LTL shipping for plastics manufacturers
LTL shipping for plastics manufacturers covers two very different loads: dense resin in gaylords or bags, and light molded parts that fill space without much weight. Send the product, packaging, dimensions and weight and we quote LTL, volume LTL, partial or full truckload for each.
At a glance
- Resin pellets in a gaylord or on a pallet of bags weigh a lot for their size, while molded parts in cartons weigh little for the space they take.
- Pallets with cartons hanging past the edge are measured at the overhang, which raises the cubic feet and can change the class and price.
- Resins, colorants or additives with hazard labels need a safety data sheet before quoting, so eligibility can be checked first.
How does LTL shipping for plastics manufacturers differ between resin and molded parts?
LTL shipping for plastics manufacturers splits into raw material and finished parts, and the two price differently. A gaylord of resin pellets or a pallet of bagged compound is heavy and compact, while a pallet of molded housings, bottles or trays is light and bulky.
Quote each type on its own facts. Tell us which products move inbound as raw material and which move outbound as parts, with the packaging for each, so the carrier sees the right description and dimensions.
How are plastic resin and molded parts classed?
Plastic resin and molded parts are classed by the NMFC item for each product. Many items use the 13-tier density scale from NMFTA Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, and some keep a commodity class, so match the bill of lading description to the item.
Low density tends to raise class for light, bulky parts, since the carrier gives up trailer space for little weight. The density scale and worked example on this page show the calculation for a pallet of molded parts.
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 example below
- 6 to 8 lb/ft³Class 125
- 8 to 10 lb/ft³Class 100
- 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 molded plastic housings in cartons
- Measure the loaded pallet, pallet included: 48 × 40 × 60 inches = 115,200 cubic inches.
- Convert to cubic feet: 115,200 ÷ 1,728 = 66.7 cubic feet.
- Divide the weight by the cubic feet: 350 lb ÷ 66.7 = 5.2 lb per cubic foot.
- Read the class off the density scale: 5.2 lb per cubic foot falls in class 175.
Run your own pallet through the freight class calculator, or read how freight class works.
How do you build a pallet of light plastic parts for LTL?
A pallet of light plastic parts should be built square to the pallet edge, capped, shrink-wrapped and protected with corner boards. Cartons that hang over the edge get crushed by forklifts and neighboring freight, and the carrier measures the pallet at its widest point.
Stack cartons in a column pattern when they must carry weight, and put the heaviest cartons on the bottom. Mark the pallet non-stackable only when the cartons cannot hold freight on top, since non-stackable pallets use more trailer space.
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 |
What paperwork does resin or compound freight need?
Resin or compound freight needs a bill of lading that names the product as its NMFC item describes it, plus the safety data sheet for any material with hazard labels. We review the safety data sheet to check eligibility before quoting, since hazmat freight is outside what we offer.
Include lot numbers and purchase order references when the receiver asks for them. A plant receiving resin by the gaylord often matches deliveries to its orders at the dock.
What do you send for a plastics and rubber products freight quote?
A plastics and rubber products freight quote needs the 8 details below. Complete details let the carrier rate the shipment once, without a reweigh or reclass after pickup.
- Product type: resin, compound, film or molded parts
- Packaging: gaylord, bags, cartons or loose on the pallet
- Wrapped pallet dimensions, measured at any overhang
- Gross weight of each pallet or gaylord
- Safety data sheet for any material with hazard labels
- Stackable or not for each pallet
- NMFC item number, if you know it
- Dock, forklift or liftgate needs at each end
What do the freight terms on this page mean?
- Gaylord
- A large corrugated bulk box sized to a pallet, used for resin pellets and loose parts.
- Pallet overhang
- Cartons or product extending past the pallet edge, which increases measured size and damage risk.
- Corner boards
- Rigid strips placed on pallet corners under the wrap to protect cartons and hold the load square.
- Safety data sheet
- The manufacturer's document listing a material's hazards and handling rules.
Quick answers
Why do my molded parts class higher than my resin?
Molded parts tend to weigh less for the space they take, and many NMFC items set class by density. Resin in a gaylord packs more weight into the same space.
Can you ship resin that carries a hazard label?
Send the safety data sheet first. We check eligibility before quoting, and hazmat freight is outside our services.
Does shrink-wrap affect the measured size?
The carrier measures the pallet as wrapped, so loose wrap or overhanging cartons add to the dimensions. Wrap tight to a square load.
Can resin move by partial truckload?
Yes, when the shipment fits. Send the gaylord count, weight and dimensions and we compare partial truckload with LTL and volume LTL.
Quote resin or molded parts
Send the product, packaging, weight and dimensions to get LTL shipping for plastics manufacturers priced on your freight.