What is volume LTL?
What is volume LTL? It is a large less-than-truckload shipment, usually six pallets or more, quoted at a negotiated price rather than off the standard tariff.
What is volume LTL doing differently
Standard LTL prices from a published tariff using class and weight. Volume LTL steps outside that. The carrier looks at the actual space, the lane and what else is on the truck that day, and quotes a number for the job.
That makes it quote-driven rather than rate-driven. The same shipment can price differently on a Tuesday than on a Friday, because it depends on what capacity the carrier is trying to fill.
When it beats standard LTL
Roughly six pallets and up, and sooner than that if the freight is light and bulky. Once a shipment is large enough that class-based pricing starts charging heavily for space, a negotiated volume rate usually wins.
The handling is the same as LTL: the freight rides with other shipments and moves through terminals. If you want it to stay on one trailer from door to door, that is a partial truckload, not volume.
Related terms
Quick answers
How many pallets before volume LTL makes sense?
Around six is the usual starting point, but light freight can get there at four and dense freight may stay on standard LTL past eight. It is worth quoting both.
Is volume LTL slower?
Not inherently, but it is quoted per shipment and may wait for the right truck. If the date is fixed, say so when you ask for the rate.
Six pallets or more?
Send the load and we quote what is volume LTL against standard LTL and a partial, then tell you which one wins on your lane.