hundred pounds.

Your freight class is determined by the commodity type, density (lb per cubic foot), stowability, handling difficulty, and liability. Dense, stable goods like machinery or flooring typically fall in class 50–85. Light, bulky goods like mattresses or furniture run class 125–250. Misclassifying your freight can result in a carrier-adjusted invoice (a reclassification fee) that significantly increases your cost.

• Class 50: bricks, cement, hardwood flooring — densest, cheapest
• Class 70: car parts, food items, auto glass
• Class 85: crated machinery, cast iron stoves
• Class 125: small appliances, LCD monitors
• Class 175: clothing, sofas in cartons
• Class 250: bamboo furniture, large mirrors
• Class 500: ping pong balls, deer antlers — least dense, most expensive

Pallet Requirements and Packaging

Freight must be properly palletized for LTL shipping. Standard pallet sizes are 48×40 inches (GMA pallet, most common) and 42×42 or 48×48 for specialty loads. Freight should not overhang the pallet edges by more than 2 inches. Use at least 2 layers of stretch wrap over the entire pallet, including under the pallet to secure the bottom layer of boxes to the pallet boards.

Pallets must be able to be fork-lifted — keep the bottom clear of obstructions. Label each pallet with the BOL number, destination, shipper, and pallet count. If shipping multiple pallets, number them (e.g., 1 of 3, 2 of 3).

Understanding Accessorial Charges

The quoted freight rate covers standard pick-up and delivery between commercial loading docks. Anything outside standard conditions is an 'accessorial' charge — and these can add 20–50% to your base rate if not anticipated. Common accessorials: residential delivery (no loading dock at destination), liftgate service (carrier lowers freight with a hydraulic liftgate instead of a dock), inside delivery (carrier brings freight inside the building), appointment delivery, and fuel surcharges.

When getting freight quotes, always specify whether pickup and delivery are residential or commercial, whether a liftgate is needed, and any other non-standard requirements. Getting these right upfront avoids surprise invoices.

• Residential delivery: $50–$150 surcharge (no loading dock at destination)
• Liftgate pickup or delivery: $50–$100 each way
• Inside delivery: $50–$200 depending on distance from truck
• Appointment delivery: $25–$75
• Redelivery (missed delivery): $75–$150
• Fuel surcharge: varies, typically 15–25% of base rate
• Detention (carrier waits more than 1 hour): $50–$100/hour

Getting the Best Freight Rates

Small businesses typically pay retail LTL rates unless they use a freight broker or 3PL that has negotiated volume discounts with carriers. Freight brokers (uShip, Echo Global Logistics, Coyote) can access rates 30–60% below retail for the same service. For recurring freight, a direct account with a regional carrier like Estes, Old Dominion, or Saia can be negotiated once your volume justifies it.

Build a relationship with 2–3 freight providers rather than using a different one for every shipment. Consistency gives you negotiating leverage and makes the process more predictable. Track your freight spend monthly — even small volume can justify a broker relationship that pays for itself quickly.

Parcel vs LTL vs FTL: Where the Boundaries Fall

The rough weight boundaries: under 150 lbs, parcel carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) are almost always cheaper. Between 150 and 10,000 lbs, LTL is typically the most economical option. Above 10,000 lbs — or when you need a guaranteed transit time and exclusive use of the trailer — FTL is more efficient.

Other factors push you toward LTL regardless of weight: freight that needs liftgate service because there is no dock at pickup or delivery, fragile items requiring special handling, hazardous materials, or residential deliveries that need appointment scheduling.

• Parcel: under 150 lbs per package, standard consumer and ecommerce goods
• LTL: 150–10,000 lbs, palletized freight, multiple customers per truck
• FTL: over 10,000 lbs, time-sensitive, requires exclusive trailer use
• Hotshot / expedited LTL: smaller freight that needs guaranteed fast delivery

Calculating Density to Find Your Freight Class

Density is the dominant factor in classification for most common shipments. Divide total weight by total cubic footage: a shipment weighing 500 lbs and occupying 20 cubic feet has a density of 25 lbs per cubic foot, which typically lands around Class 70–85. Most freight class lookup tools and LTL carrier websites will confirm the class from commodity type plus density.

The other three factors — stowability, handling difficulty, and liability (susceptibility to damage) — move the class up when a shipment is awkward, fragile, or valuable relative to its weight.

What You Need to Get an LTL Quote

Have these ready before you request rates: origin and destination ZIP codes, number of pallets, total weight, freight class, and any accessorial services required (liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery, appointment). Accessorials move the number meaningfully — a residential liftgate delivery might add $100–$200 to a shipment.

Quotes come either direct from carriers or through brokers and load boards. Brokers frequently hold negotiated rates below carrier list prices, which matters most for low-volume shippers:

• Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): excellent reliability and damage rates
• XPO Logistics: large network, competitive rates
• Estes Express: strong in the eastern US
• Saia Inc: good coverage in the south and southeast
• R+L Carriers: reliable regional carrier
• Freightquote / uShip: broker platforms that compare multiple carriers at once

Pallet Prep Checklist for LTL

A poorly built pallet is one of the leading causes of freight damage and carrier refusal. LTL freight is loaded, unloaded, and reloaded at terminals as it crosses the country, so the pallet has to survive repeated handling. Use standard 48 × 40-inch wood pallets in good condition — no broken boards, no cracked stringers — and work through this before the truck arrives:

1. Inspect the pallet — no broken boards or cracked stringers
2. Stack items to keep the centre of gravity low and the weight evenly distributed
3. Ensure no freight overhangs the pallet edge
4. Wrap with 3–4 layers of stretch wrap from base to top
5. Add cardboard edge protectors on box corners
6. Attach shipping labels on all four sides, including the PRO number
7. Note any handling requirements: 'This Side Up,' 'Do Not Stack,' and so on

LTL Transit Times and PRO Number Tracking

LTL transit is longer and less predictable than parcel. A cross-country LTL shipment typically takes 5–7 business days; regional moves within 500 miles often run 1–2 business days. Because freight is consolidated and deconsolidated at terminals, delivery is usually quoted as a 4-hour appointment window rather than a specific time.

All major LTL carriers issue a PRO (Progressive Rotating Order) number, which works like a parcel tracking number — enter it on the carrier's website for status updates, or use your broker's tracking portal. For high-value or time-sensitive freight, call the carrier for an estimated delivery date and book the delivery appointment in advance.