What is partial truckload shipping? This transportation option is a convenient alternative to traditional full truckload (FTL) and less-than truckload (LTL) services. However, many businesses have no idea this is a shipping method they can use, which leads to many missed cost saving opportunities.
As defined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, partial truckload shipping (PTL) is a logistics solution for shipments larger than LTL, but smaller than FTL. It provides a balance between cost and efficiency, ideal for medium-sized cargo. Shippers of PTL cargo won’t need to obtain a freight class to secure a rate.
PTL shipping has many aspects that you should know about before using it to move your cargo.
PTL, a key player in the logistics and transportation industry, is a method that fills the gap between LTL and FTL shipping. Partial truckload shipping should be used when transporting more than six pallets or when an entire load weighs between 5,000 to 40,000 pounds.
PTL is also good to use when:
If any of these conditions are met, then shippers should choose partial truckload services instead of using LTL and FTL.
If you have your own trailer, then explore power only trucking as a shipping option.
Partial truckload services have many unique advantages over LTL and FTL services. We’ll discuss each one to give you an idea on what to expect.
LTL shipments require a freight class to determine the base rate for the shipment. For many businesses, locating the correct one for a given load of freight is difficult and eats up precious time. Fortunately, freight classes aren’t required for determining the rate of a PTL shipment.
This is beneficial for the following reasons:
When dealing with LTL shipping, there’s always a chance shippers could get their classification wrong, which can result in additional charges when reclassifying the cargo. Since freight classes aren’t required for PTL, businesses won’t have to worry about this happening.
Without the need to categorize freight based on class, the paperwork and billing process in PTL shipping is significantly simplified. This leads to fewer administrative burdens to worry about.
Not having to find the freight class reduces the amount of stress placed on shippers. As a result, partial truckload shipments are much easier to organize.
Reduced handling is another standout benefit of PTL shipping. During partial truckload transport, cargo is loaded and remains untouched until it arrives at the final destination. This contrasts with LTL shipping, where freight often gets moved and rearranged at multiple points during transit
Reduced handling has the following benefits:
If shippers are concerned about the safety of their cargo, then partial truckload logistics is the service they require.
Another advantage of partial truckload shipping is how easy it is to track cargo. This feature of PTL transport is beneficial for businesses and customers that want to monitor the transit times of their freight.
There are two reasons why tracking partial truckload shipments is easy.
PTL shipments often follow more direct routes than LTL. With fewer stops and less complex routing, tracking the progress of a PTL shipment is straightforward. Since the freight remains on the same truck throughout the journey, it's easier to monitor and update its status.
While partial truckload and LTL transport have unique benefits, PTL is much faster than less-than truckload shipping. Despite multiple pick-ups and deliveries that have to be made during PTL transportation, your cargo will stay in one trailer throughout the journey.Â
LTL freight is regularly reorganized, shifted, and reloaded. For PTL shipping, freight isn’t handled nearly as much. This increases the speed of the delivery schedule by removing unnecessary functions.
PTL transport is cheaper than FTL shipping. A partial truckload is more cost-effective because shippers only pay for the amount of trailer space their goods take up in a trailer. With FTL, the entire space of the trailer has to be paid.
The cost savings from PTL shipping provides businesses with more control over their budget. These saved funds can be directed to other areas of their operations and enhance their business efficiency.
Partial truckload and LTL shipping are often confused with one another. Both options are great for moving smaller amounts of cargo and are cheaper than using FTL to move freight. That said, each one has distinct differences.
These include:
While PTL loads aren’t as big as FTL, they’re certainly bigger than LTL. As we’ve already established, partial truckload shipments weight between 5,000 and 40,000 pounds. LTL loads are smaller, being anywhere between 150 and 20,000 pounds.Â
Because of the overlap in size and weight, whether something is PTL or LTL can depend on the company providing you with shipping services. This factor also affects the handling and transfer of shipments, as mentioned earlier.
Finally, the pricing structure between each transport option is also different. Expenses for partial shipments are determined simply by the amount of room in a trailer they take up. For LTL, there are other factors like weight, distance, and freight class.
A partial truckload logistics services can cost anywhere between $500 to $2,000. Giving an exact amount is difficult because every PTL shipment is different and takes up a varying amount of space. That said, we found some industry estimates based on the weight of a load.
| Weight of Load | Estimated Cost |
| 10,000 lbs | $500 |
| 20,000 lbs | $1,000 |
| 30,000 lbs | $1,500 |
| 40 ,000 lbs | $2,000 |
Obtained from industry estimates*
As these number show, PTL transport is a more viable option for businesses that can’t afford the costlier FTL option. However, depending on the shipping company or transport broker, your load may need to meet certain requirements to differentiate it from similar volumes that must travel as LTL.
At USA Truckload, we specialize in providing multiple shipping solutions that align with your specific requirements. Every load is unique, which is why we ensure that every one we take on gets the treatment it deserves.
Our services don't stop there. We offer a comprehensive range of shipping solutions to meet all your logistics needs:
To discover how USA Truckload can transform your shipping operations, we invite you to take the first step towards a smarter solution. Fill out your RFP to experience the difference that professional and efficient transportation services can make. You can also call us at (866) 353-7178 if you require more information about the services we offer.
R+L Global Logistics
315 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL 34470
