LTL shipping for ecommerce brands
LTL shipping for ecommerce brands moves palletized inventory from a manufacturer, importer's warehouse or port-area facility to a 3PL warehouse or fulfillment center. Send the pallets, weights, dimensions and the receiving warehouse's rules and we quote LTL, volume LTL, partial or full truckload.
At a glance
- Once inventory moves in cartons stacked on pallets, one LTL shipment to the warehouse replaces many single-box parcel labels.
- Fulfillment centers and 3PL warehouses set their own receiving rules, including appointments, pallet height and labeling, and those rules decide whether a delivery is accepted.
- A correct pallet build, with cartons square to the edge and labels facing out, helps the warehouse receive the inventory into stock without rework.
When does LTL shipping for ecommerce brands replace parcel?
LTL shipping for ecommerce brands replaces parcel when inventory moves in bulk to a warehouse instead of one order at a time to a customer. A restock of cartons on pallets travels as one shipment with one bill of lading, and the warehouse receives it at a dock.
Compare the two on your own carton count, weights and lane. We do not quote parcel, so price the parcel option with your parcel account and send us the pallet details for the LTL side.
How are pallets of packaged consumer products classed?
Pallets of packaged consumer products are classed by the NMFC item for the product inside. Many items use the 13-tier density scale from NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, and some keep a commodity class, so the bill of lading needs an accurate product description.
Retail packaging often holds a lot of air, which lowers density. The density scale and worked example on this page run the numbers for a pallet of boxed consumer goods.
Freight class by density (lb per cubic foot)
- 0 to 1 lb/ft³Class 400
- 1 to 2 lb/ft³Class 300
- 2 to 4 lb/ft³Class 250
- 4 to 6 lb/ft³Class 175
- 6 to 8 lb/ft³Class 125
- 8 to 10 lb/ft³Class 100 example below
- 10 to 12 lb/ft³Class 92.5
- 12 to 15 lb/ft³Class 85
- 15 to 22.5 lb/ft³Class 70
- 22.5 to 30 lb/ft³Class 65
- 30 to 35 lb/ft³Class 60
- 35 to 50 lb/ft³Class 55
- 50 or more lb/ft³Class 50
Worked example: a pallet of boxed consumer goods in retail packaging
- Measure the loaded pallet, pallet included: 48 × 40 × 58 inches = 111,360 cubic inches.
- Convert to cubic feet: 111,360 ÷ 1,728 = 64.4 cubic feet.
- Divide the weight by the cubic feet: 550 lb ÷ 64.4 = 8.5 lb per cubic foot.
- Read the class off the density scale: 8.5 lb per cubic foot falls in class 100.
Run your own pallet through the freight class calculator, or read how freight class works.
What do fulfillment centers expect from an inbound LTL delivery?
Fulfillment centers expect an inbound LTL delivery to arrive with a booked appointment, the right labels and a pallet built to their rules. Marketplace fulfillment centers and many 3PLs publish requirements for pallet height, pallet type, carton labels and pallet labels.
Send those requirements with the quote request. We pass the appointment rules to the carrier and confirm what it can offer before booking, and the warehouse sets the slot, so we cannot promise a specific time.
Which service fits: LTL, volume LTL, partial or full truckload?
Standard LTL fits most palletized shipments that can share a trailer; volume LTL, partial truckload and full truckload fit larger loads or loads that need their own truck. Price the same shipment details across the four services, and confirm the points in the table before you book.
| Service | Fits | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Standard LTL | Palletized freight that shares a trailer and moves through carrier terminals | NMFC item and class, pickup and delivery accessorials, delivery appointment |
| Volume LTL | Larger LTL shipments quoted as a one-off price for that shipment | Quote terms, space the freight takes, whether it still moves through terminals |
| Partial truckload | Shipments that share a truck with a few others | Whether the freight stays on one trailer, any planned transfers, transit estimate |
| Full truckload | Freight that fills a trailer, reaches its weight limit, or needs its own truck | Trailer type, loading and unloading time, appointments at both ends |
How should an ecommerce brand build pallets for warehouse receiving?
An ecommerce brand should build pallets with cartons square to the pallet edge, one SKU per pallet where the warehouse asks for it, and carton labels facing out. Stretch wrap the load tight and add corner boards so the pallet arrives square.
Measure and weigh each pallet after wrapping. Warehouses and carriers both check the numbers, and a pallet that is taller or heavier than declared can be refused or rebilled.
What do you send for a e-commerce and dtc brands freight quote?
A e-commerce and dtc brands freight quote needs the 8 details below. Complete details let the carrier rate the shipment once, without a reweigh or reclass after pickup.
- Pickup location: manufacturer, importer's warehouse or port-area facility
- Receiving warehouse or fulfillment center address and its inbound rules
- Pallet count, dimensions and gross weight after wrapping
- Product description and NMFC item number, if you know it
- Carton count and SKUs per pallet
- Appointment process and any reference or shipment ID the warehouse assigns
- Liftgate needs at pickup if there is no dock
- Stackable or not for each pallet
What do the freight terms on this page mean?
- 3PL
- A third-party logistics provider that stores inventory and ships orders for a brand.
- Fulfillment center
- A warehouse that receives inventory and ships individual customer orders.
- SKU
- A stock-keeping unit, one distinct product in a brand's catalog.
- Bill of lading
- The shipping document that describes the freight and serves as the carrier's receipt.
Quick answers
Do you quote parcel shipments?
No. GET Express quotes standard LTL, volume LTL, partial and full truckload.
Can you deliver to a marketplace fulfillment center?
Yes, when the delivery meets that center's inbound rules. Send the rules and we confirm with the carrier before booking.
Can you pick up from a port-area warehouse?
Yes, once the goods are unloaded and on pallets at the warehouse. GET Express does not offer port or container drayage.
What if my supplier has no loading dock?
Request a liftgate pickup and send the heaviest and longest pallet. The carrier confirms its liftgate can handle the load.
Quote your next inventory restock
Send the pallets and the receiving warehouse's rules and we will price LTL shipping for ecommerce brands on your lane.