Partial truckload, the space between.
When a shipment is too big for LTL but does not fill a whole trailer, partial truckload is the sweet spot — you pay for the space you use, your freight rides with fewer touches, and bulky loads often skip freight class entirely. RS Group brokers PTL nationwide across 6,200+ carriers.
What is partial truckload?
Partial truckload — PTL — is the mode for freight that lands between LTL and a full truck. Think six to eighteen pallets, or roughly 5,000 to 27,500 lbs: too much to move economically as less-than-truckload, but not enough to justify paying for a whole trailer.
With PTL your freight shares the trailer with a small number of other partial loads, and you pay for the linear space and weight you use. The key difference from LTL is handling: partial freight usually stays on the same trailer from pickup to delivery with only a few stops, instead of being consolidated and re-handled through a terminal network. Fewer touches means a lower risk of damage and, often, a faster trip.
Partial truckload also tends to skip NMFC freight class, pricing by space and weight instead. That makes it a standout for bulky, low-density freight — the kind that rates a high, expensive LTL class. If your large shipment has been getting punishing LTL quotes, PTL is very often the fix.
The advantages of partial truckload
Four reasons PTL is the smart middle mode for mid-size and bulky freight.
Pay only for your space
Like LTL, you pay for the portion of the trailer your freight occupies — not a whole truck. For loads too big for LTL but short of a full deck, that is the most economical option.
Fewer touches than LTL
PTL freight usually stays on the same trailer from origin to destination with only a few stops, instead of being consolidated and re-handled at terminals. Less handling means a lower risk of damage.
Often skips freight class
Partial truckload is frequently priced by space and weight rather than NMFC class — so bulky, low-density freight that would rate a high LTL class often ships cheaper as PTL, with no reclass surprises.
Faster, more direct
With fewer terminal stops than LTL, partial truckload often moves more quickly and predictably — a real advantage when the delivery window matters but the freight does not fill a truck.
The difference between LTL and partial truckload
They look similar — both let you buy part of a trailer — but they are priced and handled differently.
| Less-than-truckload (LTL) | Partial truckload (PTL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 1–6 pallets, 150–15,000 lbs | 6–18 pallets, 5,000–27,500 lbs |
| Priced by | NMFC freight class | Space and weight |
| Routing | Terminal to terminal (hubs) | Usually one trailer, few stops |
| Handling | Multiple touches | Fewer touches |
| Bulky, low-density freight | Rates a high class — expensive | Often much cheaper |
| Best for | Small, dense, palletized loads | Mid-size, bulky or fragile loads |
What type of shipper uses PTL?
Partial truckload fits a specific and common gap. If your freight has outgrown LTL but does not fill a trailer — or if a high LTL class is making a large shipment expensive — PTL is likely your best rate.
- Shippers with six to eighteen pallets — more than LTL, less than a full deck
- Businesses moving bulky, low-density freight that rates a high LTL class
- Shippers of fragile goods that should not be handled repeatedly at terminals
- Companies with flexible pickup and delivery windows that can share a trailer
- Anyone comparing a large LTL shipment against a full truckload and finding both a poor fit
What factors contribute to PTL pricing?
Partial rates are built from a handful of inputs — knowing them helps you ship in a way that keeps the number down.
Space and weight
The core of a PTL rate is how much linear trailer space your freight takes and how much it weighs — the two together, not a class code.
Lane and distance
The origin-to-destination lane, the mileage, and how in-demand that lane is when you ship all move the price up or down.
Accessorials
Liftgate, residential or limited-access pickup and delivery, and appointment scheduling each add to the base rate — declare them up front to avoid surprises.
Flexibility and timing
Because PTL rides with other partials, some scheduling flexibility lowers the rate; a firm, narrow window may raise it. Fuel and seasonal capacity factor in too.
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Partial truckload questions
The questions shippers ask us most about PTL — answered plainly.
What is partial truckload shipping?
Partial truckload (PTL) is a mode for freight that is too large for LTL but does not fill a whole trailer — roughly six to eighteen pallets, or 5,000 to 27,500 lbs. Your freight shares the trailer with a few other partial loads, and you pay for the space and weight you use.
Unlike LTL, PTL usually stays on one trailer with only a few stops rather than being consolidated through a hub-and-spoke terminal network, so it is handled less and often moves faster.
What is the difference between LTL and partial truckload?
Both let you pay for part of a trailer, but LTL moves through terminals and is priced by NMFC freight class, while PTL typically stays on one trailer with fewer stops and is priced by space and weight rather than class.
The practical result: for larger or bulkier shipments — especially low-density freight that would rate a high LTL class — partial truckload is often cheaper and gentler on the freight. For one to six dense pallets, LTL usually still wins.
When should I use partial truckload instead of LTL or FTL?
Use PTL when your shipment is bigger than about six pallets or 12,000 lbs but does not fill a trailer, when it is bulky or fragile, or when a high LTL freight class is making a large LTL shipment expensive.
Move up to full truckload when you have enough freight to fill a trailer or the load is truly time-critical and needs a dedicated, direct truck. When a shipment sits between modes, we price it as LTL, PTL and FTL and send you the lowest.
How is partial truckload priced?
PTL is priced primarily by the linear trailer space and weight your freight uses, the lane and distance, current capacity and fuel, and any accessorials such as liftgate or limited-access delivery. Freight class is often not part of the calculation.
As a brokerage we shop the load across our 6,200+ carrier partners to find capacity that is already heading your direction — which is frequently where the best partial rates come from.
Get a partial truckload rate.
Tell us the lane, the pallet count and the weight — we'll find capacity already heading your way and come back with a competitive PTL quote, often the same day.