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Freight 101

Freight 101

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Feel free to contact us if you're still stuck after reviewing the content below.

Let's start with the basics. What is LTL?

LTL stands for "Less-Than-Truckload" and typically refers to palletized freight weighing over 150 pounds.

Parcel carriers handle small packages and freight that has been broken down into units weighing under 150 pounds.

How do I prepare an LTL Shipment?

Most LTL shipments are palletized, making preparation slightly more complicated than a small package shipment. Our Shipment Guide will help you properly package, stack and wrap your LTL shipments.

What is freight class?

Freight class is an industry standard methodology all LTL carriers use to rate shipments (along with distance, service and any additional services required). The freight class of each item is determined by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association in order to standardize rating in the LTL industry. Every product you ship will fall into one of the 18 different National Motor Freight Classification Class codes.

Do I really need a freight class? (Short answer: no.)

If determining a freight class is like learning a foreign language, TForce Freight offers Density-Based Rating - a rating methodology that allows you to simply measure your shipment rather than waste time trying to determine the proper freight class. If you prefer to process your LTL shipments like you process your package shipments, click here to learn more about Density-Based Rating.

Prefer to avoid pallets?

Pallets are heavy and add additional cost to your shipment. If your shipment meets certain criteria, you can avoid the pallet pitfalls with TForce Freight. TForce Freight is an authorized reseller of UPS® Ground with Freight Pricing* which allows you to process multi-piece shipments without a pallet! Click here to learn more about UPS Ground with Freight Pricing.

I have a few more questions. Who do I contact?

If you have a few quick questions, please reach out to TForce Freight Customer Service at (800)333-7400.

If you'd like to sit down with your local TForce Freight sales resource to discuss TForce Freight's portfolio of LTL solutions, Email Us.

*TForce Freight is an authorized reseller of UPS® Ground with Freight Pricing but is not authorized to resell any other services offered by United Parcel Service, Inc. or its affiliates.