Definition
Partial truckload is a shipment too large for standard LTL and too small to need a whole trailer. The shipper pays for the share of the trailer the freight occupies, measured in linear feet and weight, and the truck may carry other shipments. It typically covers about 6 to 18 pallets.
| LTL | Partial | FTL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailer space | A small share | Part of it | All of it |
| Priced by | Class, weight, ZIPs | Linear feet, weight | Lane and day |
| Other freight aboard | Yes | Possible | No |
| Terminal handling | Yes | Avoided | None |
Why it matters
Partial is the mode people forget to quote. A 10-pallet shipment rated as LTL can hit a carrier's linear-foot or cubic-capacity rule and come back at a much higher price than expected, while a dedicated truck wastes half a trailer. A partial quote often beats both, and it avoids the terminal handling that LTL involves.
How partial differs from LTL
A partial load is not priced by freight class. The carrier quotes on the floor space the freight takes, usually in linear feet of trailer, and on weight. The freight generally stays on one truck instead of moving through terminals, so there is less handling. The trade-off is timing: pickup and delivery dates are looser than on a dedicated truck because the carrier is fitting several shipments together.
Working out linear feet
Standard 48 by 40 inch pallets load two across in a trailer, so each pair takes 4 linear feet. Ten pallets that cannot be stacked take about 20 feet. If they can be stacked two high, the same freight takes about 10 feet. Whether the freight is stackable is therefore one of the first things a partial quote needs to know.
Volume LTL is a close cousin
LTL carriers also sell volume or spot quotes for larger shipments moving in their own network. These still pass through terminals but are priced for the specific shipment instead of from the class tariff. For a shipment in the 6 to 12 pallet range it is worth getting both a volume LTL quote and a partial truckload quote.
Deciding between LTL, partial and a full truck is a judgment a quote desk makes on every mid-size request. TIO's quote agents read pallets, weight and stackability from the email and work out the floor space, so a partial request is priced as a partial.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
When should I use partial truckload instead of LTL?
When the shipment is more than about 6 pallets, takes more than roughly 12 linear feet, or weighs over about 5,000 pounds. Above those sizes LTL carriers apply linear-foot and capacity rules that raise the price sharply.
Does partial truckload need a freight class?
No. Partial truckload is priced on space and weight, so no NMFC class is needed. That also removes the risk of a reclass charge after delivery.
Is partial truckload faster than LTL?
Often on transit, since the freight skips terminal transfers, but pickup can take longer to arrange because the carrier has to match the load with others going the same way.