LTL Shipping Guide

Good details up front help avoid surprises later. You do not need to know everything here to contact us. Share what you have, and Dan and Linda will review it with you.

Request an LTL Quote Go to the density calculator

Step 1

Measure each handling unit

A handling unit is what gets moved as one piece, such as a pallet, skid or crate. Measure it packaged and ready to ship, the way the carrier will see it.

Measure at the outermost points, including the pallet.

If freight hangs past the pallet, the overhang counts. Better still, avoid it.

Record	How to get it right
Length, width and height	Packaged size at the widest points, including the pallet, any overhang and anything that sticks out.
Weight	Weight of the whole unit, including the pallet and packaging.
Count	Number of pallets or other handling units, plus the pieces on them.
Stackability	Whether other freight can safely ride on top.
Units	State them every time: inches or feet, and pounds.

Some carriers measure non-stackable freight as if it fills more of the trailer height, so tell us up front.

Converting metric

From	To	Example
Centimeters	Divide by 2.54 for inches	122 cm ÷ 2.54 = 48 in
Feet	Multiply by 12 for inches	4 ft × 12 = 48 in
Kilograms	Multiply by 2.2046 for pounds	200 kg × 2.2046 = 441 lb

Step 2

Freight density

Density is how heavy freight is for the space it takes up, shown in pounds per cubic foot.

Cubic feet = length × width × height in inches ÷ 1,728

Density = packaged weight in pounds ÷ cubic feet

Example 1: one pallet

One pallet, 48 × 40 × 48 in, 500 lb including the pallet.

48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 cubic inches
92,160 ÷ 1,728 = 53.33 cubic feet
500 ÷ 53.33 = about 9.38 lb per cubic foot

Example 2: mixed handling units

Two pallets, 48 × 40 × 60 in, 650 lb each, and one crate, 72 × 48 × 36 in, 900 lb.

Pallets: 66.67 cubic feet each, so 133.33 cubic feet
Crate: 72 cubic feet
Total: 205.33 cubic feet and 2,200 lb
2,200 ÷ 205.33 = about 10.71 lb per cubic foot

A shipment total is useful for planning. Different commodities can still be classified separately.

Density calculator

Dimensions in

Weight in

Handling units: —
Cubic feet: —
Packaged weight: —
Density estimate: —

This is a density estimate, not a confirmed freight class. Class depends on the commodity and current NMFC provisions, and carriers may measure freight themselves.

Use These Details in a Quote

Step 3

Freight class and NMFC

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), is the standard used to identify and classify LTL freight. It helps carriers compare very different commodities.

Term	What it is	What it does
NMFC item	The listing that applies to a commodity	Identifies what the freight is and the provisions that apply to it
Freight class	A rating from 50 to 500	Reflects how the freight compares in transportation terms, and feeds into LTL pricing

What can affect classification

Factor	What it looks at
Density	How heavy the freight is for the space it takes up
Handling	How easily it moves across a dock and in and out of a trailer
Stowability	How well it can be stowed in a trailer
Liability	How likely it is to be damaged or to damage other freight

Density alone does not assign a freight class. Commodity-specific provisions and the current NMFC rules decide the class, and those rules change through public dockets. That is why we do not publish a generic class chart, and why our calculator stops at a density estimate.

If you do not know your class or NMFC item, choose “I don’t know my freight class—please help” on the quote form.

Step 4

Additional services

Standard LTL service generally assumes the truck can reach the freight at a dock or next to the vehicle. Anything beyond that should be requested up front.

A liftgate gets freight between the trailer and the ground. It does not move it indoors.

Inside service moves freight beyond the spot next to the truck.

Service	When you may need it	Good to know
Liftgate at pickup or delivery	No dock or forklift at that location	Pickup and delivery are requested separately. Size and weight limits vary by carrier.
Residential	Homes and home-based businesses	Requirements vary, and some carriers treat these locations differently.
Limited access	Sites with restricted access, such as those with gates or security checks	Each carrier defines these locations in its own way.
Inside pickup or delivery	Freight must go beyond the truck, into a building	Often separate from liftgate. A delivery can need both.
Appointment	The location only receives at set times	Share the requirement before booking.
Notification	Someone needs a call before arrival	Include the name and number on the bill of lading.

These services can add charges. Amounts vary by carrier, shipment and location, so we review them in your quotation instead of listing fixed prices. If a service is needed but was not requested, it may be billed afterward or delay delivery.

Step 5

Prepare the shipment

Packaging: Use packaging strong enough for handling and for sharing a trailer. Use a pallet large enough that freight does not hang over.
Securing: Fasten freight to the pallet so it moves as one unit, and limit movement inside each package.
Labels: Show destination and shipper details, plus any handling or precaution markings, where they can be seen.
Descriptions: Describe the freight accurately in plain words, not with a generic term.

Bill of lading basics

The bill of lading (BOL) is the shipping document for the move. Fill it in completely and keep it consistent with what is on the dock.

Include	Details
Shipper and consignee	Names, addresses and a contact at each location
Freight	Number of packages, an accurate description and the weight
Classification	NMFC item or freight class, once confirmed
Services	Liftgate, inside service, appointment or other requests
Value	Any declared value that applies to your shipment

Why accuracy matters

Carriers can check freight after pickup. If the BOL is incomplete or looks wrong, they may reweigh it, inspect it or recalculate its density, then adjust the bill.

If this is wrong	What can happen
Dimensions	Remeasurement and revised charges
Weight	Reweigh and revised charges
Class or description	Reclassification and revised charges
Location details	Added charges, a missed delivery or a redelivery

Carrier liability and cargo insurance are different

	Carrier liability	Optional cargo insurance
What it is	The carrier’s responsibility for loss or damage under law, the BOL and its tariff	A separate policy or coverage option you arrange
How much	Can be limited, and may be less than your freight’s value	Depends on the policy or coverage terms
What to do	Ask what limit applies before shipping	Ask about options if the freight’s value matters to you

Step 6

Service expectations

	Standard LTL	Guaranteed service
Timing	A transit estimate, not a promise	A commitment under the carrier’s specific terms
How you get it	Standard with the shipment	Requested and purchased for that shipment, usually at added cost
What to check	The estimate for your lane	What is covered, any exclusions and the remedy if it is missed

Freight that is oversized, non-stackable, long, fragile or unusual needs individual review. Carrier and equipment limits vary, so we do not publish universal maximum pallet sizes or weights. Tell us what you have and we will check it for your shipment.

Request an LTL Quote Call Linda Vu: 949-774-8900

Sources

Reviewed October 31, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, tariff or insurance advice. The tariffs and carrier documents that apply to your shipment control. Carrier examples are public references, not a list of FR8 carrier partners.

Classification

Carrier documents

Federal references

NMFC and ClassIT+ are trademarks of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. No classification tables are reproduced here. Diagrams are original illustrations, not to scale.